* Resources law focuses on environment, cultural heritage and sustainable development * Laws to protect the built, natural, and Indigenous heritage assets examined * Chifley Home Museum in Bathurst a significant example of legislated cultural protectionThe Charles Sturt University (CSU) Centre for Law and Justice last week hosted a residential school in Bathurst for students studying Resources Law as part of their online law degree.Subject convenor of Resources Law and lecturer in the CSU Centre for Law and Justice Dr Kim Browne said students from Sydney, Wagga Wagga, and the Hunter region engaged with a varied program of lectures and workshops conducted by academics and practitioners in various facets of Resources Law during the three-day residential school in Bathurst.“It was rewarding to see the students respond to legal discussion and debate in focus areas that included the environment, cultural heritage and sustainable development,” Dr Browne said.“A highlight of the residential school was a workshop held at Chifley Home Museum in Bathurst hosted by Bathurst Regional Council.“The visit to Chifley Home was part of the University’s continuing partnership with Bathurst Regional Council and its cultural facilities.“The students were guided on a tour of the former prime minister’s home by Charles Sturt University academic Mr Sam Malloy.“Council’s senior strategic planner Mr Nicholas Murphy presented a talk on heritage protection from a local government perspective.“He outlined various examples in the Bathurst area where local government planning laws protected the built, natural, and Indigenous heritage assets.“The building and collection at the Chifley Home Museum are listed on the NSW State Heritage Register which acts as a significant example of legislated cultural protection.”This year’s residential school program also included academic Ms Ros Vickers from Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory. Ms Vickers lectured on the Northern Territory coal seam gas ‘fracking’ inquiry, Indigenous communities and mining, and international environmental law using case-studies specific to the Northern Territory and the Asia-Pacific Region.Resources Law was developed by Dr Browne in 2015, and is one of two ‘capstone subjects’ that form CSU’s Bachelor of Laws.Find out more about CSU law courses here.