Council extends consultation period for Local Heritage Register

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has extended the deadline for submissions on proposed changes to its Local Heritage Register.

Planning and Development Portfolio Councillor David Neuendorf said Council decided to extend the timeframe following feedback from affected landholders.

“A few landholders have raised concerns that the original consultation period – 3 July to 8 August - is not long enough for them to seek professional heritage advice and prepare informed submissions,” he said.

“Another reason is the delay in landholders receiving their notification letters, with some letters landing in mailboxes six to 10 business days after Council posted them.”

Cr Neuendorf said public consultation has now been extended to 5pm on 22 August 2025.

“Council genuinely wants to hear and consider what the community has to say about the proposed changes to our Local Heritage Register, which helps protects our region’s historical treasures,” he said.

“I must stress, these changes are only proposed – they are not set in stone – and we not only welcome feedback but actively encourage it, to ensure we get the entries right.”

As reported earlier this month, it has been more than 20 years since Council reviewed its existing heritage places, with this most recent heritage study being the first for the region as a whole.

The study, undertaken by an independent cultural heritage expert, assessed 307 places identified as potentially having heritage significance, with the expert recommending 117 be included in the Register.

Of those, 65 are currently on the Register, 52 are new places proposed to be entered into the Register, and 66 places (including 62 residences) are proposed to be removed from the Register.

“At all times we’ve been transparent and have offered affected landholders the chance to meet one-on-one with Council and our cultural heritage expert to discuss the process and any concerns they have about their property’s citation,” Cr Neuendorf said.

“Extending the consultation period reinforces our commitment to transparency and procedural fairness.”

Under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992, Council is required to identify and maintain a list or ‘register’ of local heritage places. To be considered for heritage listing, a place must meet one or more cultural heritage criteria from the Queensland Government’s Guideline: Identifying and Assessing Places of Local Cultural Heritage Significance in Queensland (2020).

To view the full list of proposed changes, including information sheets and FAQs, or to make a submission, visit https://lockyervalley.engagementhub.com.au/local-heritage-study. Or, view them in-person at the Gatton and Laidley offices.