The Greens have promised to give $500,000 to refresh the Sydney and Melbourne buildings in Civic if elected and backed the heritage listing of major parts of the inner north and south.
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The promises were part of a heritage policy which would cost $900,000 in its first year, including funding for organisations to help remove a backlog of pending heritage decisions.
The announcement also included a commitment to look at options for a history and heritage display centre, which would act as a repository for objects and records important to the ACT, including Indigenous heritage.
ACT Greens heritage spokeswoman Veronica Wensing, a candidate in Yerrabi, said the heritage-listed buildings in Civic with twin 1920s design had not been maintained to a standard matching their historical significance or gateway location.
"The Greens will commit $500,000 towards a grants program for the restoration and upkeep of the buildings in a co-investment model with willing owners," she said.
"This could include painting, paving, lighting and signage."
The party has called for the decision on the nomination for the listing of the city's central national area and inner hills on the National Heritage List to be sped up. The nomination for the 12,600 hectares, which includes the Parliamentary Triangle, Mount Majura, Mount Ainslie and green corridors extending to the south of Woden has been in place since the first Rudd government, but there have been three time extensions by the federal environment minister for a decision since 2014. The current decision deadline is June 30 next year.
"The application recognises the significance of these areas in relation to the Griffin Plan. Having it protected will guard against it being destroyed in the future," Ms Wensing said.
Ms Wensing said a $200,000 package would be given for staffing of the heritage unit of the ACT Environment and Planning Directorate, with another $100,000 given to non-government organisations such as the Heritage Council or potentially Indigenous councils.
"We understand that due to under resourcing there is currently a backlog in processing heritage nominations, an urgent need to develop and review conservation management plans and pressure to assess development applications," she said.
Funding for volunteer-based heritage advisory groups would help speed up redevelopments or refurbishments, allowing faster progress on projects such as the Yarralumla Brickworks or fuller consultation on the Manuka proposals.
