Local government has played a pivotal role in heritage management in New South Wales since 1985 when it was given responsibility for protecting local heritage through the local environmental planning process, under the EP&A Act. Today, local government fulfils its role largely through environmental planning instruments such as regional and local environmental plans.
The NSW Heritage Office has provided various forms of assistance to local government in the last few years to help it with its heritage responsibilities. It established the Local Government Heritage Advisors Network and provides training to Heritage Advisors. More recently, the Heritage Office released the model heritage provisions for local environmental plans.
