FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

Cr Jane Davey | Cr Andy Xing

Cr Jane Davey

Thank you for your confidence and support in re-electing me to represent you as YOUR VOICE in Council.

As outlined in my election campaign, I am dedicated to working to preserve the character of our beautiful and unique city as well as to protect, maintain and enhance our trees, parks, heritage buildings, open spaces and streetscapes.

I will fight to amend and improve state government planning laws so that Council is able to control demolition of our buildings and trees, protect our heritage buildings, better protect our urban infrastructure and restore the right of community members to have a say in the development to be undertaken in their vicinity.

Maintenance of and improvement to our remaining tree canopy across Burnside is an essential component of our response to minimise the effects of climate change and for enhanced environmental sustainability in our community.

I will work hard to reduce the rates of generation of waste - both in the community and by Council - including the scourge of single use plastics - and to set targets for improvement of recycling rates and reduction of the waste Burnside sends to landfill.

Finally, there are significant challenges for the management and improvement of the traffic and parking issues faced by both our residential and our business community across our suburbs.

I wish you and your families a safe, happy and healthy festive season.

Cr Andy Xing

I’m your new voice on Burnside Council. Following is a little about myself and what I intend to achieve in my term. It has already been noted to me that I am the youngest elected member and first from an Asian background in City of Burnside history.

But first, I’d like to tell you about my parents. They’re my inspiration. They chose to come to Australia to build a better life for themselves and their family. They worked hard and made sacrifices every day. They’re the reason I am in this privileged position today. My goal is to live up to their example.

Now I’d like to tell you a little about myself. I’m a management consultant, which means I help organisations which do business around the world create value for Australians. I’m also a proud Burnside local. I was raised in Kensington Park and graduated from Pembroke. There’s even a fair chance you’ve seen me on the courts at the East Torrens and Kensington Gardens Tennis Club (ETKG).

I stood for Council because I wanted to improve the local community I love. My priorities during my term are promoting our economic growth, investing in youth and active ageing programs, embracing our rich multiculturalism, and harnessing the views of the next generation, protecting our heritage and green spaces, and ensuring the transparent and effective use of ratepayer funds. Achieving everything I’ve set out to achieve won’t be easy. However, I promise that I’ll work hard every day to serve the community I love. My desire is to combine truly independent politics, a unique perspective, and new ideas to empower communities to use the most important weapon they have: their voice.

Once again, thank you for placing your faith and trust in me. I am honoured to represent my local community and excited about working with you all over the next four years.

Cr Kerry Hallett | Cr Jo Harvey

Cr Kerry Hallett

I sincerely thank the residents of Kensington Gardens and Magill who put their faith in me as councillor for the next four years. It is a privilege to be your representative.

I look forward to working collaboratively with other councillors and staff and to continuing to engage with local residents, businesses and sporting and community groups. Community members are the true experts about their community.

I have lived in the City of Burnside for 30 years and for the past 12 years in Kensington Gardens. I raised my family here, as did my ancestors, my children attended local schools and now my grandchildren play in the same parks and creek beds.

I worked in metropolitan councils for 15 years and another 5 years in the planning and transport sector. I ran my own successful social planning and community engagement business for 15 years working on some of South Australia’s significant projects like the Adelaide Desalination Project, South Road Planning Study and the EIS for the Olympic Dam Expansion Project.

Throughout my working life and in retirement I have maintained volunteering commitments with the homelessness sector, foster care and refugee support services.

I am passionate about protecting and enhancing our environment. Our urban green spaces are under threat of incremental development. Higher density housing has resulted in significant tree loss across our suburbs. Our parks, reserves and street canopies will increasingly play a critical role in keeping our suburbs cool and energy costs down.

I want to work towards ensuring thriving localities and communities. I want to ensure council’s sport and recreation facilities are focal points for community participation and inclusion. Rates must be spent on value adding services and facilities. There are significant challenges ahead but I hope to work with and for residents building a resilient and prosperous community.

Cr Jo Harvey

I am thrilled to be elected as your Councillor in Kensington Gardens / Magill Ward. Thank you to all residents who voted. I am proud and honoured to have your faith and trust placed in me and be your voice in Council.

As a resident of 15 years in Kensington Gardens, I was born, raised, and educated in my Ward. As a child growing up in Magill, I had a creek at the end of my street which became my playground for learning about nature and the environment. My passion is still maintaining the health and protection of our environment, nature and green space, parks/reserves, and creeks. I do not want any further unnecessary development in this valuable and irreplaceable greenspace, and I wish to increase further awareness.

I want to see changes in planning laws to protect significant trees from being unnecessarily torn down by developers as thankfully there is mounting community concern regarding the protection of these significant trees. We live in our beautiful leafy green suburbs because of the character, vibrancy, charm, and heritage which must be preserved. More trees and vegetation planted, our footpaths and cycle lanes improved for the safety and accessibility for all residents. Community consultation is vital to promote trust and necessary for future decision-making.

As a small business owner of 20 years, I have supported charities with fundraising / volunteering which is educating and rewarding. Rate payers must know where their money is spent and wasteful expenditure in council must be eliminated.

I am dedicated and look forward to working with Councillors, Administration, and residents in making important decisions for the benefit of the community with positive outcomes. Our residents should feel included and supported by bringing back the sense of ‘community’ in our suburbs with a balanced, new approach.

Cr Ted Jennings | Cr Di Wilkins

Cr Ted Jennings

I wish to use this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Councillor for Eastwood and Glenunga. I thank all residents for putting their faith in myself to represent them for the next four years. I campaigned strongly on bringing community back to Burnside council, I’m humbled by the result.

My young family has lived on Sydney Street for 20 years, moving here when my youngest wasn’t even 12 months old. All three of my children were educated at Linden Park Primary School and are currently at Glenunga International (my youngest was part of the first intake of year 7s into high school). I’m pleased that all rode their push bikes to school. I recognise every push bike is one less car on the road and one more carpark for drivers.

Burnside council has a fabulous green canopy, when I ride home from the CBD on the hottest summer days, you can feel the temperature reduction as you leave the parklands and ride down streets that have 100-year-old trees planted on the verges. I often stand up for the trees which have no voice, being an executive committee member on the Adelaide Park Lands Association since 2015.

As block sizes get smaller and buildings get bigger, I see issues arising from on-street parking, waste management and the loss of our green canopy resulting in rising ambient heat.

When not working, you will find me riding pushbikes (for fun) up Burnside’s steepest hills. When the weather cools, I’ll be running up and down the same hills. I’ve run the Adelaide marathon and the Yurrebilla ultra marathon this year, sitting on the board of the South Australian Road Runners Club as the club's secretary.

When I join a Committee/Board and now Council, my mantra is to leave it in better shape than I found it.

Cr Di Wilkins

I am delighted to again be elected as the local representative on Burnside Council for the Ward of Eastwood and Glenunga. I thank everyone who has voted for me. I have lived in the Historic Area of Eastwood since moving from the mid-north of SA 20 plus years ago. We are a ‘connected local community’ who value the contribution and legacy of past residents who have kept these heritage homes intact for future generations.

I do also recognise the considerable contribution made by my previous Ward Councillor, Helga Lemon and thank her for her many years of friendship, service and commitment to our local community.

As your elected local representative and a lifelong member of the National Trust of SA, I will continue to be a strong and vocal advocate for the preservation of our built and cultural heritage. We have continued to witness the wanton destruction of our beautiful built and natural legacy from past generations. The sustainability and liveability of our character filled streets and established neighbourhoods must be treasured, preserved and conserved for all of our children.

My priorities for the next four years will be championing and improving traffic calming measures in Eastwood and Glenunga for pedestrian and cyclist road safety for all residents, young and old. As a committed gardener, respecting and beautifying our urban landscape, recreational and open spaces is a high priority for me. I would encourage all residents to maintain and take pride in their verges as they add beauty to the whole streetscape of Burnside.

Our local community plays a significant role in how we live our day-to-day lives and I cherish the valuable contribution made to our local community, of the Eastwood and Glenunga Community Centres, as they continue to provide varied opportunities for all residents.

We are very pleased to be re-elected as the Councillors for the Burnside Ward for a second four-year term. Thank you for your support. We were also fortunate in being supported by our volunteers, who assisted with flyer distribution in areas where the topography was quite challenging.

The voter turnout for the Ward was above the last election’s total, which was a welcome result and shows an increased interest in local affairs. Also, a number of enquiries were received from residents during the campaign on a range of topics, which we have recorded for further follow up with Council Administration.

For the interest of residents, there is an ongoing list of projects, which we will continue to oversee in the short to medium term. They include:

• Anzac lookout – beautification of area in accordance with Master Plan. However, full implementation of the plan will need to wait until water is connected to this area.
• Bell Yett Reserve – sensitive upgrading, also in accordance with a Master Plan, which was formulated in accordance with input from local residents.
• Lockwood Road – measures to manage traffic speeds with the finalisation of mitigation options near High Street.
• Clark Street – review of street lighting arrangements at the top of the street for the safety of the residents.
• Moorcroft Reserve – restoration of the heritage bridge, including the planting of native bushes and further screening.
• Stonyfell Creek – resolution of contamination of creek, especially during winter months.
• Penfold Road, Stonyfell – analysis of traffic survey with consultative solutions.
• Greenhill Road/Hallett Road intersection – watching brief on new design to improve its safety. This project is dependent on approval from the State Government in regard to minor modifications. It should begin soon.
• Ongoing interest in the use of facilities at the Hubbe Court Centre.
• General resident requests in relation to such areas as road safety, tree management, verge upgrades and weed slashing.

What extreme weather we have been experiencing! The creeks are still flowing and the grass is still green and continues to grow. Our Council staff at the Depot have been working tirelessly to maintain the parks and verges. Did you know that residents need to register for Council to cut your verge? You can do this by phoning Burnside Council at (08) 8366.4200 or by using the link on the website, burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au

As we approach the festive season, there is much happening in the Burnside Council area. The Regal Theatre has some great performances for you to enjoy and the Pepper Street Arts Centre has a range of beautiful, hand-crafted gifts to purchase for family and friends. A visit to the Laurel Avenue Pikurna Wirra/Peter Bennett Organic Community Garden in Linden Park will amaze you. The volunteers of this project are to be congratulated on establishing the plentiful organic garden.

Please do not hesitate to contact us by either phone or email if you have a local issue on which you are seeking our assistance. We do see ourselves as advocates for residents on anything local, or anything generally within the Burnside Council area with which you may need advice.

We look forward to catching up with the residents and ratepayers of the Burnside Ward over the next four years. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Cr Paul Huebl | Cr Harvey Jones

Cr Paul Huebl

We have just had a weekend of torrential rain and wind that has seen near-hourly BOM warnings issued for Burnside. While this type of weather is not unusual, the intensity and frequency certainly are and it is here to stay. Our changing climate has led to more extreme weather events that impact our lives and properties to a point where we must adapt our approaches to city management, even if there is not much we can do to change it.

We currently mandate fuel clearing of properties in our high bushfire threat zones; shall we apply this approach to the clearing of waterways through private land? What about culverts? Is our guttering infrastructure sufficient? Are we doing enough to retain green canopy of private land to protect urban cooling, and wildlife corridors that promote biodiversity?

Roads, Rates and Rubbish are all we should do according to some, but this is an outdated idea and simply goes against our mandate from the Local Government Act. We have a responsibility to improve the quality of life in the community which the City of Burnside does remarkably well. This is why it is the best place in Adelaide to live.

We are not only entering a new year but also a new era on council. I am pleased to be continuing to represent the Beaumont Ward along with Cr Harvey Jones for a second term. I am humbled by the support I have received during the election period and thank each and every resident who assisted my campaign.

Enjoy the holiday period, the hopefully nicer weather and please be in touch if there is anything I can do to help make your community an even better place to live.

Cr Harvey Jones

First of all, thank you for re-electing me to Council. I think we achieved a lot in the last four years and I think that this was borne out by the fact that the Mayor and all seven of the councillors seeking re-election were re-elected. But we still have some renewal, with five newly elected councillors. I look forward to working with them to make the City of Burnside even better.

A key challenge for over the next four years is going to be planning and development.

The Planning and Design Code introduced by the state government in the last council term was very, very bad. But it wasn't nearly as bad in Burnside as most of metropolitan Adelaide. Council successfully lobbied to maintain character and heritage protections in inner-east suburbs, to remove suburbs such as Linden Park from high-density development zones and to preserve large block sizes in the upland parts of council running from Auldana through to Beaumont.

The Planning and Design Code is now up for review. We know what's wrong with it. We have developed a City Master Plan with our vision for the City of Burnside. Now we need to persuade the state government to fix it.

We also face fiscal challenges. Burnside Council has a lot of debt and interest rates are going up. This was predicted - by me at least. We need to cut our cloth to suit our purse. Everyone seems to think that Burnside is populated entirely by silvertails who can afford endless rates increases but it's not true.

And away from the big stuff, if you have a problem give me a call. Planning, trees, footpaths, traffic, parking. I can't fix everything but I'll have a red-hot go.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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.

On Monday 21 November it was our great pleasure to host a swearing in ceremony for our incoming Council Members who were elected in this year's Council Elections. Following a Welcome to Country held by Kaurna man Corey Turner, each Council Member was officially sworn into office in the presence of Justice of the Peace Ann Wilson and pledged to work with and for the community.

It's been a big month here at the City of Burnside, with our new council sworn in last night at the Burnside Civic Centre. We want to congratulate each of our Council Members, both new and returning, and look forward to working with them over the next four years. Meet your new council in this episode of Inside Burnside!

In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, one of the responsibilities of Council was to check up on local businesses. Council inspectors would visit local shops to check that owners were following regulations. Using scales and weights, similar to those in the picture, they would test the shop’s scales to ensure that customers were not being short changed. The scales and weights in the picture are believed to have been used by the Burnside District Council inspectors. They are displayed as part of the Burnside Treasures collection in the Local History Room in Burnside Library.

Picture: Burnside Local History Collection

Students from Glenunga International High School (GIHS) conducted a backyard blitz for a resident at Mount Osmond recently.

Each year a group of students from GIHS gives their time and efforts to clean up a yard as part of a year-long program. COVID delayed last year’s event but this year it was back to business as usual.

Student Wellbeing Leader Andrei Leucuta says the blitz is part of a mentoring program to help students build connections with trusted adults. “We identify appropriate students and match them up with a trusted adult at the school,” he says. “They catch up fortnightly, have a chat, discuss issues and build on their relationship.”

“They also go on three to four outings each year with elements of service, challenge and reflection.”

Andrei says participating in the well-established youth program Operations Flinders presents challenge and time for reflection. “We also do a Mount Lofty hike,” he says. “For some students that is a real challenge.”

The Backyard Blitz is part of the service element. “We used to visit nursing homes and interact with the residents but COVID put an end to that,” Andrei says. “The Backyard Blitz is a safe way for the students to provide a service.” Andrei works with Council each year to identify a ratepayer who is having difficulty maintaining their garden. It is usually an older resident who uses some of Council’s Home Support Services.

The students and adults then work on clearing scrub, chopping wood, weeding and whatever maintenance is required.

Adrienne Burns, a Home Support Program client, was identified as needing help to clear her large property at Mount Osmond. “I couldn’t believe how well the students cleared the garden,” she says. “I was thrilled – the students were wonderful and the property looks amazing.”

Pic: GIHS students clear Adrienne’s property.