GAWLER’S streetscapes, with great character value, are likely to survive indiscriminate demolition following a significant policy backflip by the State Government.

The backflip follows a concerted campaign by a range of community and residents’ groups, local government and the SA Labor Party.

Member for Light Tony Piccolo welcomed the back-down which overturns a policy introduced by the former minister for local government and planning Stephan Knoll.

Mr Piccolo said for decades ‘contributory items’ have been listed by local councils to afford them greater protection from wanton demolition.

“For the past two years the government has refused to transfer those items over into the new Planning and Design Code, sparking widespread community outrage,” he said.

“I now understand that the State Planning Commission has recommended to the minister for planning Vickie Chapman that she reverses her party’s long-held position and that 11,902 contributory items across the state should be protected under the new code.”

11,019 items will now be transferred to come under the new Historic Area Overlay, affording them demolition controls and greater protection from destruction.

Mr Piccolo said while the capitulation is the right decision, it does come with a sting in the tail for Gawler ratepayers and residents.

“While other councils joined the fight against the policy to weaken protections for our built heritage, the Gawler Council was spooked and spent about $200,000 of ratepayers’ money to try to overcome the change in policy,” he said.

Opposition spokesperson for planning Jayne Stinson said Labor has been passionately fighting for the protection of contributory items for years, alongside thousands of passionate residents.
“It was always a dumb idea to drop the protections for these valuable buildings,” she said.

“It’s about time the government finally listened to Labor and the community to backflip on their silly and stubborn position.”