Wanneroo museum policy puts digital backups and cultural care on a firmer footing

Unconfirmed minutes record the Policy Review Committee’s adoption of changes covering secure storage, conservation, exhibitions and digital collections. The collections are insured for $443,998 under a 2020 valuation.

Council: City of Wanneroo

Meeting: 2 November 2026, 6:00pm

Recorded status: approved

Source status: Draft minutes; recorded wording may change when confirmed.


BRIEF

Unconfirmed minutes record that the City of Wanneroo’s Policy Review Committee adopted an amended Museum Collection Policy on 2 November 2026 by a unanimous 6-0 vote. The changes add provisions for conservation, secure storage, exhibitions and regular digital backups, while clarifying the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Material. The collections include about 5,000 museum objects and 15,000 community-history items. Their recorded insurance value is $443,998 under a 2020 valuation.


KEY FACTS

- Unconfirmed minutes record that the Policy Review Committee adopted the amended Museum Collection Policy on 2 November 2026 by a unanimous 6-0 vote.

- The amendments add provisions for collection care, secure storage, exhibitions and regular backups of digital collections.

- The collections comprise approximately 5,000 museum objects and 15,000 community-history items including photographs, documents, maps and oral histories.

- In 2025/26, the museum accepted 11 of 24 donation offers, adding 80 objects; the Community History Centre received 43 items and answered 155 research and access requests.

- The collections are insured for $443,998 according to a 2020 valuation, although the minutes describe much of the material as irreplaceable.

- The policy will be implemented within existing operating budgets, with any future long-term digital-storage needs to be considered through annual budgeting.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The policy creates a clearer basis for managing digital collections, but the supplied record does not allocate a separate amount for long-term digital storage.

- The insurance figure is explicitly tied to a 2020 valuation and is presented separately from the collections' historical, cultural and social value.

- The six names listed for the museum-policy motion and the absence of votes against are consistent with the recorded 6-0 result.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- What long-term digital-storage capacity and cost will the City identify through its annual budget process?

- When will the collections next be valued?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Implement the revised policy within existing operating budgets, as stated in the report.

- Consider any future resourcing needs, including long-term digital storage, through the City's annual budget process.

- Continue placing operational detail in the City's collections procedures, reviewed alongside changes to the Museum Collection Policy.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The record is labelled unconfirmed minutes of the Policy Review Committee meeting held on 2 November 2026.
"Unconfirmed Minutes Policy Review Committee Meeting Minutes 6:00PM, Monday 02 November, 2026 Council Chamber (Level 1), Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo wanneroo.wa.gov.au UNCONFIRMED MINUTES OF POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 02 NOVEMBER, 2026 CONTENTS ITEM 1 ATTENDANCES 1 ITEM 2 APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE 1 ITEM 3 PUBLIC QUESTIONS 1 ITEM 4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES 2 4.1 MINUTES OF POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 31 AUGUST 2026 2 ITEM 5 REPORTS 2 MINOR REVIEWS 2 5.1 LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 3.3: FAUNA MANAGEMENT 2 5.2 LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 4.19: MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING STANDARDS 16 5.3 LOCAL AREA TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT" (Document title)

The minutes record adoption of the amended Museum Collection Policy and a unanimous 6-0 vote, with six members listed for the motion and none against.
"The policy protects this by ensuring items are acquired with clear title, cared for and stored securely, and removed only through a transparent, approved process. Voting Requirements Simple Majority Moved Mayor Aitken, Seconded Cr Berry That the Policy Review Committee ADOPTS the amended Museum Collection Policy as provided in Attachment 3. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY *6/0 For the Motion: Mayor Aitken, Cr Bedworth, Cr Berry, Cr Smith, Cr Rowe and Cr Wright Against the Motion: Nil Attachments: 1⇩. Attachment 1 - Museum Collection Policy - Current Version 18/342453[v3] 2⇩." (Item 5.4, adoption motion and voting result)

The policy sets the framework for acquiring, documenting, caring for, providing access to, deaccessioning and disposing of material in the Wanneroo Regional Museum and Community History Centre collections.
"its scheduled review. Background The Policy sets the framework for how the City of Wanneroo (the City) acquires, documents, cares for, provides access to, deaccessions and disposes of material in the Wanneroo Regional Museum and Community History Centre collections." (Item 5.4, background)

The report says core provisions for significance assessment, acquisition, deaccession, disposal and access remain unchanged, while the proposed amendments clarify application to the Community History collection and digital material.
"This is the policy's sixth review. This review found that the policy remains fit for purpose. Its core provisions relating to significance assessment, acquisition, deaccession, disposal and access remain unchanged. The proposed amendments are considered minor as they principally formalise existing collection care and exhibition practices, clarify the policy's application to the Community History collection and digital material, and update legislative and sector definitions and references." (Item 5.4, review findings and scope of amendments)

The proposed Collections Care section would commit the City to preventative conservation, qualified conservation treatment, secure storage and display, and regular digital backups. The proposed Exhibitions and Display section sets accessible, inclusive and safe display principles; both proposed sections provide for Traditional Owner and Custodian guidance on the care and display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Material.
"These proposed changes are outlined below. • A definition of preservation has been added to support the new Collections Care section. • Inclusion of new sections Collections Care (6.6) commits the City to preventative conservation, qualified conservation treatment, secure storage and display, and the regular backup of digital collections. • Inclusion of new section Exhibitions and Display (6.7) sets principles for accessible, inclusive and safe display. Both sections confirm that the care and display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Material is guided by Traditional Owners and Custodians." (Item 5.4, Collections Care and Exhibitions and Display amendments)

The report describes approximately 5,000 items in the museum object collection and approximately 15,000 photographs, documents, maps and oral histories in the Community History collection.
"The revised policy is consistent with each of these. Comment The City's collections hold the story of Wanneroo. The museum object collection holds approximately 5000 items, from everyday domestic and working objects to the SS Alkimos lifeboat and the Yanchep rowboat, both of which the WA Museum is nominating to the Australian Register of Historic Vessels. The Community History collection holds approximately 15,000 photographs, documents, maps and oral histories, including copies of the Wanneroo Road Board minutes and Wanneroo school journals." (Item 5.4, collection sizes)

In 2025/26, Wanneroo Regional Museum received 24 donation offers and accepted 11, equating to 80 new objects. The Community History Centre received 43 individual collection items and responded to 155 research and access requests.
"The policy guides decisions about these collections every week. In 2025/26 Wanneroo Regional Museum received 24 donation offers, accepting 11, which equated to 80 new objects. The Community History Centre received 43 individual collection items and responded to 155 research and access requests." (Item 5.4, donation and access figures)

Secret or sacred material is not acquired, displayed or published; any such material identified in the collection is stored with restricted access and returned to its community where appropriate.
"Secret/Sacred material is not acquired, displayed or published; any such material identified in the collection is stored with restricted access and returned to its community where appropriate." (Item 5.4, treatment of Secret/Sacred material)


SOURCES

https://wanneroo.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/11/PRCCC_02112026_MIN_AT.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/wanneroo-infocouncil-policy-review-committee-2-nov-2026-6-00pm-2-nov-2026-6-00pm-minutes-wanneroo-museum-policy-puts-digital-backups-and-cu-4eefaa609d/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.