Karen Hockley

2014 candidate for City of Mitcham.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
Council is in an ideal position to partner with the community in protecting our heritage. Council should be providing resources and programs that engage the community and promote heritage sites and information. Council should ensure that it undertakes programs in a way that sensitive to our heritage and ensure that there are no negative impacts of any proposal. Council should fund targeted investment into our heritage assets to promote heritage tourism and employment opportunities
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
I support targeted and strategic protection of heritage sites and precincts by the development and implementation of heritage plans that have specific requirements relating to future building development and the listing of assets on local, state and national heritage lists.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
The flood mitigation plan for Brownhill Creek
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
I consider that heritage is best protected when it is used and appreciated by the community. I would advocate for programs and investments that support the ongoing maintenance and use of heritage assets and that also promote heritage tourism, business and employment opportunities.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
My general position is that decisions should be made close to and in consultation with the community. As a result I support local Councils retaining development approval powers generally. However I am willing to entertain the prospect of having approval power centralised for large projects based on the arguments put for that proposition and the acceptance of those by the community.
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
Mitcham Council has a wealth of heritage assets and many are not known to the local community nor the broader population. I would like to see this change because if these assets are not loved by the community they are likely to fall into disrepair and be lost. The Coromandel Valley National Trust group is doing a wonderful job and I would like to see them have more support.