HERITAGE LIVING - National Trust of Australia

Heritage Livingnational TRust of South Australiatrust news continuedForum examines futureheritage preservationMarcus BeresfordAn Adelaide and Inner Suburbs Branchevent at Ayers House in Februarysought responses from the politicalparties on questions about local andstate heritage listing. Discussionabout SA heritage preservation moregenerally followed.Six questions were put to representativesincluding the Minister of Environment &Conservation (Jay Weatherill), Shadow Minister(Michelle Lensink), Green party speaker MarkParnell, Independent David Winderlich, andAdelaide City Councillor David Plumridge, whocould answer any or all in the time allowed.Questions on Local heritage included what theparties would do about:• The lack of clear process for publicnomination of local heritage items;• Poor local council powers to protect ormaintain local or state heritage places;• The need for immediate interim listing ofplaces recommended for listing in localheritage studies.On State heritage listing, it was asked if they wouldreview the Heritage Places Act 1993 to:• Require that nominations for listing beprocessed within a set time;• Require Heritage Council meetings to bepublicly advertised, fully open, held outsidenormal working hours and with copies of theagenda available to the public;• Make it easier for the public to ensurethe legislation is enforced by providing apreliminary administrative appeal process.These questions all reflect difficulties Trustmembers have encountered with the presentsystem.The Green and Independent candidates bothsupported a clear new process to allow thepublic to make nominations of local heritageitems, while the Liberals promised a review ofheritage legislation to consider this. The Greenand Independent candidates also thought thereshould be an improved process for listing ofplaces identified in heritage studies as being ofsignificance, with an end to long delays betweenidentification and listing. Again the Liberals wouldreview this situation. The government pointedout that delays between identification and listingcan be caused by local councils rather than Stategovernment.As to the question of whether State HeritageNominations should be processed within a settime, Minister Weatherill cautioned on the need tokeep some flexibility, so that urgent nominationscould be expedited if necessary. Mr Parnellsupported a set time. All parties were committedto publicly open Heritage Council meetings, theGreen and Independent candidates supportinga statutory requirement of their advertisement(although the others pointed out this could occurin practice).On the question of providing a simpleradministrative process for members of thepublic to seek enforcement of protection forheritage listed places, the Green and Independentcandidates both agreed this is desirable, but theLiberals and government both thought existingcourt processes appropriate.Many other issues were dealt with at the forum, butit is not possible to do them all justice here.Members attending were left tantalised by the fateof Adelaide University Union Hall, since the Ministerfelt it improper to pre-empt the Heritage Council’sdecision on its State Heritage Listing. (Thesubsequent provisional listing has been a major winfor the A&IS Branch). Another interesting point wasthat the government is seeking to promotecontinued ownership of the Chelsea Cinema byBurnside Council, but has a “Plan B” underconsideration as well. David Winderlich stressedthe importance of community activism in ensuringgovernment by any party took heritage seriously.Councillor David Plumridge pointed out thatAdelaide City Council has one of the most generousheritage incentives scheme in SA.If anyone would like to assist with future SaturdayMornings at Ayers House please contact HeatherNimmo, 8223 4458 hnimmo@westnet.com.au.page 10