Erica Jean Fabricius

2014 candidate for City of Whyalla.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   I think there role is very important. The role each council should take is a proactive approach to the collection, storage and accessibility of our local history. They need to have funds available to meet this need, because if it's not respected now, our history will be lost.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   I support new ideas and working with the current volunteers in our community to better address the issue of local heritage. This requires resources, money, people and time. I support a more integrated approach to the cultural aspects of our city.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   I am not ignorant to this issue. However, I have a lot to learn. Just from speaking with some of our wonderfully knowledgeable people, I understand that local history collection, protection and storage, in all forms has issues here in Whyalla. One area I agree we need better records on, is local council's successes and failures. We need to learn from the past so we don't continue making the same mistakes.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   Logical ones. Policies and programs that focus on both sides of the coin. Not only the collecting and storage, but also the accessibility for our history to be shared!

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   I do not support what I believe is to be the current policy here in Whyalla, and that is that the CEO alone has the right to sign off on any project alone over a few million dollars. I am not well versed on the processes that take place in regards to signing off on projects. I would think it logical, that the entire council, including the mayor and CEO would and should have a limit sign off on. Then I'm unsure what the process is after that.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   We need to protect our heritage and get our younger generation involved in the enjoyment of collecting, storing and sharing our history. If it's left upto the people whom currently take care of such things, then we'll lose it all eventually. It will be a case of no one left to fight for the rights of heritage conservation!