World Heritage pitch refined

A BID to gain world heritage status for sites in Victoria’s historic goldfields won’t affect local development, the mayor of Ballarat has said.

Local councils from the goldfields region, which together represent about 17 per cent of the state’s land, have joined an effort to have significant local areas listed on the world heritage register, in the hope of attracting investment and jobs.

Mayors of the 13 local government involved in the bid met in Clunes last week.

The municipalities include the city’s of Ballarat and Greater Bendigo, along with the Rural City of Ararat and Golden Plains, Hepburn, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Moorabool, Mount Alexander, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees shires.

Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said bid will select important historical sites to form a tourism trail across the region, which would not constrain broader development.

“We’re not trying to stymie the growth of regional Victoria… we don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where 17 per cent of the state is under unreasonable constraints,” he said.

In Ballarat for example, it’s expected the site of the Eureka rebellion would be part of the bid.

“Eureka is known nationally, but not necessarily internationally… the gold rush was probably one of the most significant mass migration movements of the 19th century,” Cr Moloney said.

The municipalities are each spending about $125,000, but want a further $500,000 from the State Government to fund a site selection process, which can then go to State and Commonwealth authorities for consideration.

Types of properties that will be considered include town halls, railway stations or botanic gardens and recognised archaeological sites on public land.

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.

Cr Moloney said based on the example of the city of Cornwall in the UK, a listing could be expected to bring tourism worth between $20 million and $66 million to the economy.

There are already 20 world heritage sites in Australia, including the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, and Budj Bim in south-west Victoria.

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the joint bid for recognition across the 13 local government areas would have some big benefits.

“Individually, central Victorian municipalities have some amazing tourism products but collectively as a region we could be on the cusp of achieving something remarkable,” she said.

“A World Heritage listing would be the catalyst for so many opportunities built around the celebration of this remarkable legacy and for COVID-19 recovery.

“To attain what could be viewed as the highest status in world heritage recognition does not come easily.

“Our collaboration has been inspirational, our dedication unrelenting and we are confident our proposal to the State Government to advance this incredible initiative to its next stage will be successful.”

– BY LIZ HOBDAY/ AAP