Keep safe.
I have represented the Ward in 1995-7 and again from 2006 to the present time. I find being your representative on Council to be very rewarding. Please find out more about current items that I think are of interest as well as my achievements for the Ward and plans for the future.
24 December 2021
News from DIT
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12 December 2021
Full Council meeting: Dec 13th 2021
The last meeting for 2021. You may find the following of interest?
- Petition regarding Unley Library hours: clearly a large number of people are concerned at the acceptance by Council at is November meeting to reduce opening hours. After some discussion between Cr Palmer, Cr Dodd and myself Jordan took the responsibility for preparing the motion
- Proposed Active Participation Framework: Council will trial a new consultation model regarding parking.
- Performance Report of CEO's Key Performance Indicators: These are comprehensive and worth a read.
- Rescission motion on library opening hours?
- Goodwood Community Centre Management Model: CONFIDENTIAL
- Waste Management Services prudential and Probity Review: CONFIDENTIAL
05 December 2021
Time to rethink significant tree legislation
It seems that the large trees left in Unley are diminishing. Usually as they are in the wrong place and too close to an existing dwelling, in the way of development or deemed to be unsafe. I had an interesting conversation with a resident last week as her neighbour has asked her to remove a large tree in her front yard as it allegedly damaging the neighbour's property. The tree is a regulated tree. A recent court case between the City of Unley and a resident and his arborist. had an interesting result. Council lost both the court case and an appeal against the decision. The resident was being sued by Council as he had engaged an arborist to remove overhanging branches of his neighbours trees. All while the neighbour was away. The trees were essentially cut at approx. 6m from the ground. This decision now sits as precedent for all other trees. This means that it is time to rethink the legislation so that this decision is clarified and,, hopefully overridden. If I was rewriting the legislation I'd like to see:
- smaller trunk sizes protected
- no removal if a tree is less than 10m from a dwelling
- less species specifity
- no removal due to development (developers must work around existing trees).
What additional assistance does the Mayor get?
Questions on Notice over the last couple of meetings have started to raise real concerns in my mind about what support is needed for a Mayor to do their job well and what is excessive. Our Mayor receives a little under $80,000 per annum plus the use of a car, which he has declined. All Councillors are able to ask for and obtain legal advice as required. Additionally we are all supplied with a computer with remote access (when required). We do not get a phone or the cost of internet connection..
These include:
- Secretarial support at approx. half time
- Recruitment of this service (5 times in the last 3 years) costing other staff time, advertising costs, training
- CEO's time: this being up to 2 days per week and estimated to be at a cost of $120,000.