Wayne Ward

2014 candidate for City of Onkaparinga.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   Council is the region's caretaker and protector. Among its duties to constituents is an expectation to provide and protect a standard of living that is concurrent with peoples' beliefs of that standard. A view to the future is a compulsory requirement, but a blind view of the past is an unacceptable occurrence. 'A solid base makes a solid structure' and therefore knowledge of how the local area began creates a feeling of belonging and continuing growth. It can occur that local people have descendants responsible for the areas development and can offer input to why and where and how things have evolved in the way they have. This information is extremely valuable and while available must be accessed so future generations will have a truthful understanding of their areas history. I believe structures must be left in place, unaltered. There must be records (charts, diagrams, photos, etc.) displayed and information dispersed to anyone whom seeks it. Any planning to take account of previous lifestyles and places.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   Any remaining structures to recognized and protected from animals and vermin by fencing deemed suitable. Public access to allowed up to a safe distance and information signage placed to explain the significance of the site. Areas where no structures remain should be signed and explained and, where possible, left undeveloped. Depending on the placement and condition of sites, the council may encourage tourism to further explain the areas history.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   The spread of urban development has encroached upon early farms and associated industries such as Butter Factories and Grain Mills. Though abandoned buildings now they represent the beginnings of prosperity for this region and the type of farming from that era. A direct example of heritage of the people here now that must be preserved for the people of the future.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   A program of recognition of suitable sites and a policy of 'Keep and Teach' the present generation about these sites. Involve the schools and any local groups wishing to partake in preservation and education about our area.

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   I believe local councils should control ALL development in the council's area.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   Involving the youth in caretaking of the past and make them realise it is for their future understanding of their community.