Sue Stone

2014 candidate for City of Tea Tree Gully.
Heritage survey responses.

1. What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
   I am yet to learn the specific role that Council plays in protecting and conserving heritage in comparison to State and Federal Government's responsibilities.

2. What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
   I support all measures and incentives to support the protection and conservation local heritage. But what I am learning while I have been campaigning are the double standards between the rules for individuals as opposed to commercial businesses. I want to ensure that what is applied to individual residents also applies to commercial businesses and developers.

3. What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
   From my door knocking, the biggest issue highlighted is the protection of the Captain Robertson home in The Settlement area of Golden Grove. It is covered with grafitti, windows covered with corrogated sheeting and generally a sorry state. I understand that it is owned by Toop and Toop, which are currently building "The Stables" shopping centre adjacent to the home. Locals tell me that it has been taken off the Heritage List and concerned that big business are getting their own way to do deals to get it off the list and ultimately get it demolished. Though since hearing that story, I visited the Toop and Toop office located adjacent to the home and spoke with a representative. She told me that it is still heritage listed, and they're planning to restore it to be either their office or a cafe once the shopping centre is complete. I am yet to learn in detail what constitutes a property or "thing" as being heritage.

4. What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
   I am yet to consider any heritage issues other than the Captain Robertson home as indicated before.

5. Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
   I am seriously concerned in the this particular council's ability to make consistent and logical decisions in any development approvals (regardless of value) as a result of what I have been learning from the people I have been meeting during this campaign. This issue is actually one of my election points in reviewing their development approval decision processes.

6. Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
   At this stage no, I am still yet to learn more about this geographically enormous ward (42 square kms). I'm sorry if I am not more knowledgeable, it is not my area of expertise; but I am eager to learn more from those that have the expertise to pass on the relevant information.