Agreed voting procedures abandoned

tion

Council has, for a number of years, agreed to a particular voting system that closely resembled the proportional representation that we use for  federal, state and local government elections when selecting each other for positions on Council or outside agencies. Before this we used a dodgy system of crosses for the number of people that we needed to elect (one cross for one position, two crosses if two needed to be elected). The latter method was easily rorted by collusion between councillors and resulted in the change to a fairer system. On Monday afternoon a member of staff sent an email to all councillors telling us that the method would change for that night's selection of members for the Centennial Park Board.  I challenged the Mayor on a point of order as there had been no agreement by Councillors to change the way we voted. He denied this and went ahead with his new method. We were to vote in two separate rounds, first for position 1 and then for position 2.  Regardless of method there was no mandate to change and the  the mayor cannot change the way we vote on a whim.

Full Council meeting: Feb 25th 2019

The following may be of interest:

• Selection of committee members to represent Unley on the Board at Centennial Park: After much controversy Jane Russo and Michael Rabbitt were selected (see next blog)
• Nominations for the Local Government Ministerial Advisory  Committee: the Council decided to nominate both Jordan Dodd and Don Palmer. The Minister will decide if either or both are suitable
• Unley Oval Redevelopment; Stage 2: There are still $3 million  worth of works planned for the Unley Oval grandstands.   Council wishes to sign a letter of intent with the Life Changer Foundation to use the building as it's SA head quarters. The organisation provided mentoring and workshops to build confidence and resilience in youth. Hopefully, this will release the funds from grants, get the development done and provide a unique and valuable program for our young people.
• Consideration of a Limited Rate rise for 2019-20: Cr Hughes asked that the limit be within 1% of CPI. While this is laudable I did not support it as I feel that the new Council may have things they want funded now and so I don't wish to see borrowings rise too quickly as we borrow money for items that, in my opinion, should be paid from recurrent funding.

Cooler, greener Adelaide:

 shaping our future city

Join our mailing list to receive updates about Cooler, greener Adelaide: shaping our future city.

• What are the impacts of a business-as-usual approach to urban growth on liveability in our communities?
• What are the benefits of cooler, greener design and planning?
• What is the role of water in the creation of a resilient, green Adelaide?
• What can the community, government and industry do to contribute to a resilient, green Adelaide – in our homes, backyards, streetscapes and neighbourhoods?
• More details here

https://www.watersensitivesa.com/tribeevent/cooler-greener-adelaide-shaping-our-future-city/

Council scandals...

An interesting article in yesterday's paper detailed many council's past failings. So what were they:

• Disappearing mayoral robes at West Torrens
• Hiring of a personal media coach at Adelaide
• Secrecy at Burnside
• Clash between CEO and Mayor at Port Adelaide
• The dismissal of Playford's CEO during the caretaker period
• The ghastly memorial on the corner at Glynde corner eventually paid for by Campbelltown
• Travel expenses wrongly claimed at Port Pirie 
• Golf fees and credit card misuse at Onkaparinga
• Land swapping at Charles Sturt

Unley didn't get a wrap in this one but it might have included:

• Dodgy deals at Centennial Park
• Mayor gets arrested

Nevertheless considering the complexity of councils and that any one council wasn't mentioned twice it might actually be a good record compared to other  government agencies just this week.

Liberals really don't think they need Badcoe

Not for Black Forest!!

to win the next election. Just last week I wrote a blog about rising house prices in Black Forest due to it being zoned to the new Adelaide Botanic High School. But yesterday the Liberal government had the audacity to change the zone to remove Black Forest and the rest of Clarence Park from the zone. This is an insult to residents who had thought that their children would be able to attend a school they knew they could be proud of to one that they perceive to be consistently under performing. I could see Jayne Stimson on the TV news  collecting signatures at Black Forest Primary School. this is a very high price to pay for winning the seat of Badcoe.

UNLEY TO MAKE MOVE ON DAILY EXERCISE

 

The City of Unley will receive more than $590,000 in funding over two years after being announced as one of 27 organisations to receive a grant from Sport Australia.

The grant will fund the Council’s new Daily Moves program, which aims to engage about 800 participants aged over 65 across the eastern region of Adelaide, for physical health assessments and to develop personalised exercise plans.

The City of Unley was the first council in South Australia to become a World Health Organisation Age Friendly City and Community. Winning this grant is recognition of Unley's leadership, and they  look forward to making a positive impact on older people’s lives.

Program participants will be assessed for health factors, including balance, sleep quality and grip strength, to guide a personalised physical exercise plan. The plan will include recommendations about local activities in fitness businesses, clubs and community settings or a home-based program.

Specific needs of individuals will be supported through modified fitness activities. 

Only 25 per cent of people aged over 65 meet the physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes day. South Australia is ageing faster than any other mainland state and the City of Unley wants to ensure our people are living healthy, active and resilient lives.

Program partners will be assessed on being age friendly and provided with resources to ensure participants have their needs met.

The City of Unley will co-ordinate the Daily Moves program for the Eastern Region Alliance with two grant funded staff members.

For more information, please visit unley.sa.gov.au

Forest Ave crossing point

A crossing point, near Selkirk Ave, will soon be constructed on Forest Ave. This has been an identified need for quite some time. The crossing will have bump out zones to reduce the crossing distance for users. This will require minor modification of the fence and gate at that location. This should be effective in slowing traffic and enable a safe walk to Black Forest Primary School  from a little further back that Oban Ave.

South Rd: under or over

Recent articles in both the Sunday Mail and The Advertiser outline in more detail the proposed upgrade of South Rd. It seems that they are currently looking at two options: one that takes traffic underground for the full 10 kilometres and one the has a tunnel and at grade development. Unfortunately, the latter proposal has the at grade development in the section from the Gallipoli underpass to Daws Rd (or thereabouts). This would leave the section through Clarence Park moving huge volumes of traffic as well as the infrastructure needed a to allow movement of vehicles onto and off the road. The former option is, in my opinion, more in line with what residents have indicated would be most suitable. The link takes you to a Channel 7 report.
https://www.facebook.com/fashionandlifestyle.rs/videos/130792431101832/ 

Unley Art Prize

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

All Connections to Unley Art Prize is a new and exciting opportunity for South Australian artists, young people and children to create, exhibit and be rewarded for artworks drawing on their personal connection to the City of Unley.

Free entry is now open to artworks  in two and three dimensional mediums, including painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, collage and new media.

A major prize of $5,000 is on offer to the overall winner, with an Elected Members Choice Award of $500 to be awarded to the finalist selected by the City of Unley's Elected Members.

All finalists will be exhibited at the Hughes Gallery in June 2019 and on the City of Unley website.

Entries close Monday 8 April 2019. Please read all competition details online. And make sure you check out the extended exhibition life for the winning artworks! For more info www.unley.sa.gov.au/unleyartprize

Arts in Your Space showcases six new public artworks across the City.

This project encouraged selected artists to re-consider highly visible locations in Unley as cultural canvases, and supports Council in reviving interest

for art in public spaces.

Arts In Your Space provided opportunities for 7 artists to make a statement, selecting from a choice of potential sites in Unley’s public realm. In reserves, on walls, in the streets and on a basketball court: six diverse, exciting and unique public arts projects were commissioned across the Council area which are memorable additions to our ever-growing public gallery.

This project has been supported by a public art and design grant from Arts South Australia and is part of our Public Arts Strategy. For more information on the artworks and our most recent projects www.unley.sa.gov.au/arts                                      

An event to everyone's taste

 

Fringe in Unley

Thursday 6 March 2:30pm

Clarence Park Community Centre

Free public performance “Thanks for the Memories” – a tribute to jazz, swing, big band crooning and classic songs from the great American song book era. The Adelaide Big Band fronted by the slick Bill Parton will grace you with a series of big band swing tunes. Wind back the clock, enjoy listening to your favourite songs, tap your toes and even dance along in your seats. Enjoy the sounds of South Australia’s premier 18-piece jazz orchestra at this free afternoon event - it's a show not to be missed! Please note that this event is sold out, however we have space for Elected Members to attend – RSVP is essential to myself or Marcia please.

Ignite Unley  - African theme featuring movie “Khumba”

Friday 22 March 6pm (rescheduled 14 Dec event that was postponed due to rain)

Village Green

Join the City of Unley and the African Communities Council of SA as we present an evening of traditional African festivities. At 6pm the Village Green will come alive with authentic African food, interactive African drumming performances, singing, traditional African games, free face painting and entertainment for the kids with the movie Khumba screening at sunset. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite African animal.

Ignite Unley  - Chinese theme movie TBC

Friday 5 April 6pm

Village Green

A Chinese-themed outdoor cinema event including traditional food, entertainment and activities. Further details and film title to be released in coming weeks.

COMMUNITY EVENTS (SPONSORED BY COUNCIL)

Unley Greek Festival

Saturday 16 February 3pm - midnight

Oxford Terrace

The long-standing Unley Greek Festival run by St Spyridon church is on again in 2019! Be immersed in the atmosphere of traditional Greek culture under the beautiful plane trees of Oxford Terrace in front of the historic St Spyridon church. Enjoy plenty of hot Greek food, delicious loukoumades, and much more. Be entertained by traditional dancing groups and a magnificent band to help you dance the night away. Entry by gold coin donation.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2433183706723092/

An Evening Under the Stars

Saturday 23 February 8pm – 11:30pm

Soldiers Memorial Gardens

An evening full of songs from the stage and screen - led by Antonio and Kate Villano. Free family friendly concert brought to you by the Unley Road Association. If you enjoy great entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere – this is one event you don’t want to miss! Bring your friends, family and a picnic dinner and enjoy an evening of music in the beautiful Soldiers Memorial Gardens.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/478638205989210/

Dogapalooza

Sunday 17 March 10:30am - 3pm

Orphanage Park

Dogapalooza is Adelaide's original dog-friendly mini music festival! Our dog-lovin' strummers this year include Emily Davis, Aidan Jazzy Jones, Jen Lush & Steve Lennox, Banjo Jackson, Toby Brandenburg and Mary Webb with MC: Cal Williams Jr. Bring your dog, a rug, a bevvie or two and chill out to some live tunes with your furkid while raising funds for independent, no-kill animal rescues. This event is run as part of the Adelaide Fringe, for non-residents the cost will be $18.00 per person or concession $16.00 ($20 if purchased at the gate), kids under 12 are by donation at the gate, dogs are free! City of Unley residents can purchase tickets at the Civic Centre for a gold coin donation. A complimentary ticket to this event has been placed in your pigeon holes.

More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/290932178171267/

Australia Sri Lanka Association Food and Cultural Festival

Sunday 24 March 11am - 4pm

Fullarton Park Community Centre

Entry is via gold coin donation, experience authentic Sri Lankan Food at the 2019 Australia Sri Lanka Association Food Festival, enjoy live music, cooking demos and more!

Unley Oval Markets

Saturday 6 April

Unley Oval

League game at 2:40pm – Sturt versus Eagles

Organised by the Sturt Football Club, artisan markets showcasing foods & wares will be held on the eastern side of the oval throughout the duration of the game – entry to the market is free.

Parkinsons in the Park

Sunday 7 April 10am – 3pm

Soldiers Memorial Gardens

The event will be a family fun fete day to highlight the information, services, and activities that Parkinson's SA provides. Including a range of stalls, entertainment and activities – all money raised on the day directly supports Parkinson's SA services and research.

Goodwood Community Greek Festival

Sunday 5 May 11am - 7pm

Goodwood Community Centre carpark

Organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of SA this event features cultural food, dancing and entertainment.

High school zones putting pressure on house prices

This matter arose during the election campaign and I met with Jayne Stimson to try to get my head around the zoning changes. Clarence Park has been zoned to Pasadena H S for quite a while and there have been concerns from residents about this. However, when the zoning occurred to increase the  Adelaide H S zone to include a larger area to allow for the new Botanic High School, all of Black Forest and CP west was zoned to the new school. At the time the government had planned for Pasadena to be amalgamated with Unley and Clarence Park would have been included in this zone. There is still a tiny area zoned to Glenunga HS. And so the pressure on housing prices to buy in where the high schools are seen to be over performing. Needless to say this is driving up housing prices in Black Forest and Clarence Park residents are unhappy on more than one account. Of course, the government is trying to improve  standards in all schools.

Could King William Rd look like this?

I hope so. The plans that Council have approved allow for this flexibility for events and different times. The curbs will be rolled so that most of the time areas can  be used for car parking and at other times that can be used as above. I'd prefer a lighter surface to keep the street cooler.

Elizabeth St, Melbourne https://greenmagazine.com.au/elizabeth-street-pop-park-opens-summer/

Smoking and children's playgrounds

Most of you will be aware that you can no longer smoke near children's play equipment. Yet a resident brought to my attention that members of the public have been smoking at the Dora Guild Playground and that Council staff had told her that they had no power to stop them. I raised this matter at the December Council meeting. The legislation states that no-one can smoke within 10 m of play equipment, as there are places within the fenced park that are more than 10 m from play equipment people can legally smoke within the fenced park without penalty. Staff are now preparing signage to discourage people from smoking and have increased surveillance.
My recent talks with staff have left me delighted as they believe that Council can change by-laws to over ride this anomaly. This will then apply to all fenced play area within Unley. This will be, if passed by Councillors at a future meeting, be a win for kids and common sense.