Michael Noack

2014 candidate for Adelaide City Council.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   I believe the best government is one that is the most local, so council should have a greater say than it currently does on a variety of issues including heritage. It should advocate for heritage where appropriate. Advocating for heritage on non-heritage buildings as many councils do, undermines the entire system. We need to understand what heritage is, what is truly heritage and focus on that, instead of undermining the whole system by overlisting non-heritage buildings as heritage. We also wan't to look after those in our society most at need by adding to housing supply by developing non-heritage buildings which are currently listed as heritage. This will reduce the cost of buying and renting a house and help the homeless.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   Ensuring that the entire system isn't undermined by removing non-heritage buildings from heritage listing (see my earlier answer)

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   Ensuring that the entire system isn't undermined (see my earlier answer)

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   Ensuring that the entire system isn't undermined by removing non-heritage buildings from heritage listing (see my earlier answer)

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   As said earlier: "I believe the best government is one that is the most local, so council should have a greater say than it currently does on a variety of issues including heritage." Council should have a requirement though, not to abuse planning powers and make housing un-affordable in the process by listing non-heritage buildings as heritage. The Council should not engage in retrospective by-laws (just as we don't expect anyone else to make retrospective laws), so if a building is not currently heritage, it shouldn't become heritage without the owners approval. There are alternative ways to look after heritage buildings where owners dispute the heritage status of a building. The best option is for a heritage group to purchase the building from the owner at a price they can both agree on. Supporters of heritage will realise that it's well worth while.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   No.