Karen Hockley

2018 candidate for City of Mitcham.
Heritage survey responses.

Do you agree that the identification and protection of local heritage places is best done by local councils rather than DPTI (Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure)?
Either councils or an independent body should be responsible for looking after heritage places.
In your opinion, has the current system of local heritage protection served your community well?
The current system has worked quite well, although it could be improved to stop places falling into disrepair. We need to more actively support people who are private owners of heritage places and where places are in government ownership they should be creatively re purposed to ensure that they are used and maintained.
Should councils reject proposals to list local places of historic merit simply because an owner objects?
No
Should neighbours of local heritage listed buildings have a right of appeal on development applications that propose demolition?
I'm dismayed about the changes to the planning system and these seem to be removing the community from decision making on individual developments. The retention of our heritage places and assets is an issues that is of interest to the broad community and where these items are being considered for demolition neighbours and other interested people and organisations should have the opportunity to participate in the decision making process.
Should buildings listed as Contributory Items in your council area receive better protection?
I don't know enough about what items are listed as contributory items and how well they are currently being protected. I invite the National Trust to engage with me and Mitcham Council in relation to this question once the elections are completed.
Do you agree that places proposed for listing by your council as Local Heritage or Contributory Items should be subject to review by DPTI? Or would reviews be more appropriately conducted by an independent source of expert advice?
I don't think DPTI should have anything to do with heritage decision making. Decisions should be made either by Councils or by an independent body.
Would you like to see your council work more closely with the National Trust of SA in protecting heritage, for example, by signing up as one of the Trust's Civic Partners?
I don't know enough about being a Trust Civic Partner but I invite the National Trust of SA to engage with me and Mitcham Council on this after the elections are completed.
What are your personal suggestions for improving the way your council handles policy and planning?
I'm not sure, since I have been involved with local government I haven't seem much activity in the heritage space in Mitcham. I would like to see our heritage places well looked after and I'd like Council to be more active in encouraging eco and heritage tourism in Mitcham.
Should councils actively encourage individuals to nominate places for consideration as local heritage?
Yes