Cooks Hill Heritage Survey Results.pdf

As part of the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area (CHHCA) review, a survey of local community members was conducted to gain an understanding of what residents and property owners value about the CHHCA. The survey was conducted in March and April 2014 and was completed by 197 Cooks Hill residents, which represents a response rate of 6% of the Cooks Hill total population.

Key findings among Cooks Hill residents include:
96% were aware that Cooks Hill is a Heritage Conservation Area;
93% agree that Cooks Hill should be a Heritage Conservation Area;
29% had lodged a development application (DA) for a property in the CHHCA in the past 10 years;
the elements residents valued most about Cooks Hill were the streetscape and character (86%), the proximity to facilities and services (84%), and the heritage houses and building (82%).

The majority of Cooks Hill residents agreed that there are buildings in the area that both contribute to, and detract from, the character of the area. Over half of Cooks Hill residents agreed that buildings in the CHHCA should be allowed to be demolished where they are in poor structural condition (58%) or where the building has been altered or does not fit with the character of the area (50%). The majority of Cooks Hill residents also agreed that new development should be designed to fit the existing character of Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area (71%).

In terms of the guidelines for development in the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, the majority of Cooks Hill residents agreed that the guidelines should be based on prescriptive standards (63%). The most common suggestion for what should be included in the DCP guidelines was the requirement for new development to be designed to fit the existing character of the area (44%).

The survey also found that the majority of Cooks Hill residents were aware of the guidelines for development in the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, but many were not aware of the specific details of the guidelines. The survey results suggest that there is a need for improved communication and education about the guidelines for development in the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area.