The state planning policy was one component of a package of measures recommended by the joint state/local government heritage working party which delivered its findings to the Heritage and Planning Ministers in August 2005. The working party also recommended common standards and guidelines for preparing local government inventories, criteria for the assessment of local heritage places and areas, and model local planning policies for heritage, all of which have been released by the Heritage Council of WA.

The guidelines (or common standards) on preparing inventories, criteria for heritage assessment and model policies for heritage assessment can be viewed on the Heritage Council website at www.heritage.wa.gov.au