Melanie Selwood

2022 candidate for Adelaide Hills 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?
   Yes I believe that real consultation needs to happen with residents. Simple surveys are insufficient. My goal is to work with residents to achieve good outcomes. Many residents in the Adelaide Hills are concerned about unchecked development, and don't want to end up in the same situation as Mount Barker - where development has been poorly planned and resourced. I will advocate to protect the hills from urban sprawl by ensuring development puts community and the environment first.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Council needs to ensure significant sites are protected through appropriate by-laws and advocating to the State Government where required. Sites that are of significance need to include both Indigenous sites of the local Peramangk and Kaurna people, as well as historic sites since colonisation. I will join with any community voices that are opposing heritage or significant sites being demolished. Council also has a role to play in educating people about the importance of certain sites in our region.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   I would like to see more significant Indigenous sites protected. We need to ensure the community is educated about the importance of specific sites, to ensure that there is support for protecting heritage places - both of built places, and natural places. Council is doing some good work in maintaining and restoring some heritage places in our region, and I hope to see more of that into the future. I also believe Council can work with the local historical societies to protect and educate about these sites.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   The more sites are listed, the more we can protect. Heritage listings are valuable to ensure that our history is not forgotten.

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?
   I would like to see the Planning and Design Code include regard of the potential impact a development will have on climate change. For example, I want to ensure that we are not creating too many heat-sinks, that we are protecting significant trees and that any planning includes consideration for foot-traffic and cycling.

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   Infill can be done well if carefully thought out. We need to consider the impacts that infill development has on the wellbeing on the community as a whole. If we are creating infill, what options are there for protecting green space for the community to access? What nature corridors exist? All of these questions need to be considered when any development takes place.

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?
   I believe renovation and retro-fitting are keys to creating a more sustainable future. I will advocate for improving the Development Application process to ensure that is reflected.

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   Community should be given ample opportunity to have input. That input should be sought in a variety of methods where possible.

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   I think there is good canopy, but we can do better in terms of nature corridors and protection of significant trees.

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    I would like to see improved tree protection at a state and local government level.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    I believe that the State Government laws need to do more to protect significant and regulated trees. That decision should not rest solely with local government.

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    Our council can improve the ability for people to use alternative forms of transport beyond cars by improving and connecting footpaths and cycle ways. We need to support primary producers to adopt regenerative practices as they will be the first severely affected by climate change. We need to improve conservation of remnant bush and improve biodiversity across the region.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    Our region suffers from lack of alternative options from car travel. We need to improve people's ability to walk or cycle, as well as connecting paths to public transport infrastructure.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    See above.

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    Protecting the Adelaide Hills from urban sprawl
    Better active transport by improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
    Ensuring development puts community and environment before profit