David Hughes
2014 candidate for Town of Gawler.
Heritage survey responses.
What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
Responsibilities for the protecting and conserving the heritage assets owned by Council and assisting and promoting heritage protection and conservation within its community. Legal responsibilities under State and Australian Government legislation and planning under the local Government Act. Local development plans and policies are utilised, policed and maintained to protect local heritage and contributing / complimentary heritage places and items.What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
Maintain and improve existing assets owned by the Town of Gawler such as historic buildings, places such as cemeteries and collections such as the Gawler Collection. Upgrade and build upon usage by community and knowledge of local heritage such as the Gawler Institute and Town Hall as only one third of these buildings are currently used. Gawler connect project to upgrade Institute and Town Hall currently deputy chair of this group. Look towards philanthropic funding of projects to protect, reuse and restore local heritage such as Gawler Connect. Maintain an active grants group within Council staff and elected members and link it to a prioritisation of heritage projects for State and Federal funding in the Town of Gawler. Town of Gawler stone walls program to help landowners fund repair and maintenance of their boundary historic walls and fences. Town of Gawlers existing development plans and policies such as night cart lanes, contributing and complementary heritage places and things are policed, maintained through education, compliance and incentives. Support local heritage groups of volunteers that work to educate, protect and conserve local heritage.What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
Asset protection and conservation of heritage owned by the Gawler Council to be used by the community. These assets especially buildings and artworks in the Gawler Collection are unique to Gawler and need to be maintained some on display and all protected correctly. Adequate funding and prioritisation of works to protect and conserve the Gawler Collection is in place and needs to be maintained.What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
Gawler connect project to conserve the Institute and Town Hall buildings. Protection and conserving of all Town of Gawler assets and collections. Maintaining Gawlers unique identity with non built form of its green belt and reserves including the Para rivers. Maintain and improve existing assets owned by the Town of Gawler such as historic buildings, places such as cemeteries and collections such as the Gawler Collection. Upgrade and build upon usage by community and knowledge of local heritage such as the Gawler Institute and Town Hall as only one third of these buildings are currently used. Continue the ongoing work on the Gawler Collection in conserving, protecting, displaying and promoting these unique community objects and artworks. Look towards philanthropic donation funding of projects to protect, reuse and restore local heritage such as Gawler Connect. Maintain an active grants group within Council staff and elected members and link it to a prioritisation of heritage projects for State and Federal funding in the Town of Gawler. Town of Gawler stone walls program to help landowners fund repair and maintenance of their boundary historic walls and fences. Town of Gawlers existing development plans and policies such as night cart lanes, contributing and complementary heritage places and things are policed, maintained through education, compliance and incentives. Towns character DPA is completed and heritage added as its important tool to help protect heritage in Gawler.Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
Yes from my previous experience as Chair of Gawlers development assessment Board and current deputy chair of Mid Murray Council and The Barossa Council development panel I have seen added considerable value of local knowledge to developments over 3 million and see no reason to take this important improvement power away from grass roots local government.Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
Town of Gawlers existing development plans and policies such as night cart lanes, contributing and complementary heritage places and things need to be policed, maintained through education, compliance and incentives this needs to be assisted by Australian and State government funding. Current work on Character DPA for Gawler is an important tool to help to protect our heritage. Inventive ways to work with community and groups is required sometimes thinking outside the box to value, use, conserve, improve, promote and protect our heritage. Kindly contact me to discuss any issues or your thoughts to help conserve Gawlers heritage.