Deputation Made to

CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
10 MARCH 2009
TOWN OF GAWLER

Deputation by Laurel Hosking

Para Para House- Application for Discretionary Rate Rebate

Madam Chair , Elected members.

My Name is Laurel Hosking, and I thankyou for the opportunity to speak this evening.

Gawler has a proud and enviable historical awareness in its precinct, and this list of heritage buildings within tonights agenda is testimony to that.

These pages list heritage buildings diverse and unique in every aspect, and makes for enlightened reading.

• Of all dwellings in these pages, Para Para has by far the highest rates notice.

• Of all the dwelling in these pages, Para Para is by far the most significant structure, and consequently the most restoration, conservation and preservation required.

• Of all the buildings in these pages, There are only two which are listed in all three registers. One is Para Para, and the other curiously enough was also a Walter Duffield Property.

• Of all these dwellings, Para Para is the only one with Conservation Management Plans held by the Dept. Environment and Heritage ( according to online listing from dept website)

We understand the caution to provide rebate for Heritage properties in Gawler, considering the size of this list. However to compare Para Para with any other property is a generalisation. To compare ANY Heritage property on this list is a sweeping generalisation which demonstrates an archaic approach to Heritage Conservation. Each property on this list has Heritage values that make them unique and worthy of listing. Each property on this list demands individual consideration. No two properties can be classed as “ similar” .

The local government act 1999 sets out at Chapter 10, Division 5 (Sections 166 c) and states ...

“ where the rebate will conduce to the preservation of buildings or places of historic significance.” ...

To disregard an application on the grounds it is historic, is contradictory to this Act.

According to Council Minutes of 25^th November 2008, The Para Para application was not even considered. In fact NO heritage dwelling was.

Para Para is the only dwelling singled out 15 times in Derek Whitelock's book

“ Gawler, Colonel Light's Country Town” a book, published by the Corporation of the Town of Gawler. Throughout this book, the writer glowingly refers to Para Para, even going so far as to call Para Para “ the jewel in Gawler's Heritage Crown” .

How jaded the crown must be looking with sweeping assumptions of Gawler's Heritage properties.

Our mission is to polish this “jewel”, but crippling rates are prohibitive. We have opened Para Para to community events on numerous occasion FREE OF CHARGE. Some members here have experienced that ambience, and return to the grand old days of Para Para's past.

We see ourselves as custodians for future generations, our commitment to preservation and conservation and restoration in accordance to the Burra Charter is evident with strict adherence to the Conservation Management Plan of 2002. We have also lodged the plan within the Dept of Environment and Heritage, and provide reference to it online. This is also demonstrated with frequent consultation with Heritage Advisor Douglas Alexander, though I am perplexed at an apparent offer of meeting listed in this agenda, as neither Mr Alexander nor myself have any knowledge of this.

It is easy to think the owners of Para Para are “loaded”. If that were true, then the house would be perfectly restored, the grounds would have their grand Victorian Gardens, and I would not be standing here asking for discretionary rebate.

Our council rates have gone from $1201.90 in 2001 to $3077.76 in 2008. This is well above the CPI.

We are mindful of civic responsibilities and propose that any rebates are calibrated at the end of the rebate year, with copies of receipts documenting the restoration, preservation and conservation work at Para Para to the value of the rebate.

2012 marks Para Para's 150^th Jubilee. It is our dream to celebrate this with numerous events throughout the year. All this is dependant on how much preservation work can be carried out. All this is dependant on how committed Gawler Council is to Heritage. How committed the council is to “ the jewel in Gawler's heritage crown”.

Laurel Hosking

http://www.hosking.wattle.id.au/~laurel/parahtml/parapara.html

Outcome:- Committee to Suggest to Council

1. That the Para Para House application for discretionary rate rebate 2008/09 information be received.

2. That Council refuse the application for a 2008/09 discretionary rate rebate
for the property known as Para Para House Assessment Number 49681
located at 17-19 Penrith Avenue Gawler West.

3. That Meeting with Heritage Advisor for Gawler be arranged to discuss options for Grant round applications.