2022 ELECTION POLICY PLATFORM We propose the following policies and initiatives to restore and strengthen heritage protections, plan better for the future of our heritage, promote strategic investment and put the community at the centre of heritage conservation.
Restoring and strengthening heritage protections South Australia’s heritage is a unique, priceless and irreplaceable community asset. It generates enormous social, cultural and economic value. For 66 years, The National Trust of South Australia has worked to ensure that our built, cultural and natural heritage is protected, preserved and accessible to all. We advocate for robust heritage protections, forward thinking policy and strategic management of our heritage assets for the benefit of current and future generations. As a communitybased organisation, we champion the role of the public in decision making about our heritage. Over the last four years, our heritage protection system has been undermined by new planning rules, the community’s participation in decision making has been curtailed and significant public heritage places have been lost or put at risk.
South Australia’s heritage protection system has been seriously damaged by recent policy and legislative changes, in particular, the State Government’s Planning and Design Code introduced in 2021. 50 years of work to protect South Australia’s built heritage has been undermined by the removal and weakening of protections for heritage places and areas. Despite overwhelming community opposition to policy changes that had protected our heritage places, the government proceeded with a systematic weakening of heritage protections and a dramatic curtailment of public rights within the planning system. From being a national leader in heritage protection South Australia now has arguably the weakest heritage protections in Australia. There is an urgent need to address the damage and to restore and make robust long established heritage protections. Heritage protection in South Australia needs to be strengthened and simplified through:
Heritage policy and legislation • Including all heritage matters under a single Heritage Act. • Establishing a single integrated statutory body to handle all heritage matters. • Management of heritage protection independently of the planning system. • Reviewing the role, governance and management of the State Heritage Council. • Implementing the recommendations of the Environment, Resources and Development Committee report on heritage (2019). Simplifying heritage listing • Establishing an integrated single heritage register covering all listings, managed by an independent statutory body. • Retention of all current listings, including heritage protection zones and contributory items. • Streamlining of listing criteria whilst having regard for local characteristics. • Simplified and streamlined process for new listings which includes mandatory timeframes for listing (with automatic listing if timeframes are not met) and gazettal of approved listings. • Removal of legislative requirement for property owners to vote for establishment of heritage conservation zones. • Establishing transparency and community participation in listing decisions. Regulating development of heritage listed places • Classification of applications for demolition of listed buildings as noncomplying and automatic rejection if the building has been neglected intentionally. • Minor works on heritage listed places exempted from planning approval in well defined circumstances. • Mandating of a Heritage Code of Practice for adaptation of heritage buildings. • Increased penalties for neglect of heritage listed structures. Protecting special places • Legislation to place Ayers House in the permanent care and control of the National Trust. • Protecting the Adelaide Park Lands as public open space through comprehensive statutory protection, including State Heritage listing. • Pursuing national heritage listing for Ayers House, Edmund Wright House, Fort Largs and Martindale Hall. • Statutory protections to restrict the commercial use of protected natural areas. H E R I TAG E L I V I NG
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