Sue Britt

2014 candidate for District Council of Coober Pedy.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
A Council can and already does protect and conserve heritage by promoting the opal gemstone supporting the Coober Pedy Historical Society and the private museums maintaining the First Cemetery maintaining heritage trail signs promoting our heritage on its council website playing an active role in planning and enabling Centenary events
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
I support all of the above. In addition I would like to see the old Town Hall made into a Heritage Centre. Coober Pedy opal miners have designed and built their own unique mining machinery - blowers, tunnelling machines, noodling machines, etc - over the years. Many of these machines are rusting away. In a Heritage Centre they could be collected, protected and conserved.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
The most important heritage protection issue in Coober Pedy is opal mining. Opal mining is what our town was founded on and it is our living heritage.
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
I advocate policies that reconcile native title with opal mining.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
I do support the retention of Council development approval for projects over $3m in value. The local council represents the community and it is less likely to be swayed by party politics. Projects that tick all the boxes in Adelaide may not meet local needs.
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
Tourism, opal mining and our historic heritage are all closely linked. Our economy depends on tourism and opal. Tourists come to see a living opal mining town and to learn about our unique heritage. Our heritage is opal mining.