Upper Lachlan Shire Council is seeking to appoint a heritage advisor to advance the appreciation, promotion and effective management of heritage and town/village design across the Local Government Area.

Council, with the assistance of NSW Heritage, has continuously engaged a heritage advisor since 2010. The appointment is scheduled to commence in October 2025 and will run through to June 2027.

The outcomes of Council’s heritage advisory program have been very positive to date and Council seeks to continue this program. There are currently 172 items listed as being of Local Heritage Significance in schedule 5 of the Upper Lachlan Shire LEP 2010 and a further 4 items of State Heritage Significance. Council has identified a potential for approximately 140 new items which have been provisionally added to the heritage database subject to community and Council consideration.

Proposed Service

The heritage advisor’s primary objectives are to:

• Work with Council to develop and deliver its heritage policy and plan.
• Provide professional advice to Council, developers and the community to help deliver good heritage and village design management outcomes in the local government area.
• Provide advice in relation to projects that relate to Upper Lachlan Shire’s Aboriginal and European heritage.

Key duties are to:

• Liaise with, and assist, heritage owners and developers for best heritage outcomes.
• Work with Council to manage its heritage assets.
• Work with Council’s staff, management and Councilor’s to develop and update Council’s heritage policy and heritage strategy/plan.
• Provide heritage advice (reports) to Council with respect to pre-DA and DA matters.
• Research and update Councils’ heritage inventories and database on the State Heritage Inventory.
• Ensure effective statutory management of heritage.
• Provide educational and promotional opportunities for heritage.
• Promote sustainable management of heritage.
• Promote incentives, including grants and funding for heritage.
• Support Council in representations and or discussions with NSW Heritage.
• Assist with strategic planning advice to planning proposals, Council policies and projects.

Desired experience and characteristics:

• Suitable experience as a Heritage Advisor within a Local Government setting.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in a heritage-related discipline.
• Demonstrated creative and persuasive leadership in delivering best practice heritage management outcomes. This includes strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, promote heritage as a positive asset, and achieve quality heritage outcomes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of, and practical experience in, contemporary heritage management theory and practice, including the Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter and NSW Heritage publications.
• Sound understanding and proven application of relevant state and local government heritage legislation, including the NSW Heritage Act 1977, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, and the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
• The skills and experience to design, prepare, and implement effective heritage management strategies that balance community, environmental, and cultural needs.

Restrictions on the role:

The heritage advisor’s key duties may place certain restrictions on them undertaking other work within the Upper Lachlan Shire Council local government area. These restrictions are designed to avoid any conflicts of interest.

While engaged as an advisor you (or any other person or firms with which you have a formal and/or financial association) may not undertake other paid work in the Upper Lachlan Shire Council local government area (other than for Council). However, you may seek the Council’s agreement to the following exemptions:

• completion of an existing heritage project commenced prior to appointment as the advisor
• work on any heritage or village design matter provided it does not:

− involve a heritage item, a heritage site or a property in a heritage conservation area

− involve any item which might reasonably be expected to be the subject of advice by a heritage advisor

− lead to a conflict of interest with your role as the heritage advisor

Fees:

Your itemised fee proposal, (inclusive of GST) must include:

• an hourly fee and daily fee for attending the Council area (based on a 7-hour working day), including all disbursements. Your fee proposal should indicate your proposed start and end time for the day in the Council area.
• a separate component for travel costs.
• an hourly fee for providing advice to Council outside of regular scheduled visits.

Depending upon the fee proposal and Council’s budget, it is proposed that the heritage advisor visit the area once a month or provide written advice on heritage-related matters on an as required basis. Council may seek to increase visits if development activity increases, or Council undertakes a review of local heritage items and Council’s budget can support an increase in the level of service required.

5.0 Insurance

The Heritage advisor must take out and maintain for the period of the appointment the following insurances:

• Public Liability $20,000,000
• Professional Indemnity and Liability Insurance $10,000,000.
• Workers Compensation – In accordance with NSW Government Legislation
• Motor Vehicle – Registered vehicles used for the purposes of the works or services shall be covered by Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance and Compulsory Third Party Insurance.
• 6.0 Expression of Interest
• If you are interested in becoming our heritage advisor, please send an expression of interest to Council including the following:
• curriculum vitae including full contact details and ABN status
• a brief statement outlining why you would be a good advisor for this area
• a written statement demonstrating how you meet the desired experience and characteristics points outlined in section 2.0 above
• contact details for two referees (preferably other council areas) who support your suitability as a heritage advisor
• your fee proposal in accordance with section 4.0 above, inclusive of GST
• confirm that you are prepared to attend an interview in Crookwell or via Teams for the consultancy at a mutually agreeable time and at your own full cost.
• Applicable certificates of currency for Insurance in accordance with section 5.0

Your expression of interest must be emailed to: procurement@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au File Reference No. ULSC2025-23