robert farnan

2022 candidate for Adelaide City 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?
Very much so. I have led opposition to the development at 88 O'Connell St and am disgusted with the way in which any resident input into the development has been minimised. Poor planning outcomes are the result, but more importantly residents end up with no ownership of their neighbourhood. There should also be third party input.
What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
Council can have a primary role. Listing heritage properties. Having local area development plans. Regulate changes
How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
All councils have relaxed controls and protection of historic places due to State Planning preventing councils from listing, and reducing the existing lists of heritage properties. There is a concentration of heritage properties in the City and North Adelaide that need protection.
We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
Heritage should include all buildings of merit, whether they are old or newer.
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?
Third party appeal rights. Local area character provisions restored in some form. Extension of the extent of historic area overlays and increased protection of currently unprotected historic houses. Applying a formula to the building height limits within Catalyst.
What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
Incorporation of historic buildings into infill development. Create pressure to increase density with any infill development so that there is a net benefit to the community.
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 option to demolish should attract a financial impost.
How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
The area of notification should depend on the scale of the development.
Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
No. And it easy to remove existinglarge/middle size trees
How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
Yes. Change 3m circumference rule to 1.5m.
What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
Council should be the regulator and enforcer of regulations through its CAP.
What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
Greening, increase of tree canopy, reduction of heat island effects, providing technical advice re roof coatings. EV charging facilities expansion, electric bus
What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
Severe parking problems radiating out from O'Connell St, Commuter parking displacing local parking. If the current plan at 88 O'Connell is constructed parking will be much worse again due to lack of public parking within it.
How could transport options be improved in your area?
tram extension.
What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
Increasing resident input into planning
applying a formula to catalyst site height limits, no high rise in suburbs
restoring character overlays, especially historic area overlays