Mark Michael

2014 candidate for City of Port Adelaide Enfield.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
I personally believe the Council's role is to be in close touch to the heritage of the land, buildings and monuments that lie within its borders. This close touch is achieved through listening and understanding to the stories from the people who have lived in those areas. Listening and appreciating the stories that have been passed down through generations either through literature or in person. Finally the Council's role is to act through commissioning reviews, providing grants, hiring advisors and providing political advocacy to State and Federal Governments. As I am representing others I would like to take the time to understand further what the constituents of the Council feel the Council's role should be in protecting and conserving heritage. This would help to better inform my own position moving forward.
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
Before pledging support to certain measures i would like to engage with the constituents to hear their views regarding heritage and conservation matters. Council has in place a Heritage Incentive Grants Program Policy to achieve conservation aims and to assist and support the viability of new development associated with the conservation of local heritage places and contributory places. I would continue to support this existing measures until i have further informed myself of this very important and sensitive topic.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
This is a question for the constituents and is essentially a question that is relative to your location and personal bias. Personally the conservation of the area of Clearview, the "Garden Suburb" precinct of the 1920s, is of great importance to me and my family. Ensuring we both maintain and grow the open spaces and ensure the 'pattern' or layout of the suburb is maintained. However, as mentioned above, i would like to listen, understand and act on the views of the people - not my personal views.
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
Before pledging support to certain policies and programs i would like to engage with the constituents to hear their views regarding heritage and conservation matters. As it stands the Port Adelaide Enfield Council currently employs a Heritage Advisor who advises heritage listed property owners about how best to manage and develop their assets. Council also has in place a Heritage Incentive Grants Program Policy to achieve conservation aims and to assist and support the viability of new development associated with the conservation of local heritage places and contributory places. I would continue to support these existing measures until i have further informed myself of this very important and sensitive topic.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
I would support a policy where a council representative(s) were involved in the decision making process and had an equal say on such developments to bring the "local view" to the table. I would also look to negotiate on the precise dollar amount as $3 million may or may not be the appropriate figure for this "cut off". Ultimately, major project decisions will need to be made for a greater good and to ensure development consistency across local government borders.
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
I would like to answer this question by quoting Historical Fiction Novellist Michael Crichton: "...if you didn't know history, you didn't know anything. You were a leaf that didn't know it was part of a tree." ~Timeline For me this is simple, let us not get so caught up in progress that we completely ignore our heritage, let us progress with a view to respecting the tree from which we were once a part. I sincerely look forward to speaking to my constiuents about their views and how i can best represent them moving forward.