FOCUS On Burnside - the news hub

The Shed participants (all 65 years or older) are working on relacquering small wooden chairs for a local child care centre.

Karen Bray is Team Leader of the Wattle Room for babies and toddlers at the Conyngham Street Community Children’s Centre. The small wooden chairs the children use are cleaned often and the lacquer was starting to wear away. “The little ones often spill food on the chairs and the worst culprit is wet Weet-Bix!” she says. “We have to scrub it hard and that wears away the lacquer. I drive past The Shed every day and started thinking maybe they could help.” Karen approached Shed Coordinator Evan Reay and he readily agreed to help.

Evan visits the Centre every Friday and collects two or three chairs and takes them back to The Shed then returns the following week to swap them over. “The group love it,” says Evan. “They are sanding back and re-varnishing the tiny wooden chairs for the children.”

The project has been so successful it will expand to include a few other similar chairs and tables in the rooms for older children.

The Shed volunteer Keith Karp says he thoroughly enjoyed doing the job for the children. He is a retired locksmith and used to “working with very small things”. The wooden chairs were polished and varnished and “came up really well”, according to Keith.

Pic: Two-year-olds Mabel and Frans with Shed volunteers Peter, Pat and Keith, Child Care Director Tessa and Educator Lucy.

Read more stories in Burnside Focus newsletter, out this week.

The Conyngham Street Dog Park is the only dog park within the City of Burnside and caters to dogs of all sizes and their humans. Following a number of requests made over the years by members of the community seeking improvements at this site, community consultation was undertaken in late 2021 to gain feedback on the future of the dog park.

This initial consultation received 445 valid responses, of which 70 per cent of the respondents requested the dog park be split into two sections; one for small dogs and one for all dogs. Other suggested improvements were additional drinking fountains, seating, shelters, bins and landscaping. The small dog area will allow for owners of smaller and older dogs to enjoy a calmer environment to visit.

Based on the feedback received, a concept design was prepared and consultation on the concept design was undertaken in mid-2022. We received 197 responses of which 83 per cent were in support of the proposed plans. In line with Council’s resolution on this matter, these works will now be progressed. It is anticipated that on-ground works will commence around May/June 2023.

Please visit https://engage.burnside.sa.gov.au/conyngham-street-dog-park-concept-plan

Read more stories in Burnside Focus newsletter.

A local Sketch Club is celebrating their 100^th anniversary with an exhibition at Pepper Streets Arts Centre in March and April. The Sketch Club – Life Drawing group meets every Thursday night at Hubbe Court, Burnside. Drawing from the unclad life model began at the Royal South Australian Society of Arts in August 1923 and the Sketch Club have been practicing their drawing skills at Burnside for over 35 of their 100 years. Current convenor Sandra Earle-Russo says they are always looking for new members and models. “We have members ranging in age from their 20s to 90s and we have an equal balance of men and women,” Sandra says.

One of the earlier members of the club was well known local artist Dorrit Black, after whom the Pepper Street Arts Centre café is named. One of Dorrit’s original pieces is one of more than 70 artworks as part of the exhibition. The club is also holding a larger exhibition at the Royal South Australian Society of Arts gallery in October.

Anyone interested in joining the group as an artist or a model can call Sandra on 0405 139 377.

Read more stories in Burnside Focus newsletter, out this week.

The autumn issue of Focus newsletter is being delivered to letter boxes this week by Australia Post.

In this issue meet our Citizens of the Year, see pics from the Citizenship Ceremony, get an environmental update and learn about Safer streets in Burnside.

$35,000 is available to spend on projects in your neighbourhood. Tell us how you would spend it to benefit the Burnside community.

Have you ever thought of great and creative ideas that would improve your experience at your local park? Can you suggest improvements to community spaces or buildings in Burnside?

Your Neighbourhood Budget is a participatory budgeting process. Council is seeking nominations from the community for projects to be completed on community land such as parks, reserves, road verges and community centres in the City of Burnside. These projects will be installed and maintained by Council in conjunction with you.

What is Participatory Budgeting?

Participatory budgeting is a different way to manage public money, and to engage people with local government, by giving community members the chance to vote on how to spend part of a public budget.

Every year the community contributes to the creation of Council's business plan and budget via the Annual Community Survey (in November) and the Annual Business Plan and Budget engagement process (in May).

Your Neighbourhood Budget is another opportunity for the community to have a say in how some of their rates are spent.

In 2023/24 $35,000 has been allocated towards the implementation of small projects on Council land. Council will construct all successful projects, in line with the community's submission and in conjunction with the successful applicants.

What kind of projects are eligible?

Capital projects subject to certain criteria are eligible. However, design work and research is not. Creative ideas or suggestions that will improve the community experience of a public place are eligible.

Some possible ideas include defibrillators, little libraries, possum boxes and native bee hotels.

Be creative - all suggestions are welcome.

To review the assessment criteria see engage.burnside.sa.gov.au or the documents in the Related Information section to the right of screen.

How will my application be assessed to go into the voting stage?

Council staff will review your application against the assessment criteria. Council will also need to take into account any impacts on the local area and community. If submissions do not meet the criteria, Council staff will work with you to improve your submission. Submissions must pass these criteria to progress to the community voting stage.

How are the winning projects selected?

Each resident/ratepayer will be able to select their four favourite ideas that they want installed. The most popular projects that fit within the $35,000 budget will be delivered by Council.

Applications open on Monday 27 February 2023 and close Friday 7 April 2023. Voting will be online via engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Things to keep in mind

Council will be available to provide guidance and advice to help you with your submission. It is important that you consult with Council's Projects Community Engagement Officer, Joe Marchington, for information about the location you select for your project, and the costs of materials, by phone on 8366 4200 or jmarchington@burnside.sa.gov.au

Please encourage your neighbours to vote from 22 May - 16 June 2023 online at engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Who can apply?

Everyone is encouraged to submit a suggestion. All that is required is a clever idea that meets the criteria. Individuals, community groups, schools and businesses are all eligible to apply.

Voting is only open to City of Burnside residents and ratepayers.

How do I apply?

1. Discuss your idea with Council's Projects Community Engagement Officer, Joe Marchington on 8366 4200 or jmarchington@burnside.sa.gov.au
2. Once you have all the background information, complete an online suggestion form at engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

Key dates to remember:

Applications open Monday 27 February 2023

Applications close Friday 7 April 2023

Voting opens Monday 22 May 2023

Voting closes Friday 16 June 2023

Winning projects announced July 2023 on engage.burnside.sa.gov.au

As Adelaide faces a heat wave this week spare a thought for the many men and women who volunteer with the Country Fire Service (CFS).

Most of the City of Burnside area is leafy suburbia with no direct bushfire risk. However on the eastern extremes of the Council area is the Mt Lofty Ranges Fire Ban District. This area extends along the foothills of the southern Mt Lofty Ranges, one of the most fire prone areas in the world due to the Mediterranean climate and the characteristic hot summer months.

Burnside CFS Captain Grant Davis says they will be looking for new recruits later this year. “Applicants must be physically and mentally fit, live within 3 km of the station and be able to respond to emergency incidents,” Grant says. “It is important that applicants live or work close to our station as our aim is to have the fire appliance mobile to an incident soon after a 000 call. You must also be 18 years of age.”

Vacancies are advertised on the Burnside CFS Facebook page but Grant says you can register your interest at any time at https://burnsidecfs.org.au/join-us/

New members undergo a period of in house training on Thursday nights to prepare them for firefighting. “This includes appliance and equipment location training, safety and procedure training and area familiarisation,” says Grant. “New recruits then attend a three day (Friday night and weekend) course run by the CFS to obtain their qualification to start attending incidents.” After that members attend weekly training on a Thursday night along with specialist training in areas such as breathing apparatus, road crash rescue and Hazmat incidents.

A recent recruit is new Australian citizen Jose Nevares of Tusmore. Jose came to Australia from his native Peru in 2003 to study Year 12 at Eynesbury College. He completed a Marketing and International Business degree at UniSA and now works as an IT Product manager in private business.

After gaining residency he felt he wanted to contribute more to his adopted country and could not vote unless he became an Australian citizen. He achieved this at the Ceremony in Hazelwood Park on 26 January. “It is a huge honour,” Jose says. “This great country has accepted me in an official way.”

He also wanted to join the CFS but did not live in the vicinity of a brigade until three years ago. COVID put a hold on recruitment but as soon as he could, he applied, undertook his probation and is now a qualified firefighter with the Burnside brigade. He has attended various incidents of car accidents, fires and trees down. He helped fight a large blaze on Gorge Road at Montacute last month which burnt 45 hectares and at one stage threatened to cross the road and head towards Paracombe and Castambul. Jose, 37, says the CFS is a well-trained and disciplined group. “Safety is paramount,” he says. “We have excellent training and supervision and personal protection equipment (PPE).” Jose works from home three days a week and is available on call for any CFS callouts.

Burnside CFS currently has 40 members representing a mix of the Burnside community, including corporate professionals, other emergency services workers, business owners, students and a range of both male and female members.

Jose receiving his citizenship certificate from Mayor Anne Monceaux.

with partner Hannah-Claire

and with his CFS colleagues.

This is an aerial photograph of the whole of the City of Burnside from 1981. This photo was taken by the Department of Lands. It is pieced together using over 100 photographs taken from an aeroplane and then pieced together like a mosaic.

Can you see your house?

How much has your area changed since 1981?

Notice the difference between this one and the 1936 one shared last week?

Can you see where the Civic Centre is?

What other landmarks are visible in this photograph that can still be seen today?

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

✅ Adelaide Fringe kicks off in Burnside on Friday 17 March
✅ Penfold Park playground now open to all
✅ Council workshop being held before the end of February to determine pump track locations
✅ Nominations for City of Burnside Environment Awards closing on Friday 17 March
✅ New LED signage at Waterfall Gully to be installed later this month
✅ And more!

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

We are glad to announce the pump track, #rideburnside, will be moving to Newland Park on Saturday 4 March.

The track will remain at Bell Yett Reserve until 27 February and will move to Newland Park between 1 - 3 March.

Council Members will take part in a workshop before the end of February to determine the future of the pump track.

Your ward councillors welcome your feedback on the track. Find out who your local councillors are, and their contact details, at https://bit.ly/3K3tfzM

The community will be provided with an update on the future of the track as soon as a decision has been reached.

This photo is an aerial photograph of the entire City of Burnside region, taken by the Authority Air Board in 1936. It was pieced together from over 100 individual photographs, combined to form a complete mosaic of the area.

Can you see your house? How much has your neighbourhood changed since 1936? What other landmarks are visible in this photograph that can still be seen today?

Photograph from the Burnside Library Local History Collection.