Stephen Furlan

2014 candidate for Town of Walkerville.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   It plays a crucial role to ensure the existing character of the area is maintained and enhanced. Council should support initiatives and play a proactive role in this area. Council should promote the protection and upgrading of local heritage buildings as a means to enhance an areas appeal. It also ensures the history of the area is maintained and not lost.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   I believe the council should actively promote the preservation of local heritage areas and buildings. Both private and public. This can be done directly by preserving its own facilities or by providing some incentives to private property owners who wish to upgrade their properties which are deamed local heritage significant.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   To ensure that homes and properties that are in this category are not lost but preserved and maintained. Many character homes are demolished to make way for large, high density living. This can often result in a loss in the history and character of the area. These significant properties should be retained and maintained.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   I support the need for a local heritage register that lists and protects properties in this category. I also support the need to provide advice and some financial incentives to private home owners of heritage properties to upgrade and retain them.

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   Yes I do. A well functioning local council is often best placed to be able to make appropriate decisions regarding projects of this size. They are able to ensure the project meets local area needs and provides a good fit to the character of the area.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   It is improtant to ensure that there is a good balance between new development and retaining the character of your area. A well functioning council and council representatives are able to achieve this. One needs to ensure we retain the character of the area which includes both public and private buildings.