Janet Giles

2022 candidate for Adelaide City Council.
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?
   Absolutely. The new planning Act has removed the voice of the community. There are no local people, environmental experts or heritage experts on the current bodies which approve large developments.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Councils should be the champions of heritage protection by encouraging and enabling heritage listing, documenting, acknowledging and celebrating local history including First Nations history and the history of the contact between First Nations people and new arrivals. Councils should have generous heritages renovation grants for residents. Councils should facilitate good community consultation.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   More heritage listings. More renovations More awareness of the significance of sites by the community.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   People don’t know how and who is responsible. Also council doesn’t publicise this and doesn’t seem to support heritage, only development. People are possibly scared that it will cost more or they will be stopped from modifying their house/building.

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?
   Important heritage sites in the parklands have become fair game for state governments and developers. Economic development and increasing population is seen as getting rid of old stuff and building towers. No discussion about the nature of our city, a plan for the future, how to make it a great place to live etc. The code has left residents and our historic buildings in a state of insecurity because you never know what will happen next door or in your area until it is approved or worse, construction or demolition starts.

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   There needs to be regulations about open space between or surrounding developments and consideration of community infrastructure such as shops, parks, transport, medical, schools etc. There needs to be environmental requirements ( not just green washing) so the heat impact is not increased and climate change is addressed.

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?
   Surely it still adds up to 100%!! It’s about valuing the skills of the workers and the importance of keeping our past. Council grants help.

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   They should be notified, given opportunity to raise issues, have these responded to and addressed.

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   In some parts yes but we have large areas where people are living with no tree canopy. (Eg city west) roads are the hottest part of our city. We need fewer cars and more Street trees to reduce the heat in the city.

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    Sa has the weakest tree protection laws in the country. We need better legislation and trees clearly identified as significant.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    They should identify the significant trees and say they are off limits.

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    Control cars and traffic, increase numbers of trees, protect the parklands from any further development. Support community efforts in gardens, tree planting, verge planting, roof gardens etc. work with state and federal govts to increase renewable energy and adapt the city to the advent of electric cars.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    Lots of commuter traffic and more car parking than any other Australian city so people bring in their cars rather than use public transport.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    Better bike and walking infrastructure and more linking and integration of transport within the city and to the suburbs.

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    Change the planning act to include council, community, environmental and heritage considerations.
    Remove the SCAP
    Develop a proper long term vision and plan for the city of Adelaide