Mr. Ian Lumley:

We agree with the Senator that a great deal could be done. I was a member of the Heritage Council for a number of years. The resourcing of local authority conservation officers is important. Having employed in all of the local authority areas a well-informed conservation officer employed who can deal promptly with property owners, architects and others doing building works on protected structures is very important. That resolves issues. A great deal can be done by way of discussion that can avoid delays in the planning process. The Senator's suggestion that the determination as to whether work can or cannot be done on a building without going through the process of section 57 determinations is a useful one. Section 57 is a very useful part of the legislation. It means that a determination can be issued that works such as re-roofing or other structural repairs can be carried out without the requirement to go through the planning process. That also creates transparency and there is a public record of that. I would have some reservations in regard to the conservation officer or architect for the local authority and the architect for a property owner being able to do things internally. That certainly is something that would-----