Robert Power

Through more than 30 years experience in planning, law, management and heritage conservation, Robert has a wide knowledge and understanding of the machinery of government, policy development, strategic and statutory planning and the implementation of environmental planning provisions, conservation principles and practices, environmental assessments under Parts 3A, 4 and 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and proposals under the NSW Heritage Act. This experience has been gained as Manager, Legal Advisings and Inquiries Branch and Manager Heritage Branch in the Department of Planning, Executive Officer to the NSW Heritage Council, Senior Associate and Director, Statutory Planning in Planning Workshop Australia.

Robert's knowledge and experience is reflected by a 'merit based' and practical interpretation of legislative and statutory instruments and guidelines. Consequently, Robert has a significant appreciation of the working relationship between planning, amenity, heritage and urban design in achieving sustainable development and better places to live and work.

Robert has been involved in major government conservation policy initiatives, including the NSW Heritage System Review, National Heritage Strategy, NSW Government Policy on Heritage and the development of the NSW Heritage Manual, review of Heritage Studies for whole of Local Government Areas and Conservation Management Plans for some of the State's most significant heritage items such as the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, Walsh Bay Wharves and the Chief Secretary's Building. He was a member of the St Mary's Cathedral Conservation and Works Committee that oversaw the restoration of St Mary's Cathedral and the erection of the Spires. He has assessed proposals for iconic sites such as the Cathedral, the adaptive reuse of Customs House, Circular Quay, refurbishment of the Queen Victoria Building and the archival recording of the erection of the Police Memorial Wall in the Domain.

Robert had been responsible for the preparation of environmental assessments for extractive industry proposals, coastal residential and environmental protection/enhancement proposals, aged care facilities as well as reviewing marina development proposals.

• Professional Affiliations
• National Trust Member No. 34122
• ICOMOS
• Formerly St Mary’s Cathedral Conservation and Works Committee
• Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) (CPP) No.6484R
• National Trust Urban Conservation Committee

• Professional Appointments
• Former Member of St Mary's Cathedral Conservation and Works Committee
• Commissioned by the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta to examine and assess Church and Civic Architecture and Public Spaces in Indianapolis, Columbia, Chicago and New York, August 1996
• Former Member of the Conservation Committee for the Restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta