Sensational-Adelaide.com

Libs pledge new focus on heritage
Tim Lloyd From: The Advertiser February 06, 2010 12:00am

A FUTURE Liberal government will look at ways it can dissuade owners from neglecting heritage properties and would review penalties they may be subject to.

The pledge is among the Liberal heritage policy commitments being made today by the shadow minister for environment and conservation, Michelle Lensink.

Ms Lensink will launch the Liberals' heritage policy this morning at a National Trust forum at Ayers House.

She said a Liberal government was prepared to up the ante to ensure buildings such as the State Heritage-listed Port Adelaide Customs House, which has been empty for 20 years and become dilapidated, were properly cared for.

Ms Lensink said a Liberal government was prepared to reverse the Rann Government's attitude to heritage, which had been long on rhetoric and low on protection.

"It's gone off the agenda lately. Across the board, the Environment Department has been allowed to wither on the vine and the Heritage branch more than the rest," she said.

She said Labor had de-funded the National Trust in an attempt to silence it, degraded the SA Heritage Council to a "timid discussion group" and failed to add a single State Heritage Area since it took office in 2002.

The Adelaide City Heritage and Character application had been waiting for approval by Paul Holloway, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, since 2008, risking the loss of many buildings which contributed to the city's unique character, she added.

Ms Lensink said the Liberals would make local heritage nominations more straightforward and transparent and encourage rural communities to apply for listing as State Heritage Areas.

Are any of the parties putting forward a Minister for Not Building Just Any Old Crap? I might vote for the one that does.

Prince George wrote:Are any of the parties putting forward a Minister for Not Building Just Any Old Crap? I might vote for the one that does.

It's funny you should ask! The United Party has this as one of their foci ==> Development: options are needed that complement existing areas. Development must address local community and environmental needs at the beginning of the process.
This new party, formed out of the Australian Civic Trust, is pro-development & non-partisan with a focus on ensuring the govt brings together key players at key junctures. Standing firm against bad ideas is how i see it.

Read more:

Wayno wrote:

Prince George wrote:Are any of the parties putting forward a Minister for Not Building Just Any Old Crap? I might vote for the one that does.

It's funny you should ask! The United Party has this as one of their foci ==> Development: options are needed that complement existing areas. Development must address local community and environmental needs at the beginning of the process.
This new party, formed out of the Australian Civic Trust, is pro-development & non-partisan with a focus on ensuring the govt brings together key players at key junctures. Standing firm against bad ideas is how i see it.

Read more:

MediaRelease100127-UAP-Registered.pdf

From that (admittedly very limited) policy statement, they seem to be the best party around. So why are they being ignored?

I looked again at the poll in the State Election thread. Apart from myself, nobody's chosen the Independent (Other) option. Do the 80% of people who intend to vote for the major parties really prefer their arrogance to go unchecked?

Aidan wrote:From that (admittedly very limited) policy statement, they seem to be the best party around. So why are they being ignored?

Not ignored - just new. Officially registered as a party only a few days ago...

if they want to go for heritage - get in and save the 'City Of Adelaide' clipper ship before it is broken up at Irving, or taken by Sunderland in the UK , get it here and make it a feature of the Pt Adelaide wharf near the red lighthouse. (two birds with one stone so to speak). would be a fantastic central icon restored, but not to open seaworthiness - too expensive. (unless the SA community got behind it). Height would make it a landmark.

Extra info - It is the same style and size of the 'Cutty Sark'. built 1864. 240 000 south Australian could trace their family lineages through this ship.

overall.... historic, heritage, iconic, landmark, centrepiece potential, unique to Autralia, extensive connection to SA. pop., tourist drawcard.

SA - STATE ON THE MOVE

Wayno wrote: Read more:

MediaRelease100127-UAP-Registered.pdf

Who misnamed the file? The United Party has nothing to do with the UAP.

I've spoken recently to Messrs Roberts and Christopher of the Save the City of Adelaide group. They said that they are quite close to acquiring the ship. The likelihood is that the hull, which has not had masts or other rigging since the 1890s, will be brought to Port Adelaide at a cost of about $AUD1 million, for restoration to be undertaken as funds allow.

The likely site for the hull will be Cruikshank's Corner, as part of a maritime heritage precinct there. During its commercial career, the ship often visited Port Adelaide and was slipped on at least one occasion at Fletcher's Slip, still extant at Birkenhead.

So far the government has not offered any funding for the project, despite approaches to the Premier, the Minister for Tourism and other ministers who could have an interest. The response to date has been 'no funds available' - a shame considering the recent $450 million gift to SACA/SANFL.

It may be that the Liberals will pick up the issue of funding as an election pledge.

stumpjumper wrote:I've spoken recently to Messrs Roberts and Christopher of the Save the City of Adelaide group. They said that they are quite close to acquiring the ship. The likelihood is that the hull, which has not had masts or other rigging since the 1890s, will be brought to Port Adelaide at a cost of about $AUD1 million, for restoration to be undertaken as funds allow.

The likely site for the hull will be Cruikshank's Corner, as part of a maritime heritage precinct there. During its commercial career, the ship often visited Port Adelaide and was slipped on at least one occasion at Fletcher's Slip, still extant at Birkenhead.

So far the government has not offered any funding for the project, despite approaches to the Premier, the Minister for Tourism and other ministers who could have an interest. The response to date has been 'no funds available' - a shame considering the recent $450 million gift to SACA/SANFL.

It may be that the Liberals will pick up the issue of funding as an election pledge.

The problem here is that the government has turned this into a political issue. I doubt they will change their minds in the future.

This is a shame, as the boat is obviously important to our heritage and also it could help attract tourists to Port Adelaide.

With this in mind, why don't you contact the Mr Roberts and Mr. Christopher and propose the establishment of a community fund or charity where people can donate money toward the restoration of the ship. The Botanic Garden used a similar technique recently to raise the $5 million for the new Amazon Pavillion. I'm sure there would be plenty of South Australians who would be willing to donate to such a venture.

I am rather pleased to hear this. People will be far more open to donating to the City of Adelaide's cause if they can see the rotting hulk for themselves.

Good idea. I'll pass it on to the guys trying to get the ship here. They already have a route for donations, but it's not really a public appeal of the sort you suggest. Who knows, perhaps the Rann government will back the idea of tax deductibility for donations!

As to the ship being a rotting hulk, it is actually far from that, despite the appearance of the photographs. Until quite recently, the ship was still afloat and was being used as a military club, and the hull is so good that the restorers of the Cutty Sark, whose hull was damaged by fire, wanted to use the timbers to fix their ship.

stumpjumper wrote:Good idea. I'll pass it on to the guys trying to get the ship here. They already have a route for donations, but it's not really a public appeal of the sort you suggest. Who knows, perhaps the Rann government will back the idea of tax deductibility for donations!

As to the ship being a rotting hulk, it is actually far from that, despite the appearance of the photographs. Until quite recently, the ship was still afloat and was being used as a military club, and the hull is so good that the restorers of the Cutty Sark, whose hull was damaged by fire, wanted to use the timbers to fix their ship.

I think you'll find the hull is not in such good condition any more. The idea of combining the Cutty Sark and City of Adelaide was made by someone unaware of the latter's condition.

Hmm. I have some current pics of the hull. I'm not a naval architect but it doesn't look too bad to me. There's a lot of flaking paint, but the timber beneath is pretty sound. PM me if you want a swag of images.

stumpjumper wrote:Hmm. I have some current pics of the hull. I'm not a naval architect but it doesn't look too bad to me. There's a lot of flaking paint, but the timber beneath is pretty sound. PM me if you want a swag of images.

No, I'm going by what my father told me. He's actually been there to see it, and has talked to the curators.