Debbie McKay

2018 candidate for District Council of Mount Barker.
Heritage survey responses.

  1. Do you agree that the identification and protection of local heritage places is best done by local councils rather than DPTI (Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure)?
    Yes.

  2. In your opinion, has the current system of local heritage protection served your community well?
    No.We've had cases where because of the Category status, residents have not been informed of development because Council are not allowed to inform them. Changes are being made to heritage buildings that are not reversible. Heritage overlays are not understood by communities, they believe it gives protection when it does not.

  3. Should councils reject proposals to list local places of historic merit simply because an owner objects?
    No.

  4. Should neighbours of local heritage listed buildings have a right of appeal on development applications that propose demolition?
    Yes.

  5. Should buildings listed as Contributory Items in your council area receive better protection?
    Not sure. I am not aware of what protections they already have. I would need to find out more.

  6. Do you agree that places proposed for listing by your council as Local Heritage or Contributory Items should be subject to review by DPTI? Or would reviews be more appropriately conducted by an independent source of expert advice?
    An indepenent source. DPTI don't have the necessary heritage focus in the department. They are focused on building things, not on retaining buildings of heritage value.

  7. Would you like to see your council work more closely with the National Trust of SA in protecting heritage, for example, by signing up as one of the Trust's Civic Partners?
    Yes

  8. What are your personal suggestions for improving the way your council handles policy and planning?
    I think Council should talking to residents more about what buildings are under heritage listings. Council need to inform more proactively about what a heritage overlay means (and doesn't). Council needs to be less resistant about placing buildings under local heritage.

  9. Should councils actively encourage individuals to nominate places for consideration as local heritage?
    Yes. We need better understanding about the history of our buildings, why they have value and should be retained.

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