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The release of an RMIT University benchmarking report into national urban vegetation loss, Where Will all the Trees Be?, indicates that although there is an increase in tree and shrub cover across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australian councils are losing their urban vegetation at the highest rate due to development.

Despite the extensive investment in our urban forest (on public land), the battle is still hard fought in Burnside.

The greatest loss is from trees on privately owned land - cleared for housing redevelopment, home extensions, sheds and pools. Planning laws have been more facilitative where residents and developers make use of the laws available which, for most part, allow for tree removals.

Council had concerns for the City's tree canopy in 2010, commissioning a Tree Canopy Assessment to benchmark the canopy coverage, identify plantable and non-plantable space, and to provide an Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) measure, (UTC is a scientific measure of the layer of leaves, branches and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above – the level of cover that our trees provide to our community).

Burnside’s UTC had reduced by nearly 10 per cent between 2010 and 2015 and the study identified that there was a greater risk of losing more.

The study evaluated changes in our tree canopy, identifying that nearly 45 per cent of the City was covered with non-plantable surfaces such as buildings and roads. Only 31 per cent of the City was protected by tree canopy. The non-plantable cover had increased by 9.09 per cent, and tree cover decreased by 9.87 per cent. The study attributed this decline to new property development (urban infill).

The RMIT report is consistent with the City of Burnside's findings.

Although the report ranks Burnside as second among comparable councils nationally as having the highest green cover, there has been a 1.8 per cent decrease since 2016, with a 5.2 per cent increase in 'grey cover' (or non-plantable space) in the City since 2016.

The report identifies that Burnside is not necessarily losing green space to new developments, “but more likely to views, swimming pools, tennis courts and patios as existing residences are expanded”. The urge to build larger homes or subdivisions on existing blocks, reduces the available private open space that can accommodate trees and gardens.

What can be done to halt the decline?

There is concern that the new Planning and Design Code will enable significant changes to Burnside's 'character' - the built heritage, residential character, thousands of street and private trees, and lower density housing. This 'character' has seen Burnside become one of the most sought after places to buy property, and consequently current property values reflect this.

Trees are integral to this 'character' and continued education of residents on their value is essential to reduce the number of applications from residents to remove privately owned trees.

Increased protection for trees is also greatly needed. Council is concerned that policy within the new Planning and Design Code will facilitate a greater loss of trees within our Council area, particularly on private land. These concerns will be raised in Council’s submission on the revised draft Code which is required to be lodged with the State Government by 18 December 2020.

As part of the Resilient East group, Council is advocating for trees and canopy cover. For example, the Resilient East submission on the Planning Reforms has a strong focus on trees and Resilient East recently made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Urban Green Spaces, including an invited in-person representation to the inquiry.

Council supports the outreach and advocacy conducted by Water Sensitive SA, with a strong focus on the State Planning Reforms and the co-benefits of water sensitive design and trees in urban areas.

What about the urban forest?

The City of Burnside devotes considerable resources to the planting and maintenance of trees in streets, reserves and on public land. Work which has led to the Council being recognised as one of only three Australian Tree Cities of the World.

An ongoing initiative that commenced in 2016/17 aims to plant 1,000 trees per annum. This tree planting far exceeds the loss of trees on public land. During the last financial year (2019/20), Council planted over 1,500 trees on public land and provided over 11,000 plants for planting on both public and private land (further details in Council’s Environmental Sustainability Report).

City of Burnside is working with councils across Adelaide to use LiDAR assessments of canopy cover which give more accurate and robust figures that that used for the RMIT report. This data will be used to guide policy development and initiatives to increase canopy coverage (further details in Attachments H and I of Council’s Environmental Sustainability Report).

While the City of Burnside is actively planting trees and increasing canopy coverage on public land, some loss of trees and canopy is beyond the control of the Council. State planning and development laws facilitate the removal of many trees on private land. Council recognises this problem and has several initiatives aimed at reversing the potential for declines in tree canopy and vegetation cover on private land, including:

• Native tree giveaway (specifically designed to get trees in the ground on private land).
• Biodiversity Nursery plant giveaway (an annual event providing indigenous trees and plants to houses in burnside).
• Numerous educational and promotional activities, including (but not limited to) the Urban Forest Interactive website, Burnside Urban Foresters and Conservation Volunteer programs.

Where will all the Trees Be? can be found on the Greener Spaces Better Places website.

Do you own a piece of Bennett’s pottery?

Charles William Bennett and his son William Charles worked at Trewenack’s Pottery in Kensington Gardens until 1887 when they established Bennett’s Magill Potteries. The soil in Magill was rich with terracotta clay, ideal for pottery. Their products included garden pots, tiles and stoneware jars.

The successful business is still managed by a Bennett, more than 130 years later.

In September 1931, the narrow creeks of the eastern suburbs broke their banks. Waterfall Gully Road turned into a red-brown sea and the threat of a landslide in the hills felt imminent. Water coursed through the streets, sweeping through gardens while residents scrambled to protect their homes. In some instances, houses flooded to the ceiling.

Despite the estimated thousands of pounds of damage, some of the community enjoyed the event. People watched the spectacle from the banks of the Torrens or paddled their canoes and dinghies onto the newly formed lakes.

Photographs from the Local History Collection show the floods at Kensington Road, Portrush Road and Hazelwood Park.

UPDATE

At the meeting on 9 February 2021, Council resolved (090221/12745):

That Council, in accordance with Section 219 of the Local Government Act 1999, resolves to adopt road names within Stage 2 of the Glenside redevelopment, being Blue Gum Drive, Rose Lane, Azalea Lane, Dahlia Lane, Cypress Street, Dianella Street, Lomandra Avenue and Tea Tree Street as well as extensions of Harriet Lucy Drive, Mulberry Road, Eucalyptus Lane and Amber Woods Drive.

The City of Burnside is seeking community feedback on the following proposed names for eight (8) new internal roads and four (4) extensions of existing roads within stage 2 of the Glenside redevelopment site.

The proposed names for the eight new roads are:

• Blue Gum Drive;
• Rose Lane;
• Azalea Lane;
• Dahlia Lane;
• Lomandra Avenue;
• Dianella Street;
• Tea Tree Street; and
• Cypress Street.

There are also the extensions of Harriet Lucy Drive, Mulberry Road, Eucalyptus Lane and Amber Woods Drive.

In line with Council’s Naming of Public Places Policy, feedback is being sought on these names.

Should you wish to suggest an alternative name, please ensure that you convey why you are suggesting the alternative for consideration.

For more information contact Council’s Senior Property Officer, James Brennan, on jbrennan@burnside.sa.gov.au or telephone 8366 4200.

Have your say by Monday 14 December.

Feedback

The Annual Community Survey is one of the many tools that Council uses to enhance community input into the planning of council business and future years' annual budgets.

Councils are required to find the balance between what residents expect Council to deliver and what is fiscally possible and realistic for Council. A statistically relevant consultative process such as an Annual Community Survey can provide relevant and timely data, which may assist with informed decision making.

It is important for Council to understand more about community opinions and feedback on various aspects of Council services.

Each year an Annual Community Survey is conducted to gauge community satisfaction with Council services, or opinion on key issues. The survey is conducted in a cycle of trend data every second year, and a strategic survey for each intervening year. You can view past survey's online at burnside.sa.gov.au

The Survey is now open until 5 pm Friday 4 December 2020. You can also have your say, even if you don't receive a call. Simply complete the online Survey.

Survey

The Tusmore Park wading pool has been popular with families, particularly those with toddlers, for many years.

However the infrastructure is ageing and is now due for replacement.

In early 2020 Council sought feedback from the community on the future of this space. The community gave strong support for retaining a water play feature, and gave some great suggestions on additional features that could be included.

Based on this feedback, four (4) concept designs have been developed, and Council is now seeking community input to help decide what happens next.

Time to Vote

For over 60 years, the Council has had an elected Mayor and 12 Councillors representing 6 wards (local areas).

Every eight years, the Council must consider its composition and structure to ensure that it is representing all electors in the community fairly. As part of the review we must consider and ask residents for their opinions on a number of issues.

This is the first consultation in the Representation Review Process. Following this consultation, the Council will review the feedback received and determine its preferred model of representation. A further consultation will then be conducted on Council’s preferred model. It is important to have your say now so that your feedback is considered by Council when determining the preferred model.

Any changes to representation and wards will be in place for the November 2022 Local Government Elections.

Council is seeking your feedback on how you want to be represented.

What are the options?**

Council is reviewing its composition and structure as part of its Representation Review. This includes reviewing whether the council area should be divided into wards and if so, how many wards should Council have? It also includes reviewing the number of councillors in each ward and in total.

Five different options are proposed for your consideration and you can always propose other options on how the council can best represent its community.

Survey

The role of the Council Assessment Panel (CAP) is to assist Council with the assessment and determination of development applications. The CAP was established under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act).] Carol Muzyk has taken over the role of CAP Chair from Bill Chandler.

By profession Carol Muzyk (Music) is an environmental scientist and a land use planner. Having both a science background and a town planning background. She has the ability to critically assess, review and provide specialist advice on both planning issues and environmental issues.

She has extensive skills and experience in environment impact assessment, climate change adaptation, strategic planning and policy development, land use planning and public health having been employed by various State and Local Government (SA, NSW, NT and QLD) agencies spanning a twenty five (25) year employment history.

As a direct result of her qualifications, skills and experience in both town planning and environmental management she has been appointed to various Boards and Committees to provide expert advice, recommendations, and decisions determination. Through these appointments she has provided professional and technical advice to the Minister for Planning, the EPA SA Board, Local Government councils, Council Development Assessment Panels and various State and Federal Government agencies. Carol has also been engaged as a sessional lecturer and tutor at the University of South Australia.

On her return from the eastern states in March 2020, Carol established her environmental and land use planning consultancy practice. Her work currently focusses on identification and management of the environmental impacts of legacy landfills.

In her spare time Carol is a Civil Celebrant. Over the past 15 years she has utilised her creative writing skills to solemnise over 500 Marriages, conduct over 300 Life Direction Ceremonies, officiate Funerals and Memorial Services, and deliver presentations at workshops and corporate functions.

Carol has two adult sons. After spending 5 years in the Australian Defence Force her eldest son completed a degree in Paramedical Science and is now a qualified Paramedic working in the northern metropolitan area. Her youngest son completed a degree in Business Management in mid-2020 and is currently undergoing Officer training with the Australian Army Reserves.

“Ten thousand miles from here their bones are laid; But yet their spirits live with us and shine. This stone records their sacrifice divine And proves to all their glory shall not fade. No! Shall not fade. Each year as time goes on some tender hand shall deck this stone with flowers, in memory of these noble men of ours – in memory of their duty nobly done.”

Ode to the Soldiers’ Memorial at Magill, November 1920.

On 14 November 1920, Brigadier General Leane unveiled the Magill Soldiers’ Memorial. The Last Post played as the Brigadier uncovered the white marble, revealing the names of 33 local soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.

The monument originally stood on the grounds of Magill School (now Pepper Street Arts Centre). In 1956, it was relocated to its present site on the corner of Magill and Penfold Roads.

Today we remember all those who fought and died to keep us free.

The proposed new planning system could change our City’s landscape and impact the residential character of your street or suburb, potentially affecting your general sense of community as well as the bottom line of property values.

The State Government conducted a public consultation on a draft Planning and Design Code from October 2019 to February 2020.

The City of Burnside made a submission as part of this consultation and encouraged our community to make submissions as well.

Over 2000 submissions were received by the State Government and, in response, have now released a revised draft Planning and Design Code.

Find out more at the project page.