New Council Member - Mayor Anne Monceaux

Thank you to everyone who voted in the recent elections. Local Government is the level of government that is closest to its people. It has a daily impact on our lives. Councils provide and maintain libraries, parks, playgrounds, pools, paths, planting and protection of trees, local roads, walking and cycling trails, dog parks, ovals, sports grounds and facilities, bus stops, park benches, fences, rubbish bins and public toilets. Some councils, like Burnside, provide street sweeping and verge mowing, even though they are not mandated services. Burnside supports small businesses (through Propel SA), provides bushfire prevention services as well as health services (through Eastern Health Authority).

Burnside provides waste collection services (through EastWaste) and education on waste disposal. We provide many programs for the elderly, disabled, young children and their parents and teenagers. We support the Burnside Symphony Orchestra and the Burnside Youth Band, and we have a number of performance spaces like The Regal Theatre, the Burnside Ballroom and the original upstairs Ballroom, the Civic Centre Hall as well as art spaces like Pepper Street and Hubbe Court. We have gathering places like The Shed, The Hub, Eastwood Community Centre, Dulwich Community Centre and Civic Centre cafes. We work closely with Lions and Rotary Clubs and Burnside Historical Society. We support Probus, War Widows and other community groups (social, sporting, recreational, educational and cultural) through community grants and facility hire.

Burnside leads the way in environmental strategies as a Tree City of the World and as one of the first councils to declare a Climate Change emergency, we focus on being carbon neutral by 2030. And we have some of the lowest rates in Adelaide. All of this happens through the work of our committed staff, led by our CEO, Chris Cowley.

I thank the 30 people who stood for election and the 10,800 people who voted. Thirteen people were elected: 7 women and 6 men. 8 people were re-elected in Beaumont, Burnside, Rose Park & Toorak Gardens, Kensington Park and you re-elected me. Five new members will represent Eastwood & Glenunga, Kensington Gardens & Magill and Kensington Park. Each person elected is now responsible for representing their ward as well as ensuring their service considers the whole community of Burnside. I encourage you to make contact with your local members to seek information or support. By the time that you read this, we will have completed our mandated training and be ready to help. Their profiles appear later in this Summer Focus.

Thank you Councillors Sarah Hughes, Henry Davis, Helga Lemon and Grant Piggott for your time and commitment over the past 4 to 12 years. I wish you well in your new councils and in your retirement.

Thank you for having confidence in me by re-electing me as Mayor. I will continue to be your ‘everywhere Mayor’ as I am committed to this Burnside Community. I am inclusive and will continue to attend events and be involved with the community across different cultures, abilities, ages, and in sports, social, recreational and historical activities. I love Burnside’s tree-lined streets, its parks and pools, its green spaces, hills and creeks. I find the things I need at our shopping villages and enjoy coffee and other treats at our many cafes and restaurants. I appreciate and respect Burnside’s history, character and heritage and I will continue to do all I can to protect what most of us who choose to live here, love most.

I have already spoken to the State Planning Expert Panel Review Team about our community’s concerns about infill development, heritage protection, demolition controls, parking and tree protection. I have addressed Katadilla (Adelaide Parklands Authority) about the importance of our connection and concern for protection of the parklands. I will continue to lobby in both of these areas, as well as be actively involved in all aspects of planning for now and the future, particularly with the implementation of our Master Plan and continued action regarding climate change initiatives.

Finally, I wish for warmer days, time outside in our parks and pools, for families re-united at Christmas, safe travelling in holiday time and good health and happiness for 2023.