Working hard for heritage: adviser's 139 site visits in just nine months

A report to councillors by environmental, planning and building services director Neil Southorn said council had run a heritage advisory service since 1996 to provide advice to property owners, developers and designers on maintaining, conserving and developing heritage properties.

Councilllor Jacqui Rudge welcomed the figures, saying they showed there was a real appetite for professional advice.

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"Obviously there's a need out there for site inspections, referrals and assistance and I think Bathurst Regional Council needs to be congratulated for the Bathurst Heritage Advisory Service and the three heritage assistance funds they have available," Cr Rudge said.

"Obviously it's very popular and it's very important for a city such as Bathurst [and] residents in town are seeking that advice rather than going off and doing their own thing."

Mr Southorn's report also detailed the amounts granted to property owners last year through each of council's heritage funds.

Eleven local projects received financial support to the value of $20,450 through the Bathurst Region Heritage Conservation and Interpretation Fund, including the creation of an audio tour of St Michael and St John's Cathedral and a documentary on the gold rush at Hill End.

There were nine successful grant applications (totalling $21,300) through the CBD Main Street Improvement Fund, including repairs to the "Daniel" window at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral; and 46 successful applications ($56,875) for funding through the Local Heritage Fund.

Projects to receive financial support through the Local Heritage Fund included the restoration of the St Stephen's Anglican Church at Fitzgeralds Valley and grave restorations in village cemeteries at Peel, Trunkey Creek and Rockley.