John Tons

2014 candidate for Adelaide Hills Council.
Heritage survey responses.

What do you think Council's role is in protecting and conserving heritage?
This question assumes that there is a shared understanding of the concept of heritage - the idea of protecting and conserving heritage is one with which I am uncomfortable for it suggests a view of heritage that sees the role of protecting the past like fly caught in amber. Heritage to me is about continuity it is about a conscious decision to retain those aspects of the past that are valued and contribute to our quality of life and also of ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the same quality of life. LGAs are critical in that regard for they are closest to the community and can ensure that this continuity is maintained at a local level.
What measures and incentives do you support to protect and conserve local heritage?
I am a member of the Mt lofty World Heritage Bid team - the strategy that is deployed there is to educate the community about the heritage embedded in our agrarian landscape. With education will come a valuing of that heritage and thus a commitment to allocate resources to maintain that heritage.
What is the most important heritage protection issue in your local government area?
Maintaining a working agrarian landscape - what we have in the hills is that last remnants of Wakefield's plan - this needs to be valued and maintained.
What policies and programs will you advocate to protect and conserve heritage in your local area?
The starting point has to be mapping of local heritage and allocating priorities to determine an appropriate resource allocation.
Do you support local Councils retaining development approval powers for projects over $3m in value?
Yes
Do you have any other thoughts about the protection of heritage in your Council area?
none - at present the foccus is on the world heritage bid.