Heritage Impact Assessment

Heritage Impact Assessment for relocation of Character House (Rev. C)
45 Maple Street, Cooroy
For: Medicentre No. 2 Pty Ltd



        The specific outcomes and probable solutions of the Heritage overlay code relevant to this
        assessment are found in Table 13.5, which incorporates a specific section of same that relates
        directly to the Retention of historical streetscapes in character areas – see 13.21 below:




        The following justifications against the relevant provisions of the overlay code are submitted for the
        Council’s assessment of the proposed partial demolition and relocation of the subject early house:

        Specific Outcome O5: The valued streetscape character within character areas are protected
        through the retention of buildings that contribute positively to that character.
        Response: It is noted that the historic business centre of Cooroy (refer to Figure 1) that extends from
        Marana Street to Crystal Street and comprising 9 - 73 Maple Street inclusive – as shown on Heritage
        Overlay Map OM3.2 – (refer to Heritage overlay code (f) (i)) has been mapped as a Character Area
        such that residential buildings from the early to mid-twentieth century; including the subject
        character house at 45 Maple Street, are envisaged to be retained (refer to Heritage overlay code (f)
        (ii)). However, as noted in Section 2.3 of this Assessment, there is a distinct differentiation in visual
        character within this one streetscape which is demonstrated by the proportional representation,
        scattered distribution and relative location of the remaining extant examples of early houses mapped
        within Character Area of the Heritage overlay as opposed to the predominantly non-residential and
        contemporary visual character now evident across the predominant proportion of the Maple Street
        streetscape; as represented by the medical facilities located on its western side that visually dominate
        the north portion of that streetscape, which also includes the subject site.

        While the planning intent of this Specific Outcome to protect and retain the valued historical
        streetscape character is acknowledged, it is considered that the progressive development of this
        precinct for medical services or other commercial activities has effectively extinguished any
        semblance of a traditional character streetscape for the northern portion of the street and containing
        the subject early house. As the subject house is now surrounded to the north, west and south with
        more contemporary development; residential or otherwise, this early residence has become totally
        isolated within the northern portion of the Maple Street streetscape, which results in the failure of
        the subject house to positively contribute to any traditional character that may continue to be extant
        elsewhere in that streetscape further to the south of the town centre (i.e. the southern portion of


19125 / Maple                                                                                                 51