Education Campaign Helping Developers Understand Archaeological Significance
Thursday 4 May 2006
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has launched an education campaign to give developers a greater understanding of our archeological past and how to preserve it.
The key component of the campaign is a brochure on Interpreting our Archaeology which is designed to give developers a better understanding of the significance of Port Macquarie's archaeological sites and the policies Council has in place regarding developing these sites.
According to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Heritage Officer, Mitch McKay the relatively low level of development in parts of the CBD means Port Macquarie's below ground archaeology has remained largely untouched.
"As one of only two penal settlements for secondary punishments of convicts in New South Wales the archaeological resources of the Port Macquarie CBD are evidence of the convict era that have state and national significance.
"Using this education campaign and brochure we are working with developers to foster an appreciation of the significance of our below ground history and a greater understanding of Council's processes in developing these sites.
"In recent years some significant parts of our history have been lost or not successfully incorporated into building designs. By working closely with developers we hope to incorporate archaeological evidence within development design and interpret sites more sympathetically in the future," said Mr McKay.
The brochure and more information about Port Macquarie's archaeological history is available from Council offices or by contacting Mitch McKay, Heritage Officer on 6581 8111.
