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On Tuesday 18 February 2025 the City of Burnside secured a successful conviction and $10,000 fine against an individual who illegally felled a 2.1 metre circumference regulated gum tree in Rosslyn Park.

The action, which occurred in June 2023, saw the illegal removal of a River Red Gum by Levi Kinsman of Great Fellers Tree Services, who had been engaged by the owners of a vacant block at 40 Hyland Terrace, Rosslyn Park.

Council officers from the City Development and Safety team conducted a site inspection at the property following a complaint regarding a tree on the property and, after referring to a past arborist report, identified that a regulated gum tree was no longer present on-site.

His Honour Senior Judge Michael Durrant recorded a conviction and a $10,000 fine against Mr Kinsman, and said the defendant had conducted "gross carelessness" in his actions.

'The law in respect of this offending aims to protect significant trees from unlawful clearance,' he said.

Mr Kinsman was also ordered to pay Council's court costs of $1,621.50 and a Victims of Crime levy.

City of Burnside CEO Julia Grant said this was a positive outcome and would act as a strong deterrent against further instances of illegal tree damage.

'Any type of vandalism against our urban forest is unacceptable. While the majority of our residents are doing the right thing to support our environment, we hope this sentence will act as a deterrent against those who would seek to damage Burnside's urban forest,' Ms Grant said.

'Using development documentation and information from the owner of the property, our City Development and Safety team was instrumental in securing a conviction, fine and the payment of our court costs.

'I would like to thank our community and staff for their ongoing efforts to protect our urban forest.

'We continue to encourage our community to help us protect our urban forest by contacting the City of Burnside and sharing photographic or video evidence of anyone who may be damaging a significant or regulated tree. Our urban canopy is of extreme importance and we will do all we can to safeguard it for future generations to enjoy.'

In May 2024 the State Government made major changes to the rules that apply to regulated and significant trees across Greater Adelaide. The updated regulations mean that:

• Regulated trees are trees with a circumference of 1 metre or more when measured 1 metre above the ground level (previously a circumference of 2 metres prior to May 2024)
• Significant trees are now trees with a circumference of 2 metres or more when measured 1 metre above the ground level (previously a circumference of 3 metres prior to May 2024).

These changes followed the City of Burnside's intensive lobbying efforts for major changes to be made to tree protection laws in SA, with Council making a presentation to the South Australian Parliament in late 2023. As part of our submission to the Urban Forest Inquiry headed by the Environment, Resources and Development Committee, the City of Burnside recommended:

• A significant increase in fees for legal removals and fines for illegal removals of trees
• The removal of exemptions that can be exploited via loopholes
• A broadening of regulations to protect more trees
• The establishment of an Urban Forest Fund.

The City of Burnside is committed to planting approximately 1,000 trees each year to support our urban canopy, which has a wide variety of benefits for our community, local wildlife and the climate.

Find out more about the rules and regulations around tree vandalism, and what you can do to help prevent it, at https://www.burnside.sa.gov.au/Environment-Sustainability/Trees/Tree-Vandalism

In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we are shining a spotlight on remarkable women from Burnside throughout the month of March. Today, we honour Mary Penfold (1818 - 1895), a trailblazer in South Australia's winemaking history.

Penfolds, one of the state's most renowned winemaking companies, owes much of its early success to Mary Penfold. In 1844, alongside her husband Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold (1811 - 1870), she helped establish the vineyard in Magill, South Australia, where she not only oversaw winemaking but also managed the property. After her husband's death, Mary continued to build the business, demonstrating remarkable business acumen and resilience. By 1900, Penfolds had grown to become the third-largest winemaking company in South Australia. This growth was evident in the expanding vineyards, larger cellars and the company’s esteemed reputation.

While much of Mary Penfold's life remains a mystery, her contributions to Penfolds and her role as a pioneering businesswoman are undeniable. Her legacy as an early vigneron and visionary is deserving of recognition, and her story continues to inspire.

Image: Mary Penfold, circa 1869. State Library of South Australia B 22970.

Following lobbying efforts by several Council Members in 2024, residents utilising the Wattle Park Shopping Centre on Kensington Road have now received a much-needed safety upgrade.

Burnside Ward Council Members Mike Daws and Jenny Turnbull, and Kensington Gardens and Magill Ward Council Member Jo Harvey are extremely pleased following a decision by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to build a pedestrian refuge island in the high foot traffic area, allowing for easier and safer crossing.

Previously without a designated area to cross the two-lane section of Kensington Road, residents were tasked with navigating traffic to access the shopping precinct or nearby kindergarten.

With concerns for community safety the three Council Members, along with Jack Batty MP, contacted the Department and expressed the urgent need for the installation.

At this time, the refuge island has been installed and is safe for community use.

If you know of any community hubs that require safety upgrades contact your local Ward Council Member.

Councillors Mike Daws and Jo Harvey with Jack Batty MP outside Wattle Park Shopping Centre and the newly built pedestrian refuge island. Not pictured Councillor Jenny Turnbull.

There’s been some buzz around the City of Burnside recently, with our environment teams planting a variety of local native peas to help encourage the return of one of our most fragile insect species.

The Golden Pea Bee (Trichocolletes venustus), is native to the Adelaide Hills area and is an iconic species defined by its stunning golden bands on females and fuzzy red hair on males. Particularly vulnerable due to their dependence on just a select few species of native pea including the Narrow-leaf Bitter Pea (Daviesia leptophylla) and Golden Pea (Daviesia arborea), Council has been focusing on reestablishing these pea species in the Burnside area with the hope their return to prominence will help the Golden Pea Bee flourish.

Golden Pea Bee

Narrow-leaf bitter pea

How can I help?

By planting a native pea species in your home garden, you can help support the regeneration of the Golden Pea Bee. Both the Golden Pea and Narrow-leaf Bitter Pea can be planted on lower and mid-slopes of direr hillsides. They are also a hardy plant, tolerant of both drought and frost.

On Saturday 17 May, the City of Burnside will be hosting our annual Environment and Sustainability Expo. With stalls featuring our incredible environment and conservation staff, come along on the day to learn more about the Golden Pea Bee and how you can make changes in your garden to help our native fauna.

In September 2024, Council began a trial involving the weekly collection of organics bins. The trial allows residents to easily dispose of food and garden waste by placing it out for kerbside collection each week. As part of the trial, recycling and landfill bins are collected fortnightly. Around 1,400 properties in Beulah Park and Kensington Park are participating.

The trial has been a resounding success. Residents have embraced the opportunity to use their organics bins for food and garden waste. Putting organic material in the organics bin, including all food waste, reduces landfill waste and saves money. Financial savings occur because it is five times cheaper to send organic material to be composted, rather than to landfill.

The trial is saving Council over $800 per week on landfill disposal. While there are costs involved in changing systems, the savings can pay back the costs. Thus, weekly organics has the potential to generate long-term savings for the community.

How much does weekly organics reduce landfill?

A lot! One common metric used to assess community management of waste is ‘diversion’ from landfill. Materials that are recycled or composted are considered as ‘diverted’ from landfill. Typically, the diversion rate in Burnside is around 61 per cent. Since the trial’s introduction, the trial area has increased its diversion rate to an impressive 75 per cent. This is one of the highest diversion rates in South Australia.

Council is deeply grateful to the community for embracing the weekly green organics collection and committing to separating food and organic waste. The support from the community has been essential to the success of this trial.

Based on the success of this project, Council has decided to extend the trial until at least 30 June, to help evaluate long-term savings and operational improvements for the community. Planning beyond 30 June will occur as part of Council’s annual budgeting processes.

What do our residents think about weekly organics?

Beulah Park resident Rick said so far, the trial had been an incredible success across the trial zone.

‘We have been putting out a full green bin every week, we are delighted so far. We get great joy from throwing a big bag of food waste into the green bin,’ Rick said.

‘Looking around the neighbourhood everyone has gotten behind the trial, I have not spoken with a single person against it.’

‘I would encourage the City of Burnside to trial elsewhere and keep us as a permanent weekly organics area.’

‘People will see they can do the right thing and the city profits financially.’

Beulah Park residents Rick and Deb

Want to know more? Visit: burnside.sa.gov.au/weeklyorganics

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we bring you all the latest from the most recent Ordinary Council meeting, including Council’s endorsement of the Bicycle Network Plan and more.

The first three houses of the suburb we recognise today as Leabrook were located along Second Creek, which flows almost diagonally through the suburb. The creek was the dividing line between what was known as Upper Kensington (northern area) and Knightsbridge (southern area).

The Knightsbridge area was once a dairy farm known as ‘Thornington’, operated by John Hunt and family from the 1840s. The Hunts’ small cottage was by Second Creek, where it crosses the Statenborough Street of today.

‘The Wattles’ was an early house built in Upper Kensington by Charles Perry and was in the north-west quarter of the site. Later in the 1850s the accountant to the South Australian Company, Alfred Watts, purchased the house and renamed it ‘Leabrook’ – from which the suburb later gained its name.

In 1881 Thomas Cooper established a brewery on Statenborough Street in Upper Kensington. He put down two wells for good quality brewing water. The Coopers brewery was the first in the colony to make bottled beer. It operated in Leabrook until 2001.

The Kaurna people, the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains, were the first to live in this area and have cared for this land for thousands of years.

Photo: Coopers Bottling Hall in the 1930s. Burnside Local History Collection

A central portion of Kensington Gardens was once known as Pile's Paddock, taking its name from James Pile, who immigrated to South Australia in 1849 from Yorkshire. The Kaurna people, the Traditional Owners of the Adelaide Plains, were the first to live in this area and have cared for this land for thousands of years.

For decades Pile’s Paddock was a favoured spot for picnics, and was the location for the East End Market Gardeners’ annual picnic from 1881 to 1909 – a large and well-publicised event.

In 1906, the Bank of New South Wales purchased some of the land, which was subdivided by Kensington Gardens Ltd from 1910. The area was renamed Kensington Gardens, after Kensington Gardens in London.

Arguably inspired by the area’s history as a popular picnic and recreation area, part of the land was reserved as a public recreation ground in perpetuity, following a suggestion by Mr. H.J. Holden, Chairman of Kensington Gardens Ltd and a member of the Tramways Trust. This reserve was created on the condition that the tramline be extended to the site. This reserve became Kensington Gardens Reserve (Kensington Wama). As part of the development, an electric tramline was extended from the original terminus at The Parade/Gurrs Road intersection to Kensington Gardens Reserve. The tram line reached the reserve in July 1911, connecting it to the city. The reserve was acquired by the Council in 1932.

Photo: A tram travelling along The Parade at Kensington Gardens, circa 1911. Burnside Local History Collection. Thank you to Tom Wilson for assisting us with an accurate date for the photograph.

In this episode of Burnside Highlights we catch up with our new CEO Julia Grant, who commenced her role at the City of Burnside on 28 January. Find out more about Julia and what she loves about our city, having been a Burnside resident for many years.

In November 2024, St David’s Anglican Church was confirmed as a State Heritage Place.

Opened in 1963, the church is an outstanding example of the late 20^th century ecclesiastical Modern Movement architecture in South Australia. Its innovative design by architect Stewart Game is known for its soaring saddle-shaped roof.

Congratulations to St David’s Anglican Church on this well-deserved recognition!

Photo: St David's Anglican Church circa 1980, Burnside Local History Collection.