STATE planning minister Stephan Knoll has hosed down concerns that Gawler’s heritage could be significantly impacted by his government’s impending planning reforms.
The State Government last month released a Community Guide to Heritage and Character document, which will form part of South Australia’s new Planning and Design Code to be fully implemented from July 2020.
Gawler mayor Karen Redman and Gawler History Team chairperson Brian Thom, speaking with The Bunyip last fortnight, argued the document had removed protection of the town’s contributory heritage items, of which Gawler has 609.
However, Mr Knoll rejected those claims this week, stating the government had granted a six-month extension – to December next year – for local councils to undertake heritage Development Plan Amendments (DPAs) for possible elevation of existing contributory items to Local Heritage status, affording them adequate protection.
“There is a degree of fear and a lot of misinformation in the community around heritage,” he said.
“I dispute that there is any reduction in heritage protection as we transition into the new system.
“Contributory items do not provide demolition control – local heritage places, state heritage places, and historic conservation zones do.
“For the contributory items in Gawler, it’s not the contributory items listing that provides the listing, it’s the zone – and the zone is going to continue.
“I have no fears about any heritage reduction in Gawler; we need to protect Gawler’s heritage, it is a great asset for the state and a very rich part of this state’s upbringing and history.
“We will protect it, but certainly I do not share the concerns that Mayor Redman has, or Brian Thom has – we will look after heritage in South Australia, and the new system will continue to provide that protection.”
Contributory items are described by the government as “examples of particular forms of development, representing a defined period and its built-form character”, however are not defined by the Development Act.
Because of this, no new contributory items have been added to development plans since 2012.
Gawler Council has stated to cost of reclassifying its contributory items, to be elevated to Local Heritage status, as per the government’s request, could reach $400,000.
