FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

We are disappointed to announce that we are once again seeking community support for information relating to an illegal tree clearance in Auldana North Reserve. A 1200 square metre plot has been cleared immediately below 33 Patrick Auld Drive, Auldana, with between 20 to 50 mature indigenous trees chainsawed and left onsite. From the regrowth seen on some of the stumps, we predict the clearance happened approximately a month ago. As can be seen on the map shown below, this is a remote site that is difficult to access, making it hard for our teams to monitor it on a regular basis.

One of the saddest parts about this illegal clearing is that this site is a Bush For Life area, which is supported and cared for by volunteers who selflessly give their time to maintain these important sites.

We would like to remind the community, once again, that the clearing of street or reserve trees is illegal. Without witnesses, photographs or videos of these trees being removed, we cannot prosecute those responsible for this damage to our environment. If you have any information that can help us, please contact our customer experience team on 8366 4200 or burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

Around 20 - 50 indigenous trees were illegally cut down around a month ago.

The area of land, estimated to be around 1200 square metres, was cleared immediately below 33 Patrick Auld Drive, Auldana.

If you have any information contact our team on 8366 4200 or at burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

HELP TO PRESERVE OUR URBAN CANOPY: Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the latest news from across the City of Burnside, including:

✅ Seven Your Neighbourhood Budget projects for 2023/24 approved (full list at https://engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/your-neighbourhood-budget-2023-vote-today)
✅ SALA exhibitions open now at Pepper Street Arts Centre and the Burnside Civic Centre (www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Community-Recreation/Community-Venues/Pepper-Street-Arts-Centre/Exhibitions)
✅ Free skin cancer checks from Lions Club of Glenside on 12 and 13 August at Victoria Park (book by calling 0478 630 686)
✅ Help to preserve our urban canopy by reporting damage to any street trees on 8366 4200 or burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

Winter has passed and the Kensington Garden Reserve Tennis Courts are now available for your day and evening use.

With walk-on times available year-round, courts 6 – 8 are free and open to the public during daylight hours and with a minor fee to cover electricity costs for evening bookings.

Shared with the local ETKG Tennis Club, you can book these courts anytime, excluding the below hours, and have a hit with friends or family surrounded by some of the lushest wetlands Kensington Wama has to offer. And, with public bathrooms and picnic spaces nearby, why not make a day out of it and enjoy the new found sunshine?

Commercial coaching is not permitted on these courts noting they are for community and club use only.

The City of Burnside strongly encourages community use of courts 1 - 5 when available which are subject to a booking fee.

For information on court hire, visit www.burnside.sa.gov.au or email burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

Court 6 - 8 booking information.

Courts are unavailable for public bookings at the following times:

• Tuesdays 8.30 am - 1 pm (winter only)

• Wednesdays 6 pm - 10.30 pm

• Thursdays 8.30 am - 1 pm (winter only)

• Fridays 6 pm - 10.30 pm

• Saturdays 8 am - 10.30 am and 12.30 pm - 6 pm

• Tournament dates from time to time

Did you know that the first mill in South Australia was constructed in Burnside?

The gear wheel photographed, fashioned from red gum timber, is believed to be the only remaining piece of the Finnissbrook Watermill, which was constructed on First Creek in 1839. This wheel was part of the driving mechanism for two large mill stones.

Standing four stories high, with a 17 ft diameter water wheel, the Finnissbrook Watermill was built for John Cannan on First Creek, adjacent to the present-day St John Vianney Catholic Church at 544 Glynburn Road, Burnside. Initially a sawmill, it was converted to a flour mill in 1842 by Boyle Travers Finniss, who later went on to become South Australia’s first Premier.

The mill was not a commercial success due to its intermittent water supply, affected by the changing of the season. Despite the efforts of Edward Howitt, the mill’s last lessee, who installed supplementary steam power in 1855, it still failed to turn a profit. The mill was demolished by 1885.

Fragmented, an exhibition of textiles.

Join Pepper Street Arts Centre for the newest local artist exhibition ‘Fragmented’, from Friday 1 - Friday 29 September.

A journey in texture and mood, ‘Fragmented’ is brought to you by the Fibre Artist Network (FAN), a community group of over 100 artists who have been collaborating for over 20 years.

Featuring the work of 21 artists, including group convener Suzanne Gummow, the exhibition promises to challenge the broad idea of memory, art and form through an experience in style and technique. And with a stipulation requiring artwork displayed in the exhibition to stand one metre tall, ‘Fragmented’ promises to deliver some strikingly dynamic visuals.

Local artist and member of FAN, Cathy Boniciolli specialises in seascape visuals, focusing on the Fleurieu Peninsula’s stunning oceans and beaches, describing the sea and sands as good for the soul and a place to feel at peace.

‘We look at textiles as an art form, not a craft,’ Cathy said. ‘Each artist is challenged to interpret the theme individually to create a diverse exhibition.’

‘Beauty is very tactile you can develop texture and mood. Fabric is also more relatable than paint and other mediums, everyone wears fabric which means they can relate to the art.’

With artist demonstrations throughout September, get a firsthand look at the artists and techniques that contributed to this exhibition.

Learn more about ‘Fragmented’, including demonstration times at bit.ly/PepStExhibits

Opening Event: Friday 1 September 6 pm
Speaker: Suzanne Gummow, Textile Artist and Group Convenor
All are welcome, no bookings required. Complimentary drinks and nibbles on arrival.

Cathy Boniciolli-Fractured Rock Formations Along the Fleurieu Coastline

The City of Burnside is excited to announce that 18 community groups have been successful in applying for Community Grants funding this financial year, with a grant being provided to the following groups:

• Adelaide Community for Persian Literature
• Catherine Fitzgerald Art
• Chapel Street Community Garden
• Czech and Slovak Film Festival Australasia Inc
• Dulwich Rose Park United Parish
• El Ritmo Productions
• Friends of Cleland National Park
• Friends of Rose Park Memorial
• Glen Osmond Probus Club
• Glenunga Basketball Club
• Holiday Explorers Inc
• LEO Multicultural Association
• Linden Park Community Garden Association Inc
• Mama First
• Norwood Community Creche
• Rotary Club of Burnside
• SA Mosaics
• Zonta Club of Adelaide Torrens

We will bring you stories about some these Community Grants recipients in the coming months, so keep an eye out on our engage.burnside News Hub, our social media pages and the summer edition of Focus to discover more about some of the great work these groups do.

We are proud to support local community groups and encourage you to apply for a grant when applications open in 2024. You can find out more information about the City of Burnside Community Grants Program at www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Community-Recreation/Programs-Services/Grants-Funding/Burnside-Community-Grants-Program

SA Mosaics group preparing for an exhibition

A successful prosecution for the illegal removal of a street tree was announced at Adelaide Magistrates Court on 21 July 2023 in a landmark first for the City of Burnside.

Burnside’s award-winning urban forest is considered a community asset and is critical in curbing the disastrous effects of heatwaves in urban environments, reducing air pollution, providing habitat for birds and wildlife, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and providing green spaces for the community to enjoy and feel proud of. As a Tree City of the World, Burnside is passionate about protecting the urban forest at time when there is constant pressure from developers to remove trees.

In April 2021 a mature seven year old Golden Rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) was removed on Fort Avenue, Kensington Gardens. A resident witnessed the tree being cut down with a chainsaw and, after discovering that the removal was not approved by Council, took photographs and notified the City of Burnside of the incident. Council investigated and with enough evidence to prosecute, issued a summons for the matter to be heard in court in April 2022.

After a two year case, City of Burnside CEO, Chris Cowley, was happy with the outcome that was successful largely because of a supportive resident and Council’s passionate Urban Forest Team.

‘It’s been a long and protracted case taking a year to investigate and a further year in the courts,’ Mr Cowley said. ‘It would never have been successful without the quick thinking of the resident who witnessed the incident and reported it to Council.’

‘I cannot thank this resident enough for the care they have shown in protecting the City’s urban forest. Without the evidence, and the unwavering passion of Council’s Urban Forest Team to see the case through, we would not have been successful.’

‘I hope that this example highlights the seriousness of the issue and the commitment from Council to take strong action to safeguard the urban forest,’ Mr Cowley said.

Senior Urban Forestry Officer Chris Hawkins said that this is a rare win in the battle to preserve the urban forest for future generations.

‘I’ve worked as an arborist for 10 years and this is the first successful street tree prosecution that I know of,’ Mr Hawkins said. ‘Putting this into perspective, Council received 50 recorded incidents of people cutting down or poisoning street trees in the last year. A large proportion of these are linked to new developments.’

‘Each year we plant almost 1000 new street and reserve trees, but we’re losing so many as well. Without solid evidence it is notoriously difficult to prosecute this illegal activity.’

Chris Cowley asked the community to help Council defend the urban forest by reporting any tree damaging activity and even gathering evidence.

‘We need everyone to know that this illegal behaviour is not acceptable in our community and that anyone can help by giving information to Council,’ Mr Cowley said. ‘Photographs and statements are what can really change the outcome.’

In the recently concluded case, His Honour Magistrate Dixon found the defendant guilty of the offence and imposed a fine of $500. The Court also ordered the defendant to pay the Council’s court costs of $5,708 and a $262 payment of a Victims of Crime Levy.

As the maximum punishment for this illegal activity, the courts can impose a $5000 fine and record a criminal conviction.

Left: A new juvenile tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) stands in the spot of the original tree joining over 40,000 trees in the urban forest that keeps Burnside’s streets cool, captures and stores carbon from our atmosphere, and provides food and homes for wildlife. The trees standing either side indicate what the size of the original tree would have been.

School holidays are over for now and the City of Burnside and Burnside Library would like to thank all the parents and students who attended our school holiday program. As always demand was high for every session with most fully booked out!

Over the two week holiday period the program had amazing attendance across all activities with holiday fun to suit students from ages 5-18, including Paper Engineering, chess lessons, STEM Snapshots, Picture Book Putt-Putt, and Grandma Era – Learn to Crochet.

Burnside Library’s holiday program will be back up and running later in the year for the September/October school holidays – don’t blink, they will be here in no time.

Until then, the Library will be continuing the usual weekly activities including Preschool Storytime (every Tuesday, 10.30 am), Baby Chat (Thursday, 10.30 am), and many more.

Burnside Library will also be taking part in National Science Week 2023, from 12 – 20 August with special after-school events including a Boomerang Engineering class and a Native Seed Bomb Workshop.

For more information on all the above, visit the Burnside Library events page.

Or see more about what is going on in Burnside outside of the Library at ‘What’s on in Burnside’.

Did you know that restoration of the former Burnside Council chambers is currently underway? The City of Burnside supports St David's Anglican Church's efforts to conserve this building and we look forward to the completion of works later this year. The project focuses on restoring the exterior, including replacing the roof, repairing the front verandah and repointing the stonework. The church recently uncovered the original metal signage, which had been painted over, with plans to recreate it. Once completed St David's Church plans to set up the former chambers as a meeting space for community use.

Meetings of the District Council of Burnside were held at this site from December 1869 until March 1928 when the current council chamber on Greenhill Road opened. The former chambers then became the residence of the Council pound keeper, with stables at the rear. In 1959 St David's Church acquired the property.

District Council of Burnside chambers, circa 1928 Former council chambers under renovation, 2023