Its our heritage

Some time ago I spoke about protecting our heritage.

Our heritage  is important to our identity.

But the tension with heritage orders is burdening residents and businesses with protection orders.

Adding a sky receiver, making renovations, or even painting a wall, might require a consent application. And these are not cheap.

How would you like it if you had to pay someone $250 plus, every time you wanted to improve your home. And then had to wait months before you found out if you were allowed to do the work.

Well, one idea might be to make the heritage consent processes free for those burdened with a heritage protection order?

This would ensure compliance (no excuse not to seek approval) and perhaps incentivise council to be more efficient. Perhaps even adopt technology to stream line the process for everyone?

And if we had free Wi-Fi, well it might make the whole process even cheaper and more accessible.

Our council needs to be sending the right signals, if we really want to protect our communities heritage.

http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/2010/08/citywide-heritage-shake-up-in-the-offing/, http://www.rmaguide.org.nz/rma/otherprocesses/heritageorders.cfm, http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/4000614/Athfield-attacks-heritage-rules/