Pauline Gill

2022 candidate for Adelaide Hills Council.
Heritage survey responses.

Do you think that Councils and community members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area?
I think the new Planning and Development code is still experiencing some teething problems and I am still waiting to see that it delivers what was promised. One thing that I do not like about the new Code is that it limits the opportunity to object to a development that may have detrimental impacts on an individual's enjoyment of their property. I also feel there are some things that are not considered development and should be, for example, motorbike tracks that seem to be springing up all over the Hills, impacting neighbors and there is nothing that can be done to stop them as they are not considered development. I would like to see more enforcement powers be given to Councils to manage property owners who do the wrong thing and do not develop according to their approvals or who negatively impact their neighbors.
What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
Councils can provide Local Heritage registration of properties and places that are of significance to the local area. The problem for Councils is when the place is privately owned and the owner does not want the place to be local heritage listed. Councils can educate people on what Local Heritage registration entails and what the benefits are for the owner. Councils should be provided the appropriate powers to stop the demolition of any place that has heritage significance until an investigation can be undertaken to determine the significance of the place and what would be lost if it is demolished.
How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
Our Council already has a listing of many places that it would like to protect, these are all in private ownership. An education program when owners are approached would be beneficial, I believe, to deal with facts about local heritage listing and why it is important. This may include providing the reason the place is historically significant.
We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
I think the biggest reason new places are not being added is the belief that heritage listing means renovations can't be undertaken and everything needs to remain original. There needs to be more information available to be provided to owners to show them what can and can't be done, why the place holds historical significance and how they may be able to benefit from it. The benefit of adding local heritage listings is that the history of our State and Country can be preserved and shown to generations to come.
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?
Including things that are currently not considered development, that has a potential negative impact on neighboring properties and allow objections to developments regardless of the approval pathway of the development.
What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
Due to our Council being in a watershed area there is limited infill development
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 would like to see the State Government invest in trades that are dying out and encourage recycling of materials where possible to keep costs down.
How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
There should be a notice board at the place being developed and more detailed information available from the Council.
Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
Yes
How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
Our Council has a Tree Management Plan that has audited all trees under the Council's management and listed the species and approx age. Trees are only removed if they pose a threat to human life. I am happy with this approach.
What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
Councils should be aware of the significant trees in their area and have a management plan for them. Council should be able to prevent significant trees on private land from being removed, this would entail the Council listing all significant trees in their area and not just those on Council land.
What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
Our Council has a Climate Action Plan and has declared a Climate Change Emergency.
What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
There are many areas within the Council area where parking is limited. Trying to encourage public transport is difficult when there is nowhere to leave your vehicle, this needs to be addressed by the State Government.
How could transport options be improved in your area?
There are limited public transport options in the northern end of the Adelaide Hills Council, there has to be options for people to access public transport to allow a reduction in the reliance on private vehicles.
What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
Reconsider what is a development
Allow objections from neighbors, even if the development is deemed to satisfy.
Notification to the local Council if there is a demolition request for a local historically significant place and allow the Council to cease the demolition.