Katie Toop

2018 candidate for City of Onkaparinga.
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)?
   Neither agree nor disagree. I am aware that residents in our community are concerned about some decisions by the DPTI to approve plans for the development of 'gutter to gutter' large housing estates and that this may be at the cost of the preservation of the 'small town' feel of some of our heritage areas. However, I want to take an informed position on this matter and learn more about how councils have fared, historically, with respect to the preservation of heritage sites. If elected to the position of ward councillor this an area that I would like to review as I have profound respect for heritage listed sites and sites of cultural importance.

2. In your opinion, has the current system of local heritage protection served your community well?
   So far as I am aware, it has not served my community well. There are a number of dissatisfied residents concerned about the approval of large housing estates that are opportunistically built, with little regard for available amenities, their impact on the environment and their impact on community health and wellbeing.

3. Should councils reject proposals to list local places of historic merit simply because an owner objects?
   I don't know why this would happen, so may need further clarification of a situation where this has been the case. My initial reaction to this question is to say, no, I do not believe that there should be an automatic rejection of such proposals because of an owner's objection. That seems to me to be a situation which could very well be used to the disadvantage of the community.

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

5. Should buildings listed as Contributory Items in your council area receive better protection?
   I don't feel I can provide a considered response to this question, as I am not well versed in heritage protection. I understand that Contributory Items are a unique form of heritage-listed site, but I do not know why these would receive better rather than equal protection.

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?
   I don't feel I can respond to this in a considered manner. I would prefer to make enquiries to see what the situation has been historically with review by the DPTI, what were its benefits and what were its conscious or unintended consequences (and whether these would recommend an independent body for review).

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, absolutely.

8. What are your personal suggestions for improving the way your council handles policy and planning?
   I have no suggestions at this stage, but imagine that this would change if elected ward councillor and as my familiarity with this area of law increased.

9. Should councils actively encourage individuals to nominate places for consideration as local heritage?
   Yes, absolutely.