Rex Patrick

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?
   Unequivocally, yes! Since my Lord Mayoral campaign commenced I have seen multiple proposals and approvals for development in the city, including: * Moving the Aquatic Centre from one park lands location to another. * A 55 level "SA1 tower" approval at 207 - 209 Pulteney Street * A second tower at Festival Plaza * A Women's and Children's hospital on Parklands and the site of the Thebarton police barracks * A 26 story High Rise hotel at 144 Wakefield Street These all affect the city and park lands and many have heritage implications - with the Council having little to no say (and therefore the residents having little to no say). Approvals have been granted by the State Government or the State Commissioner Assessment Panel (SCAP). Council's need to be the voice of the residents and businesses of Adelaide. Council must develop a City Plan so that development in the city is not ad hoc. A city plan must consider population and demographics, transport, greening, entertainment, sports and culture and arts, and sustainability.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Council needs to speak up when inappropriate development takes place. It is the body politic closest to the residents and businesses in the City.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   Respect for the Adelaide City Council has been lost due to infighting and dysfunction. The Council has to rebuild its place in relation to development approvals. It needs to be advocating privately and publicly. When a State Government seeks to make a precedent of "heritage is important until we want to do something with a heritage site" the Council needs to call this out for what it is; disengenous.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   Deserving sites should be added to the heritage list. Care needs to be taken in in nominating sites. Just because something is old, doesn't mean it should be characterised as heritage. We need to let the city advance, but protect important heritage buildings and sites.

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 am not sufficiently informed of the code at this point in time to provide a good answer to this question. I am open to being briefed.

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   Infill development should be cognisant of the amenity and character of the area. It should be of high standard and complemented with tree planting.

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 council must make the approvals process relatively simple, quick and affordable.

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   There need to be much greater transparency associated with proposal to council. The Council should work to make sure residents are aware of proposal before SCAP.

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   There is greater scope for tree planting across the City of Adelaide.

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    Council must enforce protections and advocate strongly against State Government and SCAP proposals that do not properly consider the protection of trees.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    The Council has regulations in place that require a permit to remove certain trees. Strict adherence to protection policies must occur in the consideration of the issuing of a permit.

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    There are a number of measures ranging from the encouragement of energy efficient buildings, the increased use of renewable energy, the increased use of electric vehicles, the use of city waste in energy generation etc.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    The City of Adelaide need to encourage the use of pubic transport into and out of the City by making it convenient, clean, safe and inexpensive. New developments should only be approved after traffic and parking impacts have been properly considered.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    There is huge scope for changes in the City - underground rail, extension of tram services, electric buses, bikeways, etc - something that needs to be properly considered in a City Plan.

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    Development of a City Plan
    Heritage Listing of the Park Lands
    A Council voice in large developments