House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Heritage Protection Heritage Protection The Hon. A. PICCOLO House of Assembly Light Heritage Protection 1417 The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (24 September 2019). What considerations were given to the pressure the DPA process—involved in transitioning contributory items to the local heritage place classification—will likely place upon council resources, particularly amidst their wider obligations in the transition to the state's new planning system? 1.	Are sufficient heritage architects available, particularly in rural and regional areas, to produce the heritage DPAs necessary for this process? The Hon. S.K. KNOLL House of Assembly Schubert Minister for Transport Minister for Planning Heritage Protection The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning): I have been advised the following: It is considered that heritage DPAs are not necessary to secure protection, as protection is provided through the new draft policy overlays. Notwithstanding this, councils have been given the opportunity to undertake a heritage DPA to elevate contributory items to Local Heritage Place status where it can be demonstrated they meet the heritage criteria as set out in section 23(4) of the Development Act 1993 (these criteria are carried into section 67(1) of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016). A significant amount of investigation and consultation is required in preparing heritage DPAs. Recognising this, transitional regulations will enable local heritage DPAs to be finalised within a 6-month period post-implementation of the phase 3 code (effectively up to December 2020) without the need to initiate a code amendment. This time frame applies to all councils seeking to undertake a Heritage DPA, regardless of what phase they fall into. Heritage DPAs not lodged for approval by December 2020 will cease, and a code amendment process will need to be undertaken. There are a number of heritage experts available to undertake this work, many of whom would likely be willing to assist regional areas. It should be noted there are only seven councils in regional areas with contributory items.