Heritage Advocacy
Heritage Advocacy is one of the core activities of the National Trust. Since the 1960s, we have been representing the interests of our members and campaigning for the recognition and protection Queensland’s environmental, built and cultural heritage.
Advocacy aims to raise awareness and push for changes in how society and government perceive and protect heritage. There are many different methods the National Trust uses for advocacy and awareness raising – including campaigning, organising events, managing people, researching issues, collecting resources and funds, developing educational programs and toolkits, and mobilising media.
Our Advocacy work is ongoing and constant. From its early days, when the Trust established the state’s first Register of Significant Places (26 years before Queensland initiated a statutory register), to major campaigns for the protection of Brisbane’s Northbank, Cloudland ballroom and the Regent Theatre, through to the recognition of Queensland’s Icons, the National Trust has supported the protection, conservation and celebration of Queensland’s heritage.
Getting involved in advocacy as a member of the National Trust is one way of helping save Queensland’s heritage places.
Currently, our advocacy work is focused on three areas:
- Strategic Advocacy
Pre-planned, pro-active advocacy campaigns - Submissions
Reactive advocacy in response to direct threats to heritage - Awareness Raising Events
A combination of educational, inspirational and social events that interpret and manage heritage.
Strategic Advocacy
Although COVID-19 has limited the capacity of the Trust to undertake on-the-ground campaigning, planning and advocacy work continues through National Trust branch meetings and committees, including the Heritage & Advocacy Committee.
Local Government Elections
March 2020 - Our priorities for Qld’s local heritage issues.
Review of the Cultural Heritage Acts
August 2019 – Letter to Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.
2019 Federal Election Priorities for Heritage
A Statement from the National Trusts of Australia.
Reconciliation Rocks Cooktown
February 2019 – The National Trust has made a formal nomination of Reconciliation Rocks to Australia’s National Heritage List.
Submissions
The National Trust, through its branches, committees and other resources, responds to heritage issues as they arise. These may be submissions made to local government Development Applications involving heritage places, or submissions made to the Queensland Heritage Council regarding publicised applications to enter places in the Queensland Heritage Register.
August 2019 – BCC DA#A005231411, 308 Queen Street, Brisbane
December 2018 – BCC DA#A005011420 – Proposed Mt Coot-tha Zipline
August 2018 – BCC DA#A004814571, 645 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Sinnamon Park, Brisbane
July 2018 – BCC DA#A004862488, Goldicott House, 65 Grove Crescent, Toowong
June 2018 –NTAQ letter to Referrals, Environment Assessment Branch, Canberra expressing concerns over the development known as the Toondah Harbour PDA. Click here to see more information on development EPBC Reference Number: 2018/8225.
March, April 2018 – DEV2017/846 – NTAQ letter to Economic Development Queensland Development Approval Queen’s Wharf, Brisbane and Response to Development Conditions
Awareness Raising Events
Events are arranged periodically by Trust branches, but educational and inspirational events may also be included in National Trust programs, such as the annual Heritage Festival usually held in May/June. The National Trust additionally partners with other organisations to promote heritage conservation and awareness regionally and across Queensland.
Advocacy Enquiries
Telephone number:
(07) 3223 6666
Email:
heritage@nationaltrustqld.org