Upgrade works in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens have been temporarily suspended.
Work was stopped on Tuesday afternoon after confirmation the gardens are in fact a state heritage item.
Council interim general manager John Rayner said even after recent heritage reviews relating to the project — particularly in reference to the now partially removed low brick fence — council was only aware of certain structures in the gardens being officially listed on the register.
New information presented to the council this week confirms the gardens themselves were made subject to a Permanent Conservation Order (later becoming the State Heritage Register) in 1981.
The council team has found no formal reference to the listing in council documentation from the time, but continues to search all records to ‘‘obtain and understanding of how the order came about’’.
Mr Rayner said council is now working with Heritage NSW, who will come to Deniliquin to conduct their own assessment, in an effort to return to the project as soon as possible.