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/

Creative capital

We need to make Wellington the creative capital of New Zealand.

Both in terms of film production and information technology.

But to do that we need the infrastructure – and that means internet access. These are the new roads of the knowledge economy that we need to start building in our city.

Our council have had over 3 years to put in place such infrastructure – and we have seen absolutely nothing.

Its now, more than ever, an economic imperative in today’s modern economy to enable everyone to have access to the internet, because people can use the web to save money, find new employment and business opportunities, and give themselves access to many other benefits.

And it will allow council to deliver service to citizens faster and at much lower costs. Heritage order consents come to mind as something that would really benefit from lower costs.

And one way of doing this is ensuring not only that internet access is a right (and council need to lobby central government), but by providing low cost or free Wi-Fi access to residents and business in Wellington.

Finland have just passed laws that promote internet access as a right. And Jack Yan is also promoting Wi-Fi access for Wellington if elected – which I fully endorse.

And if done properly it can be done with a high degree of success.

Check out some real examples.

Lets make it happen.

Vote for new voices on council, that bring fresh new proven ideas, to make our city better.

http://www.govtech.com/gt/660767,  http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/14/finland-broadband

Heritage restrictions and resource consents

Public consultation on the Thorndon Heritage project closes on 29 May. Only 3 options were provided. According to WCC, most support extending heritage restrictions.

Not suprisingly residents are concerned, with what could be escalating costs (remembering that any change to a property will require consent under heritage restrictions). There is a concern that WCC have not fully disclosed the cost to residents and in a survey of 70 residents 83% did not want heritage restrictions on their properties. http://thorndon-residents.blogspot.com/2010/04/tra-heritage-survey-findings-released.html

I believe that if WCC want to extend heritage restrictions, they need to recognise the concerns of residents and put in place systems that will remove unnecessary costs.

I believe information technology can help reduce the bureaucracy around resource consents and reduce the costs for those who are subject to heritage restrictions.

Everyone can win.

Residents should be able to submit requests for minimal cost (if any) while ensuring we protect our heritage. If the online companies office can remove filing costs (its now free), why can’t WCC have a similar aspiration?

Perhaps starting with heritage resource consents?

http://www.fedfarm.org.nz/n1481.html