So what do Councillors do?

What is a Councillor's Workload like?
The above website gives  a pretty good description of what Councillors spend their time on.  South Australian Councillors receive only an allowance ($16,000 per year) and it is not a full time job. Given that at least half the current Councillors are not running for re-election or will be seeking the position of Mayor it is time for anybody who thinks it time to have go to do so this year. Parkside Ward will have no incumbet Councillors running and all others, except Clarence Park, will have at least one new member. Council is finalising its schedule of introductory sessions for would be Councillors.

Learn Traditional Weaving; Reconciliation week

With the Southern Elders Weaving Group

Be part of National Reconciliation Week and learn traditional techniques of weaving with the opportunity to create baskets and other woven objects using rafia. Weaving workshops are also a great way to chat and learn about Aboriginal culture with Aunties who are very skilled in sharing their craft.

TUESDAY 29 MAY, 10.30AM - 1.30PM UNLEY CIVIC LIBRARY 181 UNLEY ROAD, UNLEY Free pop-in event with no bookings required.

Kaufland Development proposal

This is causing some consternation in the Community. This time not because it is too tall but rather that it  has not used the capacity allowed in the Unley Development Plan to actually put high rise where residents are prepared to accept that they can be built. The proposal fails on a number of parameters. These being:

• No residential component
• Cars will be visiable from the street when parked
• Not well landscaped
• Too close to Maple Ave
• Will need to remove street trees
• Inadequate waste disposal
• Traffic implications

The consultation period has now closed for the very few peeople that have been allowed to voice their opinion.

Rate Capping: it's time to work with State government

Now that the Liberals were elected with mandate of ratecapping in South Australia it is time to start working with them to get the best outcomes within a proposed framework. Rates for 2018/19 are unaffected as they hope to have legislation passed before rte deliberations start of 2019/20. Hopefully, working with them and being encouraged to participate in defing the detail of the legislation will be important.

New murals are something to talk about

Davenprt Tce, Wayville

Ridge Park: a reconcilliation piece

Under construction: Capri Theatre

A new one will be completed on the Basketball at orphanage Park in the near future, it too sound exciting.

How to get your council's attention?

YouTube video, How to Get Council's Attention,

This video will be on interest to anyone who wants to raise and issue with Council but doesn't really know where to start. It was sent to me by a Victorian councillor as refers to councillors as politicians. Luckily we are party politics free on Council in South Australia although it is fair to say that there is plenty of politicking.

Not true, rarely in this Council

Under the heading of  Rate Capping a shot is taken at everyone's integrity. The words from one eleceted memeber were as follows in last week's Eastern Courier:

Every elected member had their wish list, and to win support, they supported everyone else's wish. We added up the cost and set the rate to pay for it.

I've been on Council now for nearly 14 years and I have seen deals done from time to time but they have mostly been around the positions that are avaialble on election: some come with additional remuneration and others just with power. But when it comes to what is in and out of the budget from my observation merit seems to be the determining feature as to why something is included or not.  This was cheap shot at everyone and  demeans the role of Councillors and our professionality in doing the job. Always, while I have been on Council, we   mindful of the CPI when establishing rates and we  have stayed as close to it as possible while still delivering an improving city.

Redevelopment is beginnig to happen

This 

for this!

The followinng is a list of development allpcations that are lodged or will shortly be lodged that are too large (according to the state government) for Unley"DAP to make a decision on:

• Kaufland have lodged a development application for 60% of the LeCornu site for their new $34M supermarket. The remaining 40% is likely to be resold. This will be notified as Cet 2 which meand limited consultation
• 248-252 Unley Road (Cremorne south) encompasses 6 x 2 storey residential dwellings (western portion of site) and a 7 storey mixed use building (adjacent to Unley Road) containing 5 commercial tenancies, 63 residential apartments, ancillary car parking (ground and below ground levels) and landscaping.  
• 66 Anzac Hwy:  6x 3 storey townhouses.

Changemakers

I am proud to have been part of this initiative from Council. Young people were given an opportunity to work together to train, to apply for start-up funding and to develop a business from scratch. The business need to have a focus on the better good. On innovation young lady started a business in selling seedlings to help reforestation in the Adelaide Hills. For every one of her plants sold she is planting another. Another couple are developing a science program in the after school time slot so that after school care might be something kids want to go to and be able to learn.

Full Council meeting 14th April, 2018

This was a short but important Agenda for Unley's future.
Items included:

• LED lighting contract: Pending final budget approval Unley will invest $1.5 million into replacing all residential street lighting with LED globes. The savings of nearly $360,000 per annum have the potential to repay the loan in 4-5 years. After that the savings will allow for greater saving accross the organisation.
• Quarterly Report from Centennial Park: It seems they are tracking  better with improved memorialisation sales.
• Unley Central Precinct: CONFIDENTIAL

King William Rd. Time for an update

Not only is this and update on what is happening on KWR but also an acknowledgement that KWR itself has become a little tired in its appearance. No major work has been done since it was paved 30 years ago on a spur of the moment decision to create employment. It remains my favourite place to have a coffee and catch up with family and friends. At the moment Council are asking businesses and residents how they envision the street might look and the amenities it could provide. The catalyst for this is the now failing paving that must be renewed or replaced in the near future. You can have your say at the new shopfront on KWR (next to Karan's) or on the Council website.

Drop in Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11am-2pm at Shop 4, 183-185 King William Road, Hyde Park. If those times don't suit, email designkw@unley.sa.gov.au to book a time that works for you #designkingwilliam #kwr #unley

UNLEY MUSEUM LAUNCHES EXHIBITION EXPLORING CITY’S MULTICULTURALISM

A unique exhibition of personal immigration stories is on display at the Unley Museum as part of the South Australian History Festival.

Cosmopolitan Unley is a visual exposition featuring stories from some of the city’s earliest pioneering families through to some of our most recent migrants.

The exhibition includes some of Adelaide’s well-known families, such as the Sym Choons of ‘Miss Gladys Sym Choon’ and the Landherrs who founded the Adelaide German Language School.

Unley Museum Curator Karen Paris says it is an honour for the museum to present the personal experiences of people who have migrated to Unley from all corners of the world. 

“Getting to know the people and their families, while bringing their stories to life so others can get know them, has been a wonderful part of this exhibition,” Ms Paris says.

“The exhibition highlights the diversity of our population, right back to the mid-1800s, when the first migrants voyaged from countries such as England, Germany and China, to settle in South Australia.”

The exhibition aims to bring people together and encourages them to share their own histories via the Cosmopolitan Unley Many Faces wall, where attendees can take a photo of themselves and add to the installation with their own story or a flag.

According to the 2016 Census, almost 25 per cent of the City of Unley population was born overseas, including 17 per cent from non-English speaking backgrounds. The number of people born in non-English speaking countries has increased by about 2,300 since 2001 with the greatest increases from those born in China and India.