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The City of Burnside has taken another step towards becoming carbon neutral, seeding thousands of native trees near Kapunda for the launch of the Burnside Carbon Offset Scheme (B-COS).

A three-way collaboration between the City of Burnside, not-for-profit organisation Trees For Life and local business Mantina Quarries, the trees will absorb hundreds of tonnes of carbon, offsetting the Council’s carbon emissions.

Carbon offsets are a responsible way to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. When organisations release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through activities like driving or air-conditioning, they contribute to global warming. Carbon offsets offer a way to counterbalance or ‘offset’ these emissions by investing in projects that remove an equivalent volume of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Suitable space for this scale of planting was not available in Burnside, but with support from Light Regional Council, land for the project was able to be sourced in the Kapunda area. Local resident and Mantina Quarries Director, Rino Obbiettivo, was happy to offer property near Kapunda at no cost to ratepayers. The project is converting over six hectares of open pasture to woodland.

Trees For Life Direct Seeding Manager David Hein said the project could result in upwards of 10,000 new plants, all native vegetation that grows well in the area.

‘There are sixteen different species in the mix. Over the years they sort themselves out into natural-looking vegetation, providing habitat for birds and wildlife,’ David said.

City of Burnside Coordinator of Environmental Sustainability Dr Philip Roetman said the B-COS planting will offset emissions from Council’s George Bolton Swimming Centre and Regal Theatre.

‘The project is not funded through Council rates. Rather, people using the Swimming Centre and Theatre pay a small, 10 cent contribution per visit. These individual contributions are minor, but collectively they enable Council to minimise the environmental impact of these facilities,’ Philip said.

General Manager for Mantina Group, William Short said Mantina Group was excited to provide land for new trees. He described the project as a win-win for all involved.

‘We can provide land to plant thousands of trees. It helps the community offset emissions and the trees will be habitat for wildlife. We also benefit as the trees and wildlife will improve the overall visual amenity of the area and provide valuable buffers along property boundaries,’ William said.

Along with the thousands of new trees planted for this project, the City of Burnside continues to show leadership in environmental sustainability. Last year, Council installed solar power systems at numerous sites, including the Council Depot, Dulwich Community Centre and the George Bolton Swimming Centre. Over time, these systems will reduce the running costs of the facilities and further reduce Council’s carbon footprint.

Have you ever ridden an electric trolleybus?

The photograph below, taken in 1940, shows a double-decker trolleybus at the intersection of Greenhill Road and Linden Avenue facing south. Adelaide's trolleybus network was used from 1932 until 1963, with the Municipal Tramways Trust replacing trolleybuses with diesel buses which were not restricted by wires and therefore cheaper to provide.

Photo: AEC type trolleybus, looking south at the intersection of Greenhill Road and Linden Avenue circa 1940. Courtesy of Burnside Local History Collection.

Mayor Anne Monceaux brings you the latest news from across the City of Burnside, including:

✅ New RAA electric vehicle chargers now available at the Burnside Civic Centre carpark
✅ Greater Adelaide Regional Plan discussion paper now open for community feedback (https://engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/greater-adelaide-regional-plan-discussion-paper)
✅ Dulwich Community Centre re-opening late November/early December

Find out more about what's going on in the City of Burnside at www.engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

This photograph depicts Glen Osmond Road around 1880, facing south-east towards Mt Osmond, with the Vine Inn visible on the left side. The road leads from the south parklands to Glen Osmond.

Do you know who Glen Osmond Road is named after?

The person is also remembered in other locations across Adelaide including Mount Osmond, Gilles Plains, Gilles Street and OG Road.

If you’re curious about the origins of your street name, the Burnside Historical Society has compiled a resource called Burnside Street Names and their Origins, which you can access here: https://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Community-Recreation/Cultural-Heritage/Street-Names-Origins

Photograph: Glen Osmond Road circa 1880, Burnside Local History Collection.

The City of Burnside is now home to the fastest electric vehicle (EV) chargers within metro Adelaide.

This morning it was our great pleasure to launch four new Ultra-rapid chargers alongside RAA as part of the ongoing rollout of their statewide Charge network. These four chargers operate at an unparalleled 200kW and can fully charge an EV in 10 to 45 minutes – perfect for those quick trips to the Burnside Civic Centre.

City of Burnside CEO Chris Cowley said the new chargers, which feature a mix of CCS2 and CHAdeMO plugs, were a welcome addition to the Burnside Civic Centre.

‘Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, the City of Burnside has sought to divest from carbon emitting technologies and facilitate green energy solutions wherever possible,’ Chris said.

‘Electric vehicles are the future of our roads and as uptake increases over the coming years, having the infrastructure to support these vehicles is critical.

‘The installation of these chargers is a positive step forward in welcoming cleaner vehicles to our streets and I hope both residents and visitors of our city enjoy using this new infrastructure.’

Mayor Anne Monceaux said the City of Burnside remained committed to supporting sustainable initiatives for the benefit of the environment.

‘Council is on a mission to become carbon neutral by 2030 so we are excited to work with RAA to bring this project to life for our community,’ Anne said.

‘With EV charging infrastructure developing rapidly across South Australia, there has never been a better time to consider making the switch to an electric vehicle at home.’

The RAA Charge network, which is being rolled out with the support of a $12.35 million grant provided by the South Australian government, is expected to be completed in 2024.

RAA CEO Nick Reade said RAA was ensuring the charging infrastructure would be in place to accommodate the massive growth in EVs in South Australia.

'Since March, the growing network has provided almost 3,000 charging sessions, providing enough power to cover a whopping 230,000km while abating 12.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide,' Nick said.

'With the Burnside Civic Centre 200kw Ultra-rapid charger coming online today, we’re excited to offer EV drivers a place to charge that is both close to the freeway and the city.'

To use the network, download the Chargefox app for iOS or Android and follow the prompts. For more info visit www.raa.com.au/charge

Do you know where this building is located?

These local heritage-listed cellars were constructed in 1918 by Léon Edmond Mazure, a French winemaker who pioneered bottle-fermented sparkling wine in Australia. Originally called La Pérouse Champagne Cellars, the site was later bought by S. Wynn & Co. in 1929. Under the direction of Hurtle and Norman, they produced Romalo Champagne. The Wynns Romalo Vintage Champagne was marketed as being made authentically as the wine never left the bottle during the process.

Photographs: Courtesy of D Darian Smith and Geoffrey Bishop.

Constructed circa 1902, this building on Stuart Road in Dulwich has served many different purposes over the years. From 1902 to 1919 it was a meeting space for the First Adelaide Lodge and later during the 1960s it was used as an indoor tennis court, which is still evident by the court lines on the floor. It has also served as a wholesale warehouse, an antique store, a fruit store, a hair salon and an antique shop. Currently, the building is being used as a retail store.

The building’s most notable purpose was from 1923 to 1960. Do you know what it was?

The name “Melba” outlined on the façade that pays homage to operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba might give you a hint!

Photograph: Burnside Local History Collection, 1986.

Look out for Spring Focus being delivered to your letterbox this week. Read it online here.

Back to the basics of inquiry-based learning – that is the goal for Stonyfell resident and family daycare provider Fiona Jackson.

Operating out of her home four days a week, Fiona is dedicated to guiding the children in her care to expand their knowledge through nature play and imagination exploration, with local parklands Michael Perry Botanic Reserve, Hazelwood Park, Bell Yett Reserve and Langman Reserve just a few of the spaces used.

A former childcare worker in London, Fiona, or ‘Fi-Fi’ to the kids, has been based in Adelaide for 14 years and remains in awe of the quality of reserves in the Burnside area.

‘It was wonderful over there [in London],’ Fiona said. ‘But it is somehow even more wonderful here.’

‘Michael Perry Reserve has evolved in such a beautiful and magical way; the team has done wonders there. It was so foresty, all the children have seen the development. Burnside has done an incredible job leading the way for discovery and creating a beautiful community space.’

Aged between three and five, the children in Fiona’s care are taught the importance of the environment as well as a deep respect for nature. Studying stream flows, flowers, trees, and birds, the children are encouraged to guide themselves through their interests of the day.

‘We meander and they lead me, they lead me down the footpath of curiosity and go through what they wish to do.

‘I don’t tell them what to do, I facilitate their inquiry, but I want them to learn through their senses. Life is so structured, here it is completely different.

‘My aim is to grow their creativity, critical thinking skills and social-emotional literacy, by cultivating a collaborative and respectful group dynamic.’

With so many high-quality reserves on her doorstep, Fiona and the children take daily trips to the local spaces to familiarise themselves with the local wildlife and vegetation.

Burnside Technical Officer of Conservation and Land Management, Dr Mark Ellis said Fiona was developing great environmental values in the children by teaching them how to interact with nature while understanding the delicacy of their surroundings.

‘Fiona is fantastic and has a really well-thought-out philosophy of nature play and education,’ Mark said.

‘She respects our sites and instils this in the children - so often nature play means destroying what we are trying to preserve, but Fiona finds that balance.’

The City of Burnside was once again named a Tree City of the World for 2023 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, providing some of the safest and most diverse reserves and parklands in South Australia.

Fiona Jackson at Michael Perry Botanic Reserve

In a bid to continue a famous lineage, the City of Burnside has recently undertaken a treeplanting initiative in Hazelwood Park, in conjunction with Burnside Village, by planting 12 new juvenile River Red Gums.

River Reds are native to Australia and are highly valued for their striking appearance and contribution to the ecosystem. These majestic trees can grow up to 30 metres in height and offer numerous ecological advantages, including providing habitat for various wildlife species, aiding in soil erosion control and purifying the air.

However, the dozen saplings are not from any ordinary River Red Gum, these saplings were harvested from the famous gum around which the current iteration of Burnside Village was framed.

The 18-metre tree, which was removed from Burnside Village in 2013, was beloved by the Burnside community and will now be able to live on for future residents through the next generation.

Director of Burnside Village and the Cohen Group, Andrew Cohen said the former tree was linked to the history of Burnside Village, the Burnside community, and his family, and as such was an important legacy to maintain.

‘These tree saplings are now replanted in Hazelwood Park for the community to enjoy,’ Andrew said.

‘Perhaps in time when the tree canopies are grand enough, I may sit in the shade and recount this story to my children and their children.’

Harvested by Burnside Village and provided to the City of Burnside, the saplings were raised in a council nursery for over a year and provided with all the necessary resources to thrive, before making the journey to their new home in late June.

Now mature enough to handle life outside in the elements, and firmly planted in a cluster on the northern side of Hazelwood Park, the 12 juvenile trees are adjoined by an irrigation system and will be monitored by the City of Burnside Parks Team moving forward.

Friends of Hazelwood Park member and volunteer at Koala Rescue Joylene Fraser said the community response to the saplings had been overwhelmingly positive.

‘This is rather special to so many of us and a celebration of that majestic gum living on,’ Joylene said.

‘We are always in favour of more trees.’