Jason West

2022 candidate for City of Burnside.
Heritage survey responses.

1. Do you think that Councils and community members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area?
   Yes, Councils and Community Members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Councils should have veto powers to protect local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   Seek advice from the National Trust of SA.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   Regrettably some have a financial motivation to avoid their properties becoming old enough to be added to heritage listings. Local Heritage listings give us a sense of our place in history.

5. How has the Planning and Design Code impacted on the heritage, amenity, and environment of your area? What changes would you seek to the Code?
   I see increasing risk to our heritage, amenity and environment. Everywhere I look I see an increasing density of dwellings, people, parked cars and traffic. I'd seek more community and Council veto powers in the Code.

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   Everywhere I look I see an increasing density of dwellings, people, parked cars and traffic. Streets where you can no longer drive in both directions because of the huge numbers of parked cars outside infill development. I'd seek more community and Council veto in the Code.

7. Construction of new housing typically uses 30% labour and 70% materials. Renovation of existing housing stock typically uses 70% labour and 30% materials. What policy changes would you like to see made to encourage people to renovate, rather than demolish and build anew?
   I'd seek advice from the National Trust of South Australia and Conservation Council of South Australia.

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   Communication via the Council website and by mail to local residents for a minimum time period that gives sufficient time to become informed and take action. Community should have the right to speak at Council meetings regarding proposed developments before a decision is made.

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   In parts, but what we have we need to protect.

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    100% compliance with the current rules with well-funded enforcement.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    Council should have veto powers to protect significant trees

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    Council to assist residents by loaning Thermal Cameras so that residents can identify areas that require better insulation, probably by adding them to the inventory in the Council's "Library of Things". Energy audits - like how much energy we are using to heat and cool public spaces and swimming pools.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    Traffic and Parking are one of my key issues. We have to recognise that the new housing developments around Mt Barker are increasing the commuter traffic through Portrush Rd and Glen Osmond Rd. Infill Developments that don't include enough off-street parking. Streets that you have to stop to let oncoming traffic past because there are so many parked cars.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    Better utilisation. Secondary School students encouraged to get their first Metro Card.

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    No over-development
    Preserving Heritage and Historic Zones
    Trees, Parks, Traffic and Parking