Heritage Victoria has recently recommended that the entire precinct of Parkside Gardens ( the former International Village) be protected by the Greater Shepparton City Council through the use of a Heritage Overlay.

The report states that Parkside Gardens is of 'cultural significance to Shepparton' because ' the International Village Project was a visionary project acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of many cultural groups in Shepparton' and ' represents a unique civic and community response in Victoria, if not Australia, to the post-war mass migration program which had such profound effects on Australian society'.

We should all be very proud of this vision and what was achieved. The ball is now firmly in the City Council's court to recognise this heritage value and work with the community to develop a beautiful and functional park which continues to incorporate and develop a multicultural theme.

Shepparton has made a slow start to protecting its heritage and unfortunately much has disappeared. Now, at least a start has been made and some strategies are being put in place to ensure that we retain what we still have.

In the Council meeting of May 4th, Council recommended that Stage Two of the Local Heritage Study be adopted. Clause 21. 05-9 from the Municipal Strategic Statement was included in that Council report.

It states that 'a comprehensive heritage identification and documentation process be undertaken in order to ensure that buildings and places of historic, natural and cultural heritage significance are adequately protected from demolition and / or inappropriate development.' This includes the protection of the heritage architecture of many older homes in central Shepparton. Changes by owners will be governed by certain Council heritage overlay requirements.

It is not good enough for Council to insist that residents whose properties are placed within a heritage overlay do the right thing with their heritage listed properties, if Council is not prepared to do the same.

Parkside Gardens is the property of this municipality. It has been assessed as being of cultural heritage significance by Heritage Victoria and it should therefore be protected. It is now up to Council to set a good example to rest of the community.

Jenny Houlihan