About Town - Autumn 2015

abouttown
Issue 11
Autumn 2015
Message from the Mayor of Walkerville
On Australia Day 2015, I had the honour of
conferring citizenship to eleven people and
their families.
This year, we had applicants from the United Kingdom, China,
India, the US, Japan and Iran. From the four corners of the
globe, they and their families, call the Town of Walkerville home;
bringing fresh ideas, new experiences and diversity and adding
value and vibrancy to our way of life.
One message I was keen to communicate on the day; and which I
think is so important in developing a cohesive, close knit ‘village’;
is the importance of being active citizens. We have local groups
and associations involved at every level of community life –
sports, heritage, environment, education and social programs.
There are many opportunities and ways to get involved.
A learning during my time in this role is the number and
longevity of some of our local community groups.
One of these being the Gilberton Amateur Swimming Club which
celebrated its Centenary in February. This organisation was formed
in 1915, with the principal aim to teach and encourage the art of
swimming and methods of lifesaving. Eventually, the deterioration
of the River Torrens and the competing attractions from suburban
public pools would lead to the demise of the Club. However, the
Club continues its work through an investment scheme that enables
neighbouring schools to offer free swimming lessons to children.
Recently, I became the Patron of the Walkerville Bowling Club,
which will be celebrating its own Centenary in 2017. One of
our local primary schools, St Andrew’s will be celebrating its
165th year in 2015.
In April, the Walkerville RSL will be commemorating the
centenary of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli at their annual Dawn
Service. Council has entered into an agreement to sponsor the
Dawn Service to be held at the Memorial Gardens on Church
Terrace. I hope to see many of you there to reflect on this
particularly significant milestone in our nation’s history.
walkerville.sa.gov.au
I’m a great believer in getting out of the office and seeing, and
hearing, things first-hand. Actually taking the issue out of
the meeting room and onto the street, can provide a different
perspective and help get to the heart of the matter. Which is
why a few weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, Elected Members,
Administration staff and I, took a bus tour around the Township
to look at some of the places that are on Council’s agenda.
As we travelled around the neighbourhood; getting out on foot
to look at various reserves and walking trails; it highlighted once
again, that the priority of traffic and transport management is a
key issue for Council. Whether you drive, walk, cycle, use public
transport or a mobility scooter, we must ensure that our streets
and public spaces are safe and user-friendly – for everyone.
I am pleased to announce that in December 2014, Council
received funding of $50,000 from the Motor Accident Commission
(MAC). This grant will go towards the cost of installing a wombat
crossing on the western side of the Smith Street roundabout
on Walkerville Terrace. This location was supported directly
though the public consultation sessions held for the Movement
Management Plan in 2014. This plan will be available from
Council’s website.
Furthermore, in February, Council endorsed the Movement
Action Plan which sets out a list of priority actions to resolve
specific movement related issues in the Town.
In the next issue of About town, I will be providing more information
on the establishment of our community liaison groups. I want
these groups to provide an active and positive platform to share
ideas and identify opportunities for the improvement and
enhancement of our community.
Raymond (Ray) Grigg
Mayor of Walkerville
above: Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony, Mayor
Grigg with the new Australian Citizens and families.
Issue 11 Autumn 2015
ANZAC Day Dawn Service: Gallipoli 2015
“Sound the Last Post again, lest we forget the freedom that we cherish has been bought
– not found like mushrooms in the field; the debt is ours to pay, mindful of those who
fought and fell.” Excerpt from Sonnet for ANZAC Day by Alf Wood.
The upcoming Centenary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, will
lend a particular significance to this year’s Dawn Service held in
the Memorial Gardens on Church Terrace.
In light of this Centenary year, Council entered into an agreement
with the Walkerville RSL to sponsor the 2015 commemorations.
The RSL is expecting thousands of people at the service and
preparations for the event are well underway. For the first time,
large TV screens will be positioned at vantage points in the Memorial
Gardens to accommodate the expected crowds. In addition, the
Council has been carrying out a range of works in the Gardens,
including new planting, landscaping and improved irrigation.
Following the Dawn Service, the RSL will be hosting an ANZAC
Day breakfast for up to 500 people in the car park area. Entry is
by gold coin donation.
‘I would like to acknowledge Walkerville Council for sponsoring
the 2015 ANZAC Day event and for the work they have
undertaken in enhancing the Memorial Gardens to ensure they
will be at their best. Obviously, this is a very important day for
the RSL, but it is also an important day for the community and I
would like to encourage people who have never attended a Dawn
Service to do so in this Centenary year’, says Norm Coleman,
President of the Walkerville RSL and organiser of the event.
Photos: Victoria Berekmeri
walkerville.sa.gov.au
While this year, will see a greater focus on Gallipoli, the spirit of
ANZAC Day remains constant: to reflect and to remember those
who have served and died in all wars and conflicts.
Walkerville
Memorial Gardens
Church Terrace, Walkerville
6.15 am, 25 April 2015
Breakfast
at the Walkerville RSL
& Community Centre,
car park, 98 Walkerville Tce,
Walkerville. Gold coin donation
Poppies will be available for a donation.
Enquiries to Norm Coleman, mob 0417 817 568
walkervillersl@bigpond.com.au
Issue 11 Autumn 2015
Give happy. Live happy
“Not only are volunteers helping make the lives of everyone around them happier, they too are
happier as a result. Research tells us that just a few hours of volunteer work makes a difference
in people’s happiness. It’s proven that volunteers are happier, healthier and even sleep better
than those who don’t volunteer.” Brett Williamson, CEO, Volunteering Australia.
Every year, as part of National
Volunteer Week, the Town of
Walkerville acknowledges the
commitment and contribution
of local volunteers and
community events.
Awards are offered in
three categories:
Volunteer of the year:
Young volunteer of the year:
Community event of the year:
For exceptional voluntary service by an
individual who has benefited the Town
of Walkerville. This award is only for
people aged over 35 years. This award can
recognise a volunteer who has worked
in the community for a long-period of
time, as well as someone who is new
to volunteering, but who has made an
outstanding contribution to the Township.
The nominee does not need to live in
the Township, but must demonstrate
a connection to it, through their
volunteering activities. Nominations for
individuals who live in the Township but
who volunteer outside the Council area
will be considered.
For exceptional voluntary service by an
individual who has benefited the Town of
Walkerville. This award is only for people
aged 35 years or under. The nominee
does not need to live in the Township,
but must demonstrate a connection to
it, through their volunteering activities.
This award is also open to students from
the Town of Walkerville, who have taken
part in volunteering, either in their local
school, community, or through other
volunteering programs.
For a local event held between February
2014 and February 2015 in the Town of
Walkerville, that demonstrated a strong
local community focus and volunteering
element.
Individuals can self-nominate for the
Volunteer or Young volunteer award.
Organisations can nominate their own
events for the Community event award.
Emailed nominations forms are preferred
and forms can be downloaded from
walkerville.sa.gov.au.
Printed nomination forms are available
from the Civic and Community Centre
during business hours.
Nominations close 5pm,
Thursday 9 April 2015
Nomination forms emailed to:
walkerville@walkerville.sa.gov.au
Subject line: ‘Volunteer awards nomination’
or posted to:
2015 Volunteer awards, Town of Walkerville
PO Box 55, Walkerville SA 5081
Above: 2014 award recipients L-R Community
event, Alan Hedges (representing Walkerville
Rotary, Young Volunteer Will Varga, Volunteer
of the year Alan Jones, Volunteer of the year
Brian Hern, Young Volunteer, Brooke Craighead.
walkerville.sa.gov.au
Enquiries to:
Sonia De Nicola, Marketing and
Communications Manager
telephone 8342 7124 or email
sdenicola@walkerville.sa.gov.au
Issue 11 Autumn 2015
Creating a storm
A unique Local Government collaboration has
been setting new standards for stormwater
management and harvesting in inner urban
areas across Australia.
Waterproofing the East – Eastern Region Alliance Stormwater
Harvesting and Reuse is an initiative of the Eastern Region
Alliance (ERA), a group of eastern metropolitan Councils working
together and sharing resources for the benefit of their local
communities and the eastern region community as a whole.
The project has been in development since 2009, during which
time, Federal funding was secured, feasibility studies and master
planning undertaken and a design and distribution team appointed.
A Project Steering Group with representatives from various ERA
Councils, was formalised in 2013 and is tasked with overseeing
the delivery of this multi-million dollar project in 2016. The
Steering Group is led by Walkerville Council’s CEO Ms Kiki Magro.
The configuration of the number of Councils involved in the
project has evolved considerably since 2009. In early March 2015,
the number of participating Councils will be formally endorsed.
The Town of Walkerville, which from 2009 has taken a lead role
in Waterproofing the East, has already confirmed its ongoing
commitment to bringing this project to completion.
When constructed, water will be extracted from the region’s
watercourses and stormwater drains. It will then be treated at
various sites in the eastern region via wetlands or bio-filtration
systems for aquifer storage and recovery. The outcome for all
participating Council regions will be a sustainable additional
source of non-potable water.
The Project Steering Group which meets fortnightly at Walkerville
Council was recently announced as a finalist in the prestigious Local
Government Professional Awards. The winners will be announced
in April. For an overview of the project visit www.era.sa.gov.au
Timeline
2009 Master planning commences, with the commissioning
of the Eastern Region Alliance stormwater harvesting
and re-use opportunities study.
2011 The study becomes the basis for a successful
Federal funding submission for a feasibility study,
which subsequently attracts Federal funding to take
the project from design to construction.
2012 Second stage of master planning concludes.
2013 Project steering group, led by Walkerville Council’s CEO
is formalised and commences the tender evaluation
process to appoint the distribution and design team.
Ms Kiki Magro, CEO, Town of Walkerville and Project
Director of the Steering Group received a Leadership
and Management Excellence Award, Metropolitan
Councils in recognition of her role in driving this
project, since its inception in 2009.
2014 The project was awarded a 2014 Stormwater Excellence
Award for Excellence in Strategic and Master Planning.
Design phase completed in December.
2015 Stage 1 Design and the business case development
due to be completed in December.
2016 Construction due to be completed July.
Within the sector, the project has attracted national recognition
and international interest. It has been recognised for its excellence
in master planning and for its Governance framework which will
see the establishment of a Regional Subsidiary (made up of the
five Councils) with a Charter approved by the relevant Minister.
Building site rubbish: where local and State Governments draw the line
Untidy building sites and building site rubbish
that spills out onto streets or surrounding
properties is an issue for residents. However,
Local Councils cannot enforce these matters
under the Local Government Act.
The State authorities responsible for dealing with building site
rubbish, dust and noise are Safework SA and the Environment
Protection Authority (EPA).
Safework SA deals with the site in terms of general untidiness
and hazard levels and the EPA deals with the site in terms of
pollution which includes:
•
soil, clay, gravel or sand
•
waste water from brick, bitumen •
or concrete cutting
•
•
•
building construction waste
building washwater
walkerville.sa.gov.au
•
•
concrete waste
other waste and litter
sawdust
washdown from vehicles.
However, if the rubbish and debris is placed on the verge then
Council’s general inspectors, can, and do, follow this up (as
guided by the Local Government Act).
As Council does not administer the relevant legislation it does
not put conditions or notes on Development Approvals in relation
to rubbish and material debris. If Council did put a condition
or note on the approval it could only be to remind applicants
of their obligations and requirements under the legislations
administered by Safework SA and the Environment Protection
Authority (EPA) SA.
Council does inspect sites as per the requirements of the
Development Act and Regulations, however, it does not actively
inspect sites for rubbish and debris as it is not within its
legislated powers.
Safework SA: Help Centre 1300 365 255
email help@safework.sa.gov.au
EPA: telephone 8204 2004 or 1800 623 445
Issue 11 Autumn 2015
Walking with ghosts
Busy commuters may be unaware that behind the picket fence on Smith Street lies one of
Adelaide’s earliest village cemeteries and the resting place of many notable local identities.
These include: J W A Sudholz, chairman
of the Yatala South District Council and
parliamentarian from the 1880s and
1890s; Mary Lee, the prominent women’s
rights activist; Samuel Braund, the first
chairman of the Prospect Council and
members of the Le Cornu, Wigg and
Cleland families, among many others.
There are also seven memorials to
ANZACS who died in World War One.
The Friends of the Walkerville Wesleyan
Cemetery are a group of volunteers who
work tirelessly to ensure that this historical
landmark is promoted and maintained.
The Friends regularly hold walking tours
of the site which are extremely popular
with people of all ages interested in
local history. As part of this year’s About
What’s on
about town
Council has introduced a
community events calendar
on its website.
walkerville.sa.gov.au
Time History Festival, the Friends will
be conducting a tour of the site on the
26 May at 1pm. Participation is by gold
coin donation. Everyone is welcome and
the tour is also a good opportunity to find
out more about the Friends.
To book in for the tour contact Raye
Whitehead, mobile 0438 615 205 or
brayew@adam.com.au
In preparation for Remembrance Day
2015, the Friends are collaborating
with Walkerville, Vale Park and St
Andrew’s primary schools, Wilderness,
the Walkerville RSL and the
Walkerville Uniting Church to develop
a commemorative DVD on the seven
ANZACS memorials in the cemetery.
It’s a great way to find out about
upcoming community events.
Local community groups and schools
are encouraged to promote their
upcoming events on the calendar.
To find out more go to:
www.walkerville.sa.gov.au/events
Starting with a plan
Under the South Australian
Public Health Act 2011 every
Local Council is required to
complete a Public Health
Plan. However, Councils do
have the option of joining
forces to develop a regional
plan aimed at protecting the
health of their respective
Council communities.
The Town of Walkerville is one of five
constituent Councils of the Eastern Health
Authority, (EHA). The other four Councils
are the:
•
City of Burnside
•
Campbelltown City Council
•
City of Norwood, Payneham
& St Peters
•
City of Prospect
The draft plan opens for public consultation
on the 9th March 2015. Community
feedback will be presented back to the
Elected Members at the May Ordinary
Meeting of Council.
The draft is available from Council’s
website and printed copies are available
free of charge from Council offices during
business hours.
Working together, these five Councils have
developed a collective draft plan overseen
by EHA’s Board of Management and an
Advisory Committee. Before the plan
can be endorsed it must go out to public
consultation and your feedback is welcome.
If you have any questions about the plan
contact the EHA directly on tel 8132 3600.
Written feedback can be emailed to
walkerville@walkerville.sa.gov.au
Subject line: ‘EHA draft plan’ or posted to:
EHA draft plan, Town of Walkerville,
PO Box 55, Walkerville SA 5081
Public consultation closes:
5pm, Friday 17 April 2015
Broadcast news
YouthFM gives local young people
access to training and skill development
in radio production.
YouthFM is broadcast every Thursday from 4pm to 5pm on Three D
Radio 93.7FM. Training is offered twice a year, at no cost, during the
April and September school holidays. Participants must be aged
between 15 and 25.
If you would like to find out more, an information session will be held:
5.30pm, 2 April at Three D Radio
101 Payneham Road, St Peters 5069
RSVP and enquiries: Friday 22 March to: Mark Crabtree, telephone
8269 5355 or email mark.crabtree@prospect.sa.gov.au
Youth FM is a joint initiative of the Cities of Campbelltown, Norwood Payneham
& St Peters, Prospect, Town of Walkerville and Three D Radio.
Photo courtesy of City of Prospect
NBN is coming to our Town!
To get the latest news on the National
Broadband Network (NBN) in the Town
of Walkerville, go to www.nbnco.com.au
All photos by Simon Casson, unless indicated otherwise.
Civic & Community Centre 66 Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton SA 5081 T 08 8342 7100 (24 hours) walkerville@walkerville.sa.gov.au walkerville.sa.gov.au
Council offices Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm. Library Mondays 9am-7pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 9am-5pm, Saturdays 9.30am-1pm. Twitter #walkerville5081