John Bolton

2014 candidate for Town of Gawler.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
A comprehensive and clear heritage and protections plan for all Councils is an important part of their role. Such a Plan needs to be developed with thought so that it can be endorsed and supported by the community as a whole.
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
I support the identification of important local heritage but not every old and crumbling archaeological brick needs to be retained in situ. I support the development of a heritage preservation assistance fund. Owners of those assets which are most restorable will be able to draw on those funds as a source of public assistance for conservation and restoration for the public good. The fund would be contributed to by those land holders with archaeological heritage that is so depleted that restoration would not be able to preserve a substantial proportion of the fabric of the building to the extent that it would be more of a facsimile than a restoration. In such a case the value of the land to a developer who could "clear it" could be assessed and a reasonable levee placed on the vacant land value. Such a levee would not go into general council revenue but in to a distinct fund.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
A balance between preservation and development is seen to have been lost. There is real risk of the community eschewing conservation and preservation works at an appropriate level because many see the preservation of every brick and crumbling wall as going too far and adverse to proper amenity and appropriate development of urban infill.
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
I support the development of a local council heritage preservation assistance fund. Owners of those assets which are most restorable will be able to draw on those funds as a source of public assistance for conservation and restoration for the public good. Such a fund must have real financial capacity. Currently the paperwork takes longer to fill in than the funding assistance amount merits. The fund would be contributed to by those land holders with archaeological heritage that is so depleted that restoration would not be able to preserve a substantial proportion of the fabric of the building to the extent that it would be more of a facsimile than a restoration. In such a case the value of the land to a developer who could "clear it" could be assessed and a reasonable levee placed on the vacant land value that the owner would benefit from.. Such a levee would not go into general council revenue but in to a distinct fund.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
Unfortunately Councils that have displayed an "object to everything" approach are fast losing the power to do anything to pursue the maintenance of character that they seek. I oppose regional DAP's - but such opposition is weakened if local DAP's are not skilled. I would prefer local councils to retain planning development powers over all but genuine State Major Projects. The dilemma is that elected Councillors are largely not experts in any field associated with development and planning - laws or principles -. The conceptual dichotomy between Urban infill and greenfields development is an on the ground spontaneous reaction rather than a considered strategic decision. I support the LGA excellence panel considerations that the role of Mayor should be defined better in the Act, so that better appropriately qualified people will seek to stand for the role and lead the elected members in partnership with the Council staff experts.
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
I support the development of a local council heritage preservation assistance fund. Owners of those assets which are most restorable will be able to draw on those funds as a source of public assistance for conservation and restoration for the public good. Such a fund must have real financial capacity. Currently the paperwork takes longer to fill in than the funding assistance amount merits. The fund would be contributed to by those land holders with archaeological heritage that is so depleted that restoration would not be able to preserve a substantial proportion of the fabric of the building to the extent that it would be more of a facsimile than a restoration. In such a case the value of the land to a developer who could "clear it" could be assessed and a reasonable levee placed on the vacant land value that the owner would benefit from.. Such a levee would not go into general council revenue but in to a distinct fund.