Chris Crabbe

2022 candidate for City of Holdfast Bay.
Heritage survey responses.

1. Do you think that Councils and community members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area?
   Definitely. There are numerous examples of where development-creep, inappropriate and unsympathetic development, as well as green space loss, has occurred due to a lack of local consultation and the watering down of local government's planning powers.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Local councils should play a key role in protecting our built heritage and history. Whether it be greater say in larger developments taking place in local council areas or stopping land-banking by owner-developers wanting to demolish heritage-worthy buildings for profit and gain.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   If elected, I would work with my colleagues on Council to petition State Government for great powers at a local level to protect heritage places. I would also seek to have a long-term Heritage Strategy developed by local council.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   I think we can find a lack new places being added to local heritage listings due to a lack of awareness in the community about the benefits of heritage status, I also think there are some who would prefer to profit through new development rather than embracing and improving on the past. Heritage places can add value and character to the neighbourhood, as well as forming an important element in the storytelling of a local area.

5. 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?
   If elected, I would consult with residents, local business, community organisations, council staff and relevant experts in planning and design to review the Code. Any decision to change the Code, or aspects of it, would be done in consultation with key stakeholders and experts with the overall aim of better protecting local built and environmental heritage and ensuring local council has appropriate powers to respond.

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   Urban infill is preferable to urban sprawl and inevitable given population growth and the desire of people to live close to work and transport infrastructure etc. It is essential that any urban infill projects are complimented by new green space for the community, additional tree canopy, increased and improved local transport infrastructure, the incorporation of green and sustainable design, and informed by genuine and thorough local community consultation. Implications to local traffic, active transport and parking should also be factored into the decision making process.

7. 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?
   The issue of land-banking should be addressed, while incentivising people who own an existing building which is significant to local heritage to renovate their property and incorporate green and sustainable design as part of the renovations. This could be done through a grant program, tax incentives and education programs.

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   The community should be consulted thoroughly and genuinely on new developments. Tokenistic consultation only increases community opposition to new development. Multiple channels of consultation should be employed and it should include a diverse range of stakeholders and voices. Consultation should be ongoing and community input considered and incorporated into the final design and development.

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   No, the existing tree canopy should be protected and initiatives developed to increase it throughout the City of Unley. Particularly as part of new developments such as the Le Cornu site redevelopment.

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    I would like to see greater protection of the significant and regulated trees within the City of Unley, while also having increased planting of native, suitable trees along streets and on council property.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    Council should have overall say on the removal of significant and regulated trees within the council boundaries. As the level of government closest to the community and most aware of the local neighbourhood, this would ensure decisions to remove or protect trees are made in an informed and sympathetic manner.

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    Increasing tree canopy, incorporating green infrastructure into new builds and major renovations, ensuring adequate green space is built to compliment urban infill, increasing active transport infrastructure, transition the council vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, providing parking infrastructure for FlexiCar and other rideshare providers, stopping gas connections being made to new builds and developments in the council and incentivising and facilitating verge gardens to increase biodiversity and habitat.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    Due to a number of major roads (Greenhill Road, Anzac Highway, South Road and Goodwood Road) bordering Goodwood Ward we have significant numbers of rat-runners using neighbourhood streets to bypass traffic, many of whom speed and create a dangerous environment for local residents.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    Improving accessibility to Goodwood train station, enhancing active transport infrastructure within the council area.

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    Greater (and genuine) community consultation in decision making
    Ensuring public green space and infrastructure is increased and accessible
    Increasing tree canopy to protect against the heat sink effect, and increase biodiversity through verge gardens and green infrastructure