Registration appeals
The Heritage Council is an independent statutory authority responsible for reviewing recommendations made by the Executive Director and for adding places and objects to - and removing them from - the Heritage Register.
Anyone can make a submission to the Heritage Council on an Executive Director recommendation to include or not include a place or object in the Victorian Heritage Register. Submissions can either support or oppose the recommendation. Submissions must relate only to whether or not a place or object is of cultural heritage significance or to any recommended permit exemption or extent of registration.
Submissions must be lodged within 60 days of the recommendation being publicised.
It is recommended that submissions are lodged using the form Heritage Council Hearings Protocol 2: Registration submission to the Heritage Council
Please note that all written submissions will be treated as public documents. While the Heritage Council will endeavour to respect any privacy wishes of which it is informed, it is bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1982. You should expect your submission to be freely and wholly available to anyone seeking access to it.
The Heritage Council must conduct a hearing into a recommendation if:
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a hearing is requested by the National Trust or a person with a real and substantial interest in the place or object (for example, the owner or nominator of the place or object); or
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a submission is received objecting to the Executive Director's recommendation not to include a place or object in the Victorian Heritage Register.
Registration Hearings are conducted by the Registrations Committee of the Heritage Council. The Registrations Committee comprises three Heritage Council members. Registration Hearings are public processes that provide all parties with an opportunity to present their views to the Committee before a decision is made. Further information on Heritage Council Hearings can be downloaded here:
Heritage Council Hearings Protocol 1: General Information about Heritage Council Hearings
If a hearing is not required or requested by the National Trust or a person with a real and substantial interest in the place or object, the Heritage Council can determine the recommendation without a hearing. This is known as a Registration Meeting.
Registration Meetings are closed meetings conducted by the Registrations Committee. At the meeting the Registrations Committee considers all submissions lodged in response to a recommendation. The Committee has the ability to request further information from any submitter in order to inform itself about the matters being considered.
The decision of the Registrations Committee is binding in both registration processes. Written reasons for the decision will be provided to all parties following a hearing or a meeting.
For further information on registration hearings and registration meetings, contact the Hearings Coordinator on 03 8644 8921 or heritage.council@dpcd.vic.gov.au.