David Shetliffe

2014 candidate for Town of Walkerville.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   Councils have an important part to play using the tools of their planning scheme and local heritage lists. They can often be owners or custodians of heritage property in their own right - eg town halls and other civic buildings.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   One of the best ways to protect heritage is to find sound economic use for heritage properties. It is appropriate for public funds - from local, State and Commonwealth governments - to be used to provide assistance in achieving an appropriate balance between heritage and good economic outcomes. This can also apply in ensuring heritage residential properties can be appropriately modified to provide modern amenity within the home, thus helping to ensure such properties maintain or better market value.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   The conflict between the desire to increase housing density and the preservation of large, stately homes and gardens.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   Review of the local planning scheme and local heritage lists to ensure an appropriate outcome is achieved.

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   When a project has implications beyond the local area, there is room for a broader approach. The simplistic approach being taken in relation to the arbitrary figure of $3mill is not sensible. The State Government DAC should not be able to ride roughshod over the relevant planning scheme.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   Council should look at forming strategic partnerships with organisations such as National Trust to develop appropriate mechanisms to maintain good heritage values for the area. My wife and I are members of the National Trust.