The WA government has provided councils with grants of up to $20,000 to engage consultants to help identify and protect their local heritage.

Under the state government’s 2021-22 Local Government Heritage Consultancy Grants 20 councils will share in $317,574 to work with specialists over the next 18 months.

The grants will support programs related to heritage lists, surveys of potential new heritage areas, and heritage-related planning policies and strategies.

Heritage Minister David Templeman says the grants round, which openedjlast November, recognise the central role played by local government in identifying and protecting places of significant cultural heritage.

Successful applicants were able to demonstrate a capacity to deliver the project and value for money, and guidelines say the grants are generally matched on a 50-50 funding basis.

The funding does not cover conservation works or ongoing wages for council staff or contractors.

Local Government Minister John Carey said local has an essential function in preserving the the unique spaces of local communities.

“The local governments receiving these grants will each have very different heritage places, each requiring a unique framework. These grants will enable them to undertake this important work.”

Local governments in WA are required to maintain a list of culturally significant places and have a publicly available local heritage strategy, previously known as a Municipal Inventory.

Last week, the Western Australian government added the Little Wilgie Ochre Mine in Cue to the State Register of Heritage Places.

The place is unique for Aboriginal ochre mining activity and was later used by non-Aboriginal mining ochre operations in the latter part of the 20th century.

It is a significant part of the Aboriginal story of how the Weld Range in the Mid-West was formed, Mr Templeman says.

“This is one of the oldest mining sites in Australia and provides a significant research opportunity to help us to develop an understanding of Aboriginal trade and cultural networks,” Mr Templeman said.

“The inclusion of this place in the State Register of Heritage Places is part of our journey towards incorporating Aboriginal history into the history of the State.”

The councils receiving the heritage grants are:

• Town of Cottesloe
• City of Perth
• City of Wanneroo
• City of Gosnells
• Town of Mosman Park
• Shire of Waroona
• Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
• Shire of Dardanup
• Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
• Shire of Manjimup
• Shire of Katanning
• Shire of Kondinin
• Shire of Gnowangerup
• Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup
• Shire of Wickepin
• Shire of Pingelly
• Shire of Northam
• Shire of Laverton
• Shire of Yalgoo
• Shire of Derby/West Kimberley