Chapter 3—Report on performance
Key performance indicator:
Manage the heritage values of OPH
Heritage Management Plan
During the year, the Heritage Management Plan for Old Parliament House and its curtilage, which satisfies the agency’s obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), continued to guide the management and development of the site
- ensuring that all the site’s heritage values are identified, well managed, interpreted and made available for community appreciation and enjoyment
- acting as a guide for managers and staff, underpinning and informing management decisions
- providing a rationale for assessing proposed uses or actions against the heritage values, to ensure effective use and appropriate actions that protect and interpret those values
- allowing for ongoing community consultation on issues and proposals relevant to heritage values, such as proposed redevelopments.
Heritage awareness training
Heritage awareness training for staff, tenants and contractors has been continually improved and customised since it was first introduced in 2000. The training, which is a requirement of the Heritage Management Plan, promotes cooperation with and respect for the heritage objectives set out in the plan. It ensures that people working on site are aware of heritage issues and obligations, and of ways to minimise their impact on the fabric of the building and its collections.
In 2009–10, relevant training was provided for 120 contractors, 42 staff and 30 tenants. Visiting school groups were also given instructions on ways to preserve the heritage values of the building. It is expected that those unable to participate in 2009–10 will undergo relevant training in 2010–11.
Heritage Actions Committee
The Heritage Actions Committee discusses and determines appropriate measures for proposed actions and activities in and on the building and its curtilage. It operates under the agency’s Heritage Management Plan and was established in January 2007.
The Heritage Actions Committee meets fortnightly to discuss proposals, make recommendations (including on whether to seek independent advice), and provide input to ensure that decisions and actions will not have any significant adverse impact on heritage values.
Under its terms of reference, the committee may recommend that an action proposal be referred to the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (or the minister’s delegate) for approval under ss. 26 and 28 of the EPBC Act if the action may, or is likely to, have a significant adverse impact on the listed heritage values of the place. The referral process is administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). If the committee determines that the impact of an action proposal is not potentially adverse, the proposal may be approved by the internal delegate.
The committee assessed 26 proposals in 2009–10:
- 24 were approved by the internal delegate after being assessed as having no adverse impact on the site’s heritage values
- one was not approved, based on potential adverse impacts on the heritage values
- one was deferred.
The committee’s membership is shown in Table 7 (page 53).
Statements of significance
Forty-two statements of significance were written for the reference collection during the year. These statements, along with extended histories and detailed and accurate descriptions, were completed in order to provide comprehensive data suitable for eventual publication on the agency’s website. The project particularly focused on important furniture pieces on display, including pieces in the two chambers and the Prime Minister’s desk.
Stocktake
A stocktake of the 15,106 objects that comprise the Heritage Collection was undertaken over three weeks in April 2010. The stocktake was undertaken for both financial and collection management purposes; all objects in the collection have heritage significance, and 3,543 of them also have an assessed financial value of $3,965,000 as at 30 June 2010. The thorough stocktaking process led to an improvement in the quality and accuracy of collection data.
Over 3,500 volumes of Hansard from around the building were also accessioned into the collection database. Most of these volumes are on display in the main floor areas or in non-public areas. Registering them in the database means that the volumes can be more easily monitored and tracked.
Heritage storage
Substantial rationalisation of resources and improvement of the storage of heritage building fragments in the agency’s offsite storage facility were undertaken during the year. The rearrangements ensure that these collection pieces are stored in a suitable manner to preserve their longevity. Work continued on a new storage management plan for the agency.
Heritage storage—onsite facility (L) and offsite storage (R) (Photo — OPH collection)
Acquisitions Committee
The Acquisitions Committee continued to assess all claims for new acquisitions into the collections. The committee approved the addition of 87 objects into the collection, including an original provisional Parliament House barber’s chair, a portfolio of chamber-based sketches and two prime ministerial portraits. Details of key acquisitions made in 2009–10 are shown in Table 6 (page 45).
Capital works program
The bulk of the extensive capital works undertaken in 2009–10 were part of the implementation of Life Cycle Cost Plan and security review initiatives. The plan sets out projects, with indicative costs, for the conservation, refurbishment and cyclical maintenance works required to maintain the building from 2007 to 2022.
All works continued to be planned and undertaken within the requirements and guidelines of the Heritage Management Plan, ensuring the building’s maintenance and development in accordance with its heritage significance.
The major projects undertaken during the year were:
- commencement of the refurbishment of the front stairs and lower entry
- commencement of the closed circuit television installation
- roof access provisions.
The front stairs and lower entry refurbishment is outlined in detail in a case study in this chapter.
Other completed projects covered a wide range of areas and activities, including:
- refurbishing the Members Bar area
- replacing lighting in the Prime Minister’s Office
- refreshing the areas outside the Members Dining Room
- improving fire services and storage
- replacing carpet on the main floor of the Senate
- upgrading roof access ladders and hatches
- painting the external surfaces and timberwork around Kings Hall
- electrical services work
- removing redundant chillers
- installing new exit and emergency signs.
These works were managed either by in-house program managers or by project managers and architects engaged through approved providers. The majority of works were undertaken by firms on the agency’s Minor Works Panel. Where specialist expertise required to undertake particular tasks was not available through panel arrangements, appropriate tender processes were used.
Sustainable development
Information on the agency’s contribution to ecologically sustainable development, under s. 516A of the EPBC Act, is in Appendix H (page 148).
As required, all proposals for new museums content were assessed by the Interpretation and Museum Programs Committee, and approved.