Cathryn Hamilton

2014 candidate for Town of Walkerville.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   Council should support the protection of places listed on State heritage register & identify places of local heritage that contribute to the character of an area. However, built heritage is not the only heritage that should be recognized and protected. Council should also protect natural heritage and understand and promote the significance of Aboriginal heritage in their council area. The Europeans were not the first settlers of this land. Too often, we forget that this land we now own, was once the home of the Kaurna people. The River Torrens and the land along the river have always been important to the Aboriginal people of the Adelaide Plains. Council should be respectful of the relationship that Aboriginal people have for the land and the river and include them in decision-making about its management and about factors which may affect its health.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   I support listing of State and Local heritage sites in Development Plans. I also support appropriate Signage to inform and explain heritage significance of sites. Listings of sites should be maintained by each Council and management plans should be agreed with owners of listed land and property. Grants or rates rebates should be provided to assist owners to maintain local heritage property in good condition. However, land of significance should also be managed appropriately. Council should provide incentives to enhance the natural heritage value of particular parcels of land including re-establishment of native vegetation.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   There are two areas that are important. First, The Aboriginal heritage and re-establishment of a more natural ecosystem along the River Torrens area. Second is the very early European housing in the council area. Eg Vale House in Levi Park Caravan Park.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   Land management program to protect and improve the Aboriginal heritage significance and native vegetation of the River Torrens area which should also extend to neighboring property and streetscapes. The Walkerville council area has a large number of dwellings listed as either local heritage or contributing to the local character of each area. However, some are well maintained while others are not. It is unreasonable to expect that the broader Walkerville council community can contribute funds to maintain all of these houses or to grant rates rebates. As part of the review of the Development Plan, it would be reasonable to undertake a review of the houses that are listed as having local heritage value or contributory value to ensure that the community understands and supports the focus on built heritage conservation.

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   Yes, but only if the Council has a Development Assessment Panel with expertise to assess and manage that scale of development. There are significant issues of quality of construction which need to be considered and Council may not have expertise in the appropriate area.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?