Veronica Bates

2022 candidate for Kangaroo Island Council.
Heritage survey responses.

1. Do you think that Councils and community members need to have a greater voice in planning and development decisions affecting their local area?
   Yes definitely, each area has its own special circumstances, conditions, culture and needs. It can’t be lumped into one big generic block that covers the state. The divide between city and country areas is one case in point, totally different circumstances. People need to be able to deal with someone in their own community/council that has complete understanding, empathy and knowledge of circumstances.

2. What role should Councils play in protecting local heritage places from demolition or inappropriate development?
   Full control, keeping in mind that although councillors may not have a vested interest in the particular issue, that the local community representatives that do need to have a voice and be heard. Inappropriate development is forever. We need to respect our local heritage in whatever form that takes and keep what we can within reason from our past, whether it be buildings, trees or an old abattoir.

3. How would you seek to improve protections for heritage places in your area?
   Informed guidelines and local policy. A register. A sub committee to inform on possible inclusions on the heritage register.

4. We rarely see new places added to local heritage listings. Why do you think this is?
   New places are rarely listed because the community doesn’t know it can make suggestions to add to the register, or even that there is a register. We do not celebrate our past as we should. Anything listed on the register should be celebrated, as in published in a local heritage document which is readily available, especially as we are in a high tourism area. We need to show that we are proud of our past.

5. How has the Planning and Design Code impacted on the heritage, amenity, and environment of your area? What changes would you seek to the Code?
   I don’t have enough information about the Code to comment

6. What are the impacts of infill development in your area? What changes would you seek in the rules around infill development?
   Doesn’t really apply in our council area.

7. Construction of new housing typically uses 30% labour and 70% materials. Renovation of existing housing stock typically uses 70% labour and 30% materials. What policy changes would you like to see made to encourage people to renovate, rather than demolish and build anew?
   Unsure

8. How should the community be informed and involved in decisions about new developments?
   Ability to be involved if a controversial or non complying development

9. Do you think there is adequate tree canopy across your local government area?
   In some areas yes, in some areas no. A very debatable topic in our area of frequent bushfires

10. How would you like to see significant and regulated trees in your area protected from removal?
    They could be put on a significant tree register, and be permanently protected from removal.

11. What involvement should Councils have in decisions about protecting or removing significant and regulated trees?
    Depends on the circumstances.

12. What actions would you advocate to slow or mitigate the impacts of climate change in your local government area?
    Not allow new housing or other developements in areas that have been modelled to flood in the future.

13. What issues are there with traffic and parking in your area?
    Only applies in out main town of Kingscote, poor past and present planning for car parking spaces.

14. How could transport options be improved in your area?
    Not really possible being on an island. A few public transport options have been trialled in the past but were unsuccessful

15. What would your top three priorities be for improving planning policy and outcomes in your local government area?
    Local decision making
    Local decision making
    Local decision making