Productivity Commission 
P.O. Box 80 
BELCONNEN A.C.T 2616

7th February 2006 
Dear Sir,

I submit my objection to compulsory Local Government Heritage Listing of family homes. Alexandrina District Council is enforcing this procedure upon my property at the present.

Our home is a four-room cottage built in the 1890's situated on an average size block. The property was purchased 25 years ago according to our finances at the time. Over the years we have restored the house without any approval or incentive to ensure some comfort to our lifestyle. The purpose of ensuring the home has been looked after is to allow for financial security on our retirement, this being our only asset.

The home is a small cottage without formal foundations and no damp course that needs continual high maintenance and due to the construction method of the past is not made to last forever. The home has no great historical significant and the land was subdivided many years ago therefore, separating it from any original outbuildings. The house is situated on a corner block and located at the rear of the property it has no backyard and only has an extended frontage. We have been told by the Local Heritage Consultant employed by the Council that extending or modernising the house under Heritage Listing would be difficult if not impossible and certainly costly. Our intentions for our home has always been to develop it into modern living that everybody should be entitled, however it appears those who do not have to live with very old basics will prevent that lifestyle.

If Local Heritage Listing is placed on our home it will encumber us with no future or financial security. As subdivisions happen on the adjoining property and around us we are unable to take advantage of what others can or rebuilt to a modern three- bedroom home, the very least that purchasers require. Our only asset will become a mill-stone not only for us but for our son should Local heritage be adopted without a two party agreement.

To ensure fairest, lifestyle, and freedom of choice Local Heritage Listings should only occur on significant properties with agreement of both parties and not on family home. Any home listed or under PAR should be declared non heritage then Councils can approach those owners they wish to heritage list. This would allow comfort of mind and reduce the stress that this procedure has placed us under.

Yours truly, 
Mrs Christine Hemer
10/02/2006