Malcolm Bartholomaeus

2022 candidate for Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council.
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?
Yes but in an efficient way that does not impede progress.
What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
Develop a local heritage register as well as the state register. When a locally listed property comes up for development there should be a wide level of public consultation which should be listened to by the assessment panel, not to block developments necessarily, but to influence the way a heritage property is developed in line with community expectations.
How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
Make a list of heritage properties regardless of whether they are on the state register or not (and make this list public) and make sure that any changes to such properties are submitted to the local council planning departments before any work is done.
We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
If a full audit and listing of local heritage places has been undertaken properly in the last 50 years it is unlikely that there would many new additions. However a periodic check to see if any sites have been missed would be helpful. Newer buildings might be of significance and could be added but we would need to be careful to make sure that ending up on a list is not restrictive or imply significant costs down the line.
What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
Infill development can be impeded if trees cannot be removed.
Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
Yes
How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
Significant trees should be those of a great age or have significance as a landscape feature (eg an avenue of trees). Let’s get a sensible classification first.
What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
Councils should have control of significant trees on Council land. Landscape boards should be involved with trees on private land so there is no direct connection between the development process and tree management decisions. If someone has planted a tree and then want to remove it later there should be little involvement from anyone no matter how large the tree.
What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
Maximise street trees in new developments where block sizes are too small to have trees in gardens. Maximise the cooling effect from trees. Make sure that Council develop the correct infrastructure for a decarbonised society where electric vehicles dominate. Remove regulatory fees for people applying to instal solar panels. Zone land suitable for solar and wind farms so that communities know well in advance where such developments might occur.
What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
Insufficient parking spaces where people want to be.
How could transport options be improved in your area?
If we developed housing options with on site off street garaging in the CBD where people don’t need a car to get to the CBD, it would allow the population to grow without adding to parking or congestion issues. Every residence allowed outside of the CBD means more CBD parking spaces are needed
What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
Proper community consultation and engagement
Rezoning of land for future growth so we know where residential developments can go
Zoning of land suitable for wind farms & solar farms