George Howard

2014 candidate for City of Mitcham.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
It has a key pivotal role in protecting and conserving heritage. Whether its national/state/local heritage interest we are talking of Local Government has a key role in facilitating or advising on places/buildings of heritage value. Whether its a role of facilitating a listing or being proactive in advocating for a listing Local Government should be involved.
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
Local Government should provide financial incentives to owners of heritage listed buildings. These funds would go to maintain the fundamentals of the property eg roof/basic services etc which would keep the property from deteriorating to the point it is lost to future generations. It is not only buildings which need preserving but areas and localities eg Brownhill Creek Valley. The old Mitcham Village needs to continue to be maintained. Our home and our neighbours were the first two built outside the Mitcham Village 1880 (at the same time as the old bluestone church on Princes Road} and we have both maintained the façade.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
Maintenance of the old Mitcham Village precinct and protection of the Brownhill Creek Valley.
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
Identification of heritage buildings ( an updated audit) around Blackwood and identification of buildings in distress so that timely remedial action can be undertaken with some financial assistance from local government.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
Yes - the more local input we can have into development proposals the better we can serve our constituency which is the ratepayers of Mitcham.
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
No - but thankyou for the opportunity!