More consultation required on proposed changes to local heritage protection
The National Trust is calling on the State Government to reconsider its proposals for radical changes to local heritage protections and to undertake a full public consultation on its plans.
You may already be aware that far-reaching changes to legislation detrimental to the protection of Local Heritage places are being proposed by John Rau, Minister for Planning.
We urge you urgently to read the Government’s Discussion Paper (here) and the National Trust’s initial response.
Our system of local heritage protection, designed to give communities a say in what is protected, has generally served South Australia well despite the Government’s failure to implement its provisions effectively or in line with community expectations. Thousands of local heritage places will be at risk of demolition if the Government proceeds with its plans.
What the Government is proposing will:
• Make it harder to list local heritage places
• Exclude the community and local councils from decision making
• Make it easier to demolish places that are listed
• Remove heritage protection from thousands of places listed as contributory items or in heritage conservation zones
• Centralise all heritage protection decisions within the State Government planning department.
There has never been a more important time to stand up for our local heritage.
It would be a crime as well as a blunder to proceed on such major changes without widespread consultation with councils, community organisations and the general public. Consultation should include a series of public forums at which the proposed changes can be debated and recast.
The date for formal responses to the paper has been extended to October 7, but the Government is still refusing to run an open public consultation on the issues raised.
We encourage you to have your say now by completing our online survey and sharing it with others:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/localheritageprotection
We urge you to make contact with your local council members and State MPs to urge them to insist on proper consultation around future heritage protection and to consider the impact of these proposals on local heritage places in your area.
Please show your support on our Facebook page Love Your Local Heritage and tell us about the favorite local heritage places that you want protected.
You can also write directly to the Planning Minister John Rau MP at: 11th Floor 45 Pirie St Adelaide Postal address: GPO Box 464 Adelaide SA 5001
More news about this:
Advertiser 23 August
Messenger 31 August
In Daily 7 September
Advertiser 7 September
Advertiser 8 September
ABC 7 September
The Adelaide Review 9 September
Email us at heritagewatch@nullnationaltrustsa.org.au
