New members have been appointed to the Heritage Council following the expiry of tenure for five of the nine current members.
Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, Simon Corbell, said the new members would bring a range of expertise and interests to the Council, including archaeology, and conservation of objects.
“The council has an important role to identify and assess nominations to the ACT Heritage Register and provide advice on conservation of cultural, natural and Aboriginal heritage places and objects in the ACT,” Mr Corbell said.
“The council membership must reflect the interests of the community, developers and experts in the relevant fields to ensure we make appropriate decisions that will protect our special heritage places and objects into the future.
“I would like to thank the retiring members for their important contribution to Canberra’s past and present, and welcome the new members.
The new members are:
· Mr John Kenworthy, a civil engineer who will represent the property ownership, management and development sector
· Mr Doug Williams, an archaeologist with expertise in Aboriginal culture and history
· Dr Mary Hutchison, a historian with particular interest in Canberra’s history and heritage
· Dr Hanna Jaireth, a legal and administrative officer with professional interest in nature conservation
· Mr George Bailey, a conservator of cultural material.
Appointments of the current Chair, Mr Duncan Marshall, and Deputy Chair, Dr Dianne Firth and community representative, Pamela O’Neil, will continue until March 2015. The Chief Planning Executive of the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate, Dorte Ekelund, and Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Alan Traves, are ex-officio members of the council. The appointment of a representative of the Aboriginal community is being finalised.
(Media Release Simon Corbell)