Cost Budgeting the Conservation Management Plans for Heritage Buildings

Jim Smith, University of Melbourne

Abstract

The conservation management plan (CMP) for a heritage building establishes the nature of the work required to conserve, maintain and enhance the cultural heritage significance of the property. Based on historical, physical and comparative analyses, it provides policies for restoration, reconstruction, adaptation and new work for current needs and future development. The CMP provides a comprehensive working management guide for owners and other stakeholders to follow when carrying out works to the heritage property and includes components such as current condition, legal responsibilities and statutory obligations, sequencing and timing of proposed actions, maintenance programs, funding sources, long and short term costs, financial resources of owner, technical constraints, current owners needs and requirements and conflict resolution.

A missing element from many CMPs has been a realistic consideration of the cost of the work at this early stage. It is a significant requirement for many owners who need to budget for the works by knowing in advance their likely financial commitment before work commences. Increasingly, clients on heritage building projects require early stage cost advice (indicative costs) so they can establish realistic budgets. They need these budgets to plan the staging, extent and timing of the proposed work identified in a conservation management plan (CMP). These indicative budgets can also support client and community groups in making requests for funding from the various government and private agencies with an interest in or responsibility for the care of these properties. The author presents the background to the preparation of CMPs and a summary of experience gained from the financial assessment or budgeting for heritage projects.