Minutes of Committee Meeting - Monday 13th January 2020 at 7:30pm

The Hahndorf Institute, Supper Room

1: Present:

M. Kentish, J. Kentish, M. Brook, E. Aliffe, D. Seifert, J. White, A. Haines, M. Hasler, H. Gallasch, W. Williams, Cr N. Hardingham, Cr D. Leach, Cr B. Orr and 16 Hahndorf residents

Guests: Prof. Warren Jones AO, Dr Darren Peacock

2: Apologies:

G. Vort-Ronald, S. O'Brien, P. O'Brien, S. Gallasch, T. Hannon

3: Minutes of Previous Meeting 9th December 2020:

Moved – Jan Kentish, Seconded – Dieter Seifert - accepted

4: SPECIAL BUSINESS:

Heritage Matters - Speakers

National Trust – State: Dr Darren Peacock,

Protect Our Heritage Alliance: Prof Warren Jones AO

4.1 Chair Malcolm Kentish welcomed the Guest Speakers to the meeting, and gave a summary of the information provided at the previous meeting (refer to Minutes of meeting 9th December 2019 for details). The plan to hold a Rally in Hahndorf on December 21st was deferred due to the Bushfire crisis.

Prof. Jones provided an update on concerns regarding the proposed Planning and Design Code, describing it as grossly inadequate and incomplete when published in October 2019.

  • Confusing with ambiguities, providing opportunities to ‘get around' the rules

  • DPTI recognised the problem, and that Consultancy was illegitimate

  • A Code Amendment Review was put out on 22nd December 2019, which addresses some deficiencies in the Code

  • Eg : clarified and removed the threat to development in Public Parks

  • However, this is an example of poor processes, with hard copy and electronic documentation difficult to correlate

  • Mark Parnell, MLC, SA Greens, has moved a Bill to get permission to delay implementation, and review the Act. This Bill was supported by the Cross Benches and Labor, and was passed. It now moves to the Lower House.

  • With the recent bushfire crisis, it has been publicised that Tourist income for the Adelaide Hills area is $167 million/year, which includes Hahndorf.

Dr Peacock reiterated that all concerns remain, with another document due, following the revival of the Expert Panel on Planning Reform to look at Heritage matters.

  • There are no transparent guidelines, and nothing has been published yet

  • The Code is silent regarding the protection of State Heritage Areas, of which Hahndorf is one of 7 in the State – there is NOTHING in the Code regarding protection and the new Planning system does not make any comment about State Heritage protection.

  • It will be easier to demolish local Heritage places

  • It is possible to demolish State Heritage places ‘on merit', raising real danger for individual places

  • Hahndorf has been designated a State Heritage Area since 1988 – the silence about protection is really concerning

  • Consultation is due to close on February 28th.

  • ACTION OPTIONS:

  1. Encourage as many people as possible to sign the Petition

  2. Write to State MP's, the State Planning Minister, Stephan Knoll, and the Planning Department expressing concern that the Documents are incomprehensible

  3. Letters received are counted, and the number received are published

  4. It is important to work with the Parliament

Chair, Malcolm Kentish, outlined plans to hold a Rally to raise community and visitor awareness of the issues..

  • Date/Time - Sunday, January 26th 2020 at 11am at the Main Street Pedestrian lights

  • Rally will not proceed if a Catastrophic Weather warning is in place.

  • Placards created by Anni Luur-Fox and Tony Hannon will be held and displayed

  • Signs advising of the planned Rally will be on display

  • The Petition will be available for signature – National Trust to co-ordinate.

  • Media will be advised

Questions and comments followed.

  • Comment – Jean: There will be a Community Information session on January 23rd in Mt Barker, run by State Planning. Encourages people to attend and ask questions. On a broader level, the Code may need to be re-written to incorporate bushfire planning, transport, evacuation – need for leadership.

  • Question – Harold: 10,000 signatures are needed for the Petition to be tabled in Parliament. How many signatures are there currently? Answer: approximately 4,000.

  • Question- Eric: How many National Trust branches in SA. Answer: 46 branches. NTSA is focussing on the State Heritage areas with this campaign.

  • Comment – Lyndall: Not all Heritage areas have NT branches. Answer: need to maximise Petition completion. Focal collection points for completed forms are useful.

  • Comment – Harold: The Code is large – need to focus on Heritage aspects. Refer to existing Heritage legislation. Sees this as essentially a Development Code, there is a lack of transparency, and no Community input. The Code is not concerned with character and overall appearance. Should include History and Environment.

  • Comment – Warren: The proposed Code is the Arm of the Act, which aims to stop urban sprawl. It is difficult under the circumstances to not be negative. Trying for a ‘One size fits all’ approach, with consistency across all Councils. We need to start identifying positive elements.

  • Comment – Anni: In 1966 there were demolition orders on Heritage buildings, leading to Community action. Reminds us that Hahndorf is the earliest German settlement in Australia.

  • Comment – Darren: Urged people to write to the Premier, as new Minister for Tourism, also to the Minister for Planning Stephan Knoll, local MP, etc, as all letters must be logged. A list of MP's will be provided to HCA members. Re Petition – must be a resident of SA to sign. A 5 Point Plan for Heritage protection has been presented by the National Trust in the past year.

  • Comment – Harold: Opportunity during Tour Down Under to display placards as means of raising broader Community awareness, also more people to man tables with the Petition available for signature.

5: Business Arising:

5.1 Womens’ Tour Down Under

  • First race starts in Hahndorf, outside the Hahndorf Inn, at 10 am 16th January

5.2 Main Street Upgrade progress

  • Nothing to report

5.3 Computer upgrade to Windows 10 - completed

6: Correspondence In/Out:

Printed email list

7: Treasurers Report: (E. Aliffe)

  • Balance $7,257.27

  • Outgoings = $474.47

  • Receipts = $120.00

  • Moved Eric Aliffe, seconded Dieter Seifert – accepted

7.1 Insurance

cover adequacy has been reviewed and is considered adequate.

Moved Mike Hasler, seconded Harold Gallasch – accepted

    1. Cheque Account signatories

  • Eric Aliffe and Malcolm Kentish are current signatories

8: Reports 2019/20:

8.1 Council activity: Cr N Hardingham:

  • Cr Hardingham stated that Council's focus and priority has been Bushfire support, including stock water and road safety/tree removal

  • Significant effort, well managed, and in liaison with Adelaide Hills Council

  • Federal, State and local Councils have worked well together

  • Learnings from this experience will inform future planning and activity

  • Letter of thanks has gone to local CFS

  • The Community Sprit is alive and well, and the HCA is in a unique position to promote learnings

Cr Leach commended all parties who have assisted, including the wildlife carers.

Cr Orr commented that the NSW RFS resource looks helpful

8.2 Heritage – refer Item 4

8.3 Township Plan – Main Street upgrade, Traffic and Parking

  • Update pending, deferred due to Bushfire crisis.

8.4 DPTI Traffic Study

  • Malcolm Kentish has discussed progress(lack of) with MP Dan Cregan – states need to keep pressure on.

9: HCA Working Groups reports:

9.1 Yantaringa Reserve.

  • Report provided by Sue O’Brien read out

  • Late January/February – working on a conceptual plan with Council and stakeholders

  • Plan to go to Community Consultation end of February/March

  • Mt Barker Bike Users group to meet with Council in February to discuss future trail projects in the District

  • Will use this opportunity to highlight Hahndorf and better connections with Mt Barker and other regional towns via shared used corridors

9.2 Village Voice. - Wendy Williams

  • Needing copy for the next issue

  • Computer has been upgraded

  • Wendy needs help to maintain the newsletter production

9.3 Events - Jan Kentish

  • Planning is underway for a Community Dinner – aiming for 150 guests

  • Dates being considered 26th or 27th March

  • Possibility of using lawned area behind Wolf Blass, but still exploring options

  • Decisions re catering etc to be finalised

  • Council is keen to assist

  • Dinner to be a fundraising opportunity for the Hahndorf CFS, to assist with the purchase of specific equipment

9.4 Strempel Avenue Verge Landscaping Project – Jean Germano

  • Plants are growing well, weeding and watering is being done

  • Still waiting on the bench seating from Mt Barker Men's Shed

10: General Business: Future HCA program:

10.1 HCA Secretary

  • Malcolm announced the resignation of Sue O'Brien as HCA Secretary

  • Currently seeking replacement Secretary

10.2 Community Grants Projects

  • Deferred pending new secretarial arrangements

10.3 HCA Office infrastructure

  • Malcolm will hold HCA infrastructure pro tem

10.4 Publicity/Community engagement

  • Media will be engaged in connection with the proposed Rally on January 26th

11: Any Other Business

11.1 Meeting day – discussion re change from Monday to Thursday

  • Following clarification that the current meeting day and time did not clash with Council meetings, it was unanimously agreed that the current arrangements would continue.

11.2 Hahndorf History

  • Dieter Seifert drew the meeting's attention to the fact that 168 years of residency by the Schneemilch family, in Victoria Street, was ending.

  • Highlighted the Heritage issues associated with the forthcoming sale of the property

  • Opportunity to celebrate this aspect of Hahndorf's history in the next issue of the Village Voice

11.3 HCA Heritage Matters

  • Malcolm Kentish acknowledged the support of the Working Party in planning the Rally and Petition signing

  • Jan Kentish specially thanked Anni Luur Fox and Tony Hannon for their efforts in producing the placards for the Rally

  • Finally, Malcolm extended thanks to Dr Darren Peacock and Professor Warren Jones for addressing the meeting again and their support for the Rally.

 

Meeting closed at 9pm

Next Meeting: Monday 10th February, 2020 at 7.30 pm

Hahndorf Institute Supper Room.

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