FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

** POSTPONED**

Unfortunately this course has been postponed. For more information on new dates contact the organisers via http://bit.ly/LivingSmartEasternSuburbs

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Do you want to respond positively to issues like climate change or meet people who care about the environment and sustainability? Then Living Smart is for you! Through hands-on activities, group-based learning techniques, and guest speakers you will delve into ten Living Smart sustainability topics and leave armed with practical ways to live more lightly. It also includes a field trip to see first-hand how people are already taking action... and how you can join in! There is no need to have a background in the subject matter areas, courses are open to anyone who is curious.

This is a 7-week course with weekly sessions from Thursday 3 September – Thursday 29 October, 6.30 pm – 9 pm at Glenunga Hub, Conyngham Street, Glenunga. Living Smart courses are designed for you to meet other local people, learn new skills and make lasting changes in your life.

This course is brought to you by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board and the Cities of Burnside and Norwood, Payneham & St Peters.

After seven years as independent Chair of the Council Assessment Panel (CAP), and a career in urban planning for 50 years, Bill Chandler is stepping down after deciding to pull back on his Council commitments.

“It’s been a pleasure to work in the planning industry as I long as I have,” Bill says. “But it is also frustrating sometimes. There is a need to balance politics, planning policy, good urban design and community expectations in order to achieve quality outcomes; sometimes this is tricky.”

Bill says the new planning legislation will put enormous pressure on the eastern suburbs of Adelaide. “Burnside has always had an environment of bigger allotments and open space, together with a unique character and streetscape. The ability of the local planners to guide good development will be impacted and consultation with local communities about proposals that may affect them will be reduced.”

Bill says to maintain Burnside’s unique place in metropolitan Adelaide we will have to fight a lot harder. “My experience tells me that you can never write a planning policy document that tells you how to design something that is good. There is a lot of pressure for infill. One house on a large allotment has the potential to become three,” Bill says. “The tree canopy disappears, the streetscape changes and there are more cars on the street. Adelaide has a unique and mixed urban environment and what fits in one suburb may not be suitable in Burnside.”

“I have real passion about passive, low energy, well designed buildings with the correct orientation,” Bill says. “Living areas should face north and solar energy use is encouraged. The big housing companies often have a large suite of designs, but sometimes they don’t necessarily suit the block they are planned for, so the potential energy savings are lost.”

At the CAP, Bill and his colleagues can tell when an architect or design professional has been involved as there is generally a lot of support for the policy in the Council Development Plan. “Many builders have designers, but a lot of project builders don’t have planners or architects. They sometimes put forward proposal plans without first considering or understanding the planning policy which might apply. The Council is then, in my view, unfairly criticised when the plans are rejected,” Bill says.

Bill says there needs to be more communication between Councils, government, the construction industry and importantly local communities. “I see the planning industry as a coordinator of all of the design elements, and bringing together builders, architects, designers, engineers etc.”

“I have always seen my role on CAP as an opportunity to make a difference, present a refreshing view to local government about what is good quality design and how design outcomes can ‘fit’ within established urban areas such as Burnside. Another reason is that I have been able to mentor those involved in local planning, including planning staff and of course members of Council. I trust they have learned a little from my input and experience.”

COVID-19 is a wakeup call, according to Bill. “How will people live and work in the future? The planning profession has a great opportunity to guide people through future life changes. This will mean consideration of our current urban fabric and local environment qualities, future development densities, accessibility and location to work opportunities, shopping and community facilities.”

“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with the CAP at Burnside and my best wishes for the future go to all.”

The native plants and animals that exist in the City of Burnside make a substantial contribution to the character and identity of the area. Plants are ever-present, like the distinctive giants, the River Reds and Blue Gums. In winter and spring each year the Hardenbergia have showy purple flowers, followed through spring and summer by those of the Kangaroo-apples. And year-round there is a chance one might see an urban marsupial, like a koala or a ring-tail possum. We are lucky to experience such unique and beautiful flora and fauna, right at our doorstep!

Left: Microbat, Leser Long-eared Bat: pic Terry Reardon
There are a multitude of mammals that share the Burnside area. Bats are surprisingly common in Adelaide, but because most bat species are small, we

do not realise how abundant they are. These small and abundant bats are called ‘microbats’. Some microbats weigh less than 5 grams!

There are likely to be five to ten species of microbats in the Burnside area, and they are very important to have around. Microbats control insect populations, including mosquitos. It is a great benefit to have these little bats cleaning up mosquitos for us. These bat species were present in the region long before the City of Burnside was established.

Larger bats have more recently set up camp in Adelaide, the Grey-headed flying foxes. These are part of the ‘megabat’ group and sometimes called fruitbats. They are 23-29 cm in length, with a wingspan of up to a metre. The wings are a similar length to those of a sulphur-crested cockatoo, but with a distinctive bat shape that makes them easy to recognise as they fly across the evening sky.

The Grey-headed flying foxes are a threatened species, found only in Australia, that became resident in Adelaide around 10 years ago. These bats are also helpful to have around because they disperse the pollen and seeds of native plants. The flying foxes roost during the day, with a permanent camp near the Adelaide Zoo. They visit trees in Burnside on a seasonal basis but can be seen overhead on a nightly basis.

Grey Headed Flying Fox : pic Vivian Jones

Bats are often reported to carry diseases, which can be the case, however there is little cause for concern; we have been living among bats for a long time with no concern about their presence – you may not have even realised they live in your neighbourhood. There is no need to worry if bats fly overhead or visit your garden. The key to bat safety is not to touch them even if they are dead or injured. If you find a bat that is dead or injured, contact the RSPCA or a wildlife rescue organisation.

The City of Burnside is renowned for its trees and is one of only three council areas in Australia to be recognised as a Tree City of the World. The trees and wildlife together provide our natural heritage, a distinctive character, and play an important role in conservation. The area provides habitat for native species that are struggling elsewhere, like koalas and Grey-headed flying foxes, both of which are listed nationally as threatened species. It is a contribution we can make and enjoy for generations to come.

A large portion of the council’s annual budget is spent on waste management, including recycling. While it is cheaper than landfill the cost of recycling has increased markedly. This cost is passed on to residents through council rates. Council is never keen to increase rates, but the increasing cost of waste management makes that difficult.

Council's Environmental Assets Coordinator Dr Phil, says you can help reduce the pressure on rates when you go shopping by thinking ‘circular’.

"What does that mean?" says Dr Phil. "A ‘circular economy’ describes an economy where resources are used again and again, rather than being thrown away."

What does that have to do with shopping? "There are more and more products on supermarket shelves that have recycled content in them," says Dr Phil. "When you buy recycled materials, you are participating in the circular economy. Buying recycled goods also has environmental benefits because it reduces the need for raw materials."

It is easier than it sounds. Below are some examples of common items that are available at local supermarkets and online.

Personal care items:

• Shampoo, conditioner and body wash with recycled plastic bottles
• Cosmetics with recycled plastic containers
• Toilet paper made from recycled paper

Cleaning Products:

• Dishwashing and laundry liquid with recycled plastic bottles
• Kitchen and bathroom cleaning products with recycled plastic bottles

Waste management:

• Bin liners made from recycled plastic
• Cat litter made from recycled paper

Food Storage:

• Aluminium foil made from recycled aluminium
• Food containers and drink bottles made from recycled plastic (available online)

Stationery:

• Printing paper, notebooks and cards made with recycled paper
• Pens made with recycled plastic

How does buying products with recycled content take pressure off council rates?

To explain this matter, we need to start at the bin.

Everything you put in a bin costs money to process. For example, when you put paper in a yellow bin it costs council to pick it up, transport it to a recycling facility, and separate it from other materials. Manufacturing companies then buy the paper and turn it into new products. The price that manufacturers pay for the paper can offset the cost of the processing. If the paper is sold to a manufacturer for $10 per tonne, but it cost $15 per tonne to collect and sort the paper, the overall process would be costing council ($5 per tonne in this example).

Lately, the value of recycled paper has been low, which means that the cost of the recycling process is not being completely offset. But the value of recycled paper does change, and if the value increases it would offset more of the processing cost. What would make this value increase? Greater demand. If there is more demand for a product, its value increases.

How can we create greater demand for recycled paper? We can all buy products made with recycled paper. As the demand increases, the value of the recycled paper will increase, and the sales of recycled paper to manufacturers will completely offset the costs of processing. The same is true for plastic, glass, metal and other recycled materials. The more recycled content we demand, the better. Dr Phil says we create demand for recycled materials when we buy them. "That is how we can all participate in the circular economy and help take the pressure off council rates."

As part of the celebration of Pepper Street's 25th anniversary we profile some artists.

When Marjorie Molyneux retired in 1995, she was looking for volunteer opportunities. As she lived close to Pepper Street Arts Centre she inquired there.

“It had only been open for a year,” Marjorie says. “I joined as a volunteer 24 years ago. I was also a hobby potter so I started putting work in there. I have a fascination with birds and I am well-known for making birds in different shapes.”

The Centre was very small at first, just one old school hall which was converted into the gallery and shop. The front part was the Eastern Medical Group.

Council extended Pepper Street and the gift shop opened and there were more opportunities for artists because there was more space. “The workshop area opened and that has been extremely popular,” says Marjorie. “Not just during the day but evening classes as well.” In 2001 the coffee shop opened and was named after local artist Dorrit Black. “Her niece gave us a recipe for one of Dorrit’s apple cakes and we served that at the opening,” Marjorie says.

Marjorie, in her 80s, says Pepper Street is a great place for volunteers. “We have very good Council staff looking after us. Lots of friendships are made here and lots of artists feel very comfortable and welcome here.”

Now living in Leabrook, Marjorie says she always feels better when she has been creative. “I really appreciate the diversity of art that we see here at Pepper Street, it inspires me to create more.”

As part of the celebration of Pepper Street's 25th anniversary we profile some artists.

When Rosalyn Sachsse, a long time exhibitor at Pepper Street, was reminded recently that it was Pepper Street’s
25 th anniversary she remembered clearly the Centre opening.

“Cheryl Donaldson, who started Pepper Street 25 years ago, asked me to put some pots in so I was one of the first group of potters to exhibit there,” Rosalyn says.

Rosalyn loves art generally, looking at different paintings and exhibitions and seeing what people do.

“People can express themselves through art,” she says. “My pottery is quite eclectic I think because I go from one thing to another and do a lot of functional pots but also fun pottery where I just experiment. I can play with clay and it’s fun.”

Rosalyn does not teach but exhibits regularly at the Centre. She and four fellow artists have a big exhibition in May next year, postponed because of COVID-19.

She says art relaxes her and she can go into her garage studio, forget everything and just concentrate on her pottery.

“I like the passion that the Pepper Street team have – they are always so enthusiastic I think it’s really great.”

It is also a great place to meet others. “I love the fact that every time you go there it is busy, there are always people around you, doing things. There was a mahjong club there one day which I had never seen before. There is always something happening. For the community I think it’s great.”

“It’s got a terrific range of goods and it is always a great place to buy a present,” she says.

“I really appreciate what they are doing at Pepper Street. It is fantastic for the Burnside community but also others. People from the hills come down - it is quite well known.”

The 25 years has gone very quickly and Rosalyn says the Centre has gone from very small and simple to a really lovely complex “with much better coffee!”

As part of the celebration of Pepper Street's 25th anniversary we profile some artists.

When Pepper Street Arts Centre opened 25 years ago Wilma Bajka-Van Velze was one of the first artists to exhibit. “A friend had an exhibition in Burnside Library and I was asked to join her, then they started Pepper Street 25 years ago. I became a volunteer and I have been here since,” Wilma says.

Wilma, 80, weaves wool and then uses a loom to create scarves, wraps, shawls and wall hangings.

She demonstrates her skills at Pepper Street every Friday, travelling from her Bridgewater home. “Spinning and weaving make me feel peaceful,” she says. “It is very satisfactory to start with a bag of wool and you finish up with a scarf or a jacket.”

Wilma does not teach as she explains. “English is my second language and as I get older I go back to my native language (Dutch) and I do not feel very secure to give lessons.”

She says Pepper Street has grown a lot over 25 years. “The quality of the art is a lot better now. I like the quietness and the friendliness of the staff. You come in and you feel already at peace.”

“I have to use my hands to feel good,” Wilma says. “Some days I don’t feel like weaving so I go out to the garden and use my hands there.”

“I love the atmosphere at Pepper Street – you come in and you feel alright, I hear this from a lot of people. It is just a beautiful place to be. And it is Sally and Ingrid and Alex, especially Sally,that make it so beautiful.”

As part of the celebration of Pepper Street's 25th anniversary we profile some artists.

Kensington Gardens artist Gishka Van Ree has been teaching general and botanical drawing at Pepper Street for 14 years. Before that he taught at Adelaide Central School of Art for 18 years. “I had just left there and saw a call out in the local paper for a teacher of drawing. I applied and started two weeks later,” he says. He had to change his style of teaching to suit a different type of student. “I was teaching 20 – 30 year olds who had a degree but never really learnt to draw. Here (at Pepper Street) it is an older student base, many retired people. I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing them slowly get involved. I tell my students ‘you have to find your own language of art, your own mediums’.”

Gishka has always worked with organic matter and has two themes in his drawing – fruit and shells. “I am very connected to the environment and nature,” he says. “I tell a story of how seed and kernels flower and then the fruit falls to pieces but the seed is always there.”

“I do a lot of landscape gardening so that is incorporated in my art. I did a series based on gumnuts which sold out. One of them won the 2006 Victor Harbor art prize.”

As classes commence after COVID-19, students are bringing in drawings that they did during lockdown.

Gishka says Pepper Street is a fantastic community based gallery, one of the best in Adelaide.

“I feel very comfortable here. I have five degrees in art but art is not an easy path to be on – you are often flat broke but art means everything to me. It has always been a part of my life.”

He also writes a lot and has had two books published.

“I will never retire from art, I will keep doing it until the day I drop.”

As part of the celebration of Pepper Street's 25th anniversary we profile some artists.

As Pepper Street Arts Centre celebrates its 25th birthday, one longtime volunteer reflects on her passion. Anne Martin was born into an arty family. “Both my parents were artists,” Anne says. “I studied fashion and worked as a knitwear designer and then craft editor of Woman’s Day magazine.”

When Anne moved to Adelaide from interstate 20 years ago, she and her husband Ben lived in a large house on Glynburn Road at Kensington Gardens. In checking out the local area Anne discovered Pepper Street Arts Centre, an arts and cultural initiative of the City of Burnside. Anne says the Centre brings local creative people together and gives them a creative space. “I love the networking with other artists, swapping ideas and sharing events or craft fairs.”

Anne’s craft talents include knitting, sewing, beading, embroidery and crocheting. But her great love is mosaics. “I hand paint and glaze my own tiles,” she says. “That way I can get bright colours, crystal glazes and blended colours.” Anne has adorned her house and garden with stunning mosaics, many of them as large as 6 m x 2 m. There are two strong themes to her work – birds and marine life.

The grandmother of five teaches craft at her home on Wednesday nights. “I help my students make whatever they want to - whether embroidery, knitting or crochet.” Anne’s class is so popular it is full and she is thinking of starting another one. She also gives talks at Pepper Street on creative knitting and crochet. But one art she does not teach is mosaics. “It is difficult to take all my tiles and equipment to Pepper Street and I don’t have room here for classes. The pretty bit of mosaics is the easy part, it is the preparation and the problem-solving that is hard.”

One of the projects Anne is proud of is her coordination of the four mosaics in the underground walkway at the George Bolton Swimming Centre Burnside. Students from three local primary schools designed the mosaics. “The style they came up with actually reflected them as students and I think that image will stay with me forever,” Anne says.

If you like Anne’s work she will do commissions but she says, “I have to like the client and I have to like the subject. It’s very important otherwise it just becomes tedious.” In addition the client has to like Anne’s style. “I love decorative, colourful, and whimsical. If you want geometric and stylised I am not your artist.”

Anne has plans for more mosaic design and has identified places in the garden where she will display them. “I’ve always made things,” Anne says. “I am sure art keeps me young and sane. I totally lose myself and it feeds my soul. If I don’t get studio time I get a bit edgy.”

At 64, Anne says she now paces herself. “I knit or crochet every night unless I have had a big day on mosaics then I rest my hands.”

City of Burnside is undertaking a 12 month trial of e-bikes for staff to get to and from:

- Site meetings

- Home visits

- Building inspections etc.!

The e-bikes are part of our pledge to reduce our impact on the environment by encouraging cycling over car use where possible, and make up one small part of our environmental sustainability and climate mitigation work and pathway.

You can read more about our advocacy for Climate Action here!