Anne Barbara

2022 candidate for City of Marion.
Heritage survey responses.

Do you think that Councils and community members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area?
I believe it is our community and when decisions are being made that will impact our community there needs to be processes in place to allow for community consultation. Ratepayers should have a right to express their opinions and most importantly to not only have their voices heard, but for there to be careful and considerate consultation occurring before decisions are finalised. Ratepayers want to know their voices are being heard and this will occur when councils act upon the community voices. Local councils need to be for the community and not an extension of state government.
What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
The council's role should be to protect local heritage places from demolition, I think heritage buildings and places are what gives a community its identity and makes it of interest to those who live in it and who visit. Having heritage buildings and places within our community gives our community character and sadly more and more buildings are being demolished and once they are gone they can never be replaced.
How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
The ways I see of improving protections for heritage places is by having discussions and consultations with the broader community, giving them the opportunity to present their views and opinions of what they want from their community and how they would like to see their community evolve. My observation has been that many people enjoy the heritage places within the community and are keen for these places to be retained. However there has been little opportunity for ratepayers to give feedback in a constructive way where their voices are heard collectively and not individually. After considerable consultation policies could then be written incorporating the community voice perspective, which would provide and promote ratepayer confidence of the council.
We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
Not sure why new places are not added to local heritage listings, perhaps its because value is not placed on our heritage, lets open this up for consultation and see if this is what the community wants. The benefits of adding local heritage listings is once again about bring interest and character to an area both for the local residents and for visitors. Personally, when traveling I enjoy the suburbs where there is diversity and heritage buildings or places and these are often sought out by travellers.
How has the Planning and Design Code impacted on the heritage, amenity, and environment of your area? What changes would you seek to the Code?
The Planning and Design Code for Marion Council appears to address issues such as tree planting, parking, sewerage etc, however of concern is the reduction in block sizes and whilst the document states these matters have been addressed, I wonder if residents have found this to be so. Of concern is the lack of community consultation as whilst it states people can provided feedback by a certain date it makes no mention of the year and one needs to know about what is being proposed and then go searching for the document. There needs to be more communication between the council and the ratepayers to ensure the real voice of the community is being heard and for ratepayers to be aware of what is occurring in their community and be encouraged to provide feedback. For too long people have believed council is doing the best for the community, however without the community voice how can the needs of the community be incorporated within policy. Also, many ratepayers believe there is no point complaining as no one listens. Let’s give the community back their voice and encourage everyone to start attending their local council meetings to find out what is happening in their community, changes to the code need to have the community voice imbedded within it.
What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
The sizes of blocks are greatly reduced no room for gardens, or for children to play. Parking issues as too many vehicles in the streets, potential sewerage and drainage issues. Block sizes to be retained/maintained.
Construction of new housing typically uses 30% labour and 70% materials. Renovation of existing housing stock typically uses 70% labour and 30% materials. What policy changes would you like to see made to encourage people to renovate, rather than demolish and build anew?
Reduction of the rate burden, as rates are often increased when properties increase in value – perhaps introducing financial incentives for renovations to retain/maintain current properties
How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
Information sessions should be organised and openly advertised to inform ratepayers of developments especially where there is major development and on a more individual level allowing current property owners to have a say about the blocks next to them having multiple buildings on them.
Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
I believe too many trees are being cut down to make way for development and it is no possible to replace them as it takes many years for them to grow.
How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
Community consultation when it is in council parks and on a personal level discussions with individual residents when it impacts them.
What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
It is the community voice that needs to be incorporated into decisions about tree removal.
What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
Our environment is of the upmost importance and I believe on a local level we need to focus on sustainability and recycling and not to duplicate services provided/implemented by state government
What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
Single dwellings being replaced by 2-3 multi-level properties on one block, residential streets are blocked by vehicles, causing traffic hazards for children and the elderly in particular. Speed limits need to be in place in cul-de-sacs and small residential streets.
How could transport options be improved in your area?
I am fortunate to have multiple transport options in my area.
What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
community consultation is top priority
reducing multiple dwellings on what was once a one house block-community consultation
council members connecting with their community more and incorporating the Community voice within their policies