Congratulations - Alexandrina Council - SA.Gov.au

JANUARY
11
www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au
Who makes
a difference
in our
community
Council appoints new Chief Executive
Peter Dinning was appointed as Alexandrina Council’s
new Chief Executive on 7 December 2010.
Mr Dinning has over 27 years of Local Government experience in the
areas of management, strategic planning, governance and finance.
Mr Dinning is currently the Chief Executive Officer at the District
Council of Copper Coast, Yorke Peninsula.
‘Having worked and lived in regional and rural Victoria and both
metropolitan and rural South Australia, I am very much aware of the
socio-economic and environmental issues in developing these areas and
their facilities, together with the challenges that face local authorities in
providing for their customers and the community’, said Mr Dinning.
‘My career objectives and career planning have always been a professional
and personal goal and as such, advancement and change is essential in
achieving these objectives.
‘I am very much looking forward to working with Alexandrina Council
and assisting with the development and growth of Council and the
region.’
Alexandrina Council Mayor Kym McHugh said that Mr Dinning’s
experience and vision for the Alexandrina area ensured he was the best
candidate for the position.
‘It was an enormous decision to make, but we are confident that we
have found someone for the job who has strengths in all areas of local
government’, said Mayor McHugh.
‘We are looking forward to a new era within Alexandrina Council.
Alexandrina Council congratulates
the winners at the Australia Day
Awards 26 January 2011
Celebrating our National Day
with our Community …
Congratulations
Strathalbyn and Region
Citizen of the Year — Rod Potter
Young Citizen of the Year — Kelly White
Community Event of the Year —
Yesterday’s Power Rally
Community Service Award of the Year
— Ben Simon
Goolwa and Region
Citizen of the Year — Andrew Kies
Young Citizen of the Year —
Amanda Garland
Community Event of the Year —
Goolwa 180, Captain Charles Sturt
Re-enactment
Community Service Award —
Country Women’s Association
Strathalbyn Program
Proudly arranged in conjunction with the
Rotary Club of Strathalbyn
7.00–9.30 am — Australia Day Breakfast
Soldiers Memorial Garden, Strathalbyn
9.00 am — Awards Ceremony
Soldiers Memorial Garden, Strathalbyn
Goolwa Program
Proudly arranged in conjunction with the
Lions Club of Goolwa
8.00–10.00 am — Australia Day Breakfast
Goolwa Centenary Hall
11.00 am — Awards Ceremony
Council Chambers 11 Cadell St, Goolwa
1

Message from Mayor Kym McHugh
Happy New Year and
welcome to our first
newsletter for 2011.
I hope all Alexandrina
Council residents enjoyed
a safe and happy festive
season.
The New Year always brings new
challenges, but more importantly
great new opportunities.
In December, Council
appointed Peter Dinning as its new Chief Executive. Peter
brings a great wealth of experience in local government.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Peter to
the Alexandrina region; we are all looking forward to the
next phase within Alexandrina Council.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank outgoing
Chief Executive John Coombe for his dedication and
professionalism during his time with Alexandrina Council.
Over the years John has ensured our reputation as one of the
best and most highly regarded councils in the state. We wish
John all the very best for the future.
Council Elections were held late in 2010. We have four new
members of Council. I am looking forward to working with
the new Council in 2011 and would like to thank outgoing
Councillors for their hard work over the past four years.
Last year saw the return of strong flows to the Murray River
and Lower Lakes region and the removal of the controversial
Clayton Regulator. The return of water has lifted the spirits
of all and has been of great benefit to the environment in
the Lower Lakes region, and has also seen a resurgence in
visitor numbers.
It was announced in late 2010 that dredging at the Murray
Mouth has ceased for the first time in eight years. Flows are
refreshing the Coorong, with huge amounts of water passing
through the barrages each day.
One of Council’s major projects for 2010/11 is the new
Library, Customer and Community Centre in Strathalbyn.
The Centre will include a state-of-the-art library, as
well as community meeting spaces that can be accesses
independently from the library. The project is expected to
be completed in August 2011.
I look forward to a positive year ahead and wish you and
your families all the best in 2011.
Kind regards,
Kym McHugh Mayor
Your Elected Members
Madeleine Walker
Port Elliot/Middleton Ward
Trent Rusby
Strathalbyn Ward
Keith Parkes
Goolwa/Hindmarsh Island Ward
Alan Oliver
Port Elliot/Middleton Ward
Barry Featherston
Angas/Bremer Ward
Margaret Gardner
Goolwa/Hindmarsh
Island Ward
Grant Gartrell
Nangkita/Kuitpo Ward
2

Frank Tuckwell
Goolwa/Hindmarsh Island Ward
Katherine Stanley-Murray
Angas/Bremer Ward
Goolwa Primary School
Mobile Storytelling Project
The Alexandrina Library
History Room at Goolwa
proudly supports the
Goolwa Primary School‘s
Mobile Storytelling
Project.
Year 6/7 students have been
very busy in the History room,
using the Walter Pretty Collection
plus other historical photos and
documents researching the history
of Goolwa.
Using 7scenes software, and with the support
of their teacher, Christy Refchange, and
ELearning specialist, Roger Edmonds, the
students have researched the history of
Goolwa and then linked this information,
via their mobile phones, to hot spots
around the town, thus creating locationaware
Mobile Storytelling.
The students have used iPhones, iPads
and Android technologies with GPS and
Wi-Fi for this project.
It’s a great way for the students to learn
more about history and work together in
teams in an interactive way, using familiar
technologies, such as mobile phones.
Both the Alexandrina Library
and the Visitor Information
Centre are very enthusiastic
about this project.
‘It may be possible, in the
future, for residents and
visitors to start their Mobile
Story Telling experience
at the Library or Visitor
Information Centre’, said
Jill Patmore, Alexandrina
Manager Library and Customer Service.
‘It’s a great way let people find out more
about the history of Goolwa, using
modern technologies.
‘We are currently planning for History
Week. This year History SA will be
presenting About Time: South Australia’s
History Festival. We will register this
project as part of the festival and
continue to work with the school and
our volunteers, preserving the past for
our community.’
Anne Woolford
Strathalbyn Ward
Jim Davis
Goolwa/Hindmarsh Island Ward
Kindles available at your library
Alexandrina Libraries have introduced six Amazon Kindles to their
collection. Kindles are e-readers used to view electronic forms of books.
Alexandrina Libraries’ Kindles are loaded
with popular fiction and will not only give
customers the opportunity to experience
eBooks first hand, but will decrease
waiting times for popular titles.
Kindles use the latest e-ink technology,
so they are easy on your eyes and have
many features, including adjustable text
size. Library and Customer Service staff
have been using the Kindles for the last
month and can assist with any questions.
Some staff have enjoyed the Kindle
experience so much they have purchased
their own.
In the future Alexandrina Libraries are
looking to loan e-books to customers
with their own e-readers (Kindles,
Sony Readers, Nooks, etc), as well as
downloadable audio books and music.
Please contact the library on 8555 7000
if you are interested in borrowing a Kindle.
3

Rural Property Addressing Roll-out planned for May 2011
In a staged roll-out, about 55,000
occupied properties in rural South
Australia will be issued with an address
and information on roadside signage.
This initiative will provide a distancebased
road number (based on the national
standard) for the road access point to
occupied properties, which will assist
emergency services and other service
providers to find homes and businesses
in regional South Australia with certainty,
Rural Property Addressing is a joint state
and local government initiative aiming
to provide all occupied rural properties in
South Australia home and business—with a
nationally consistent numbered address.
quickly and easily. A rural property
address consists of the distance-based
road number, road name, locality and
postcode. Your number will be the
distance in metres from the start of
the road to the main driveway entry
point, divided by 10. For example
508 Taplan Road is 5080 metres
(5.08km) along Taplan Road.
Alexandrina Council is currently
assessing over 3,000 rural property
addresses and validating all rural road
names to ensure road signage is correct
before the roll-out commences in May
2011.
Australia Post has adopted the State
Government’s standard for Rural
Property Addressing, which will replace
current RSD, RMB, lot number or
other addresses where roadside letterbox
delivery occurs.
Properties to receive the Rural Property
Addressing numbering system will be
sent a letter during March/April 2011.
For further information please visit:
http://www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au/site/
page.cfmu=1850. If you require further
information about your property please
contact Barbara Wills, Administration
Officer, Infrastructure Planning &
Design, on 08 8555 7000 or email alex@
alexandrina.sa.gov.au
Little Corella Management in Alexandrina
Alexandrina Council is
once again working with
local communities to
manage Little Corellas.
This year a Management
Plan has been prepared to
guide actions. Council has
also prepared information
brochures which outline
what Council is doing and
what private landholders
can do to manage Little
Corellas.
Little Corellas in a paddock near Strathalbyn.
This year Council is:
• Using a gas gun to scare flocks away
from key sites. The gas gun is the same
as can be found in vineyards.
• Using a laser light and strobe lights to
scare the birds when they are roosting in
trees. The light moving across branches
unsettles the birds and they leave the
area.
• Using bird-scaring shotgun cartridges to
scare the birds.
• Recording movements and habits of
the birds so future programs can be
improved.
Council hosted a community information
night in Strathalbyn on 8 December and
will hold further meetings in 2011. These
will be advertised in local papers and on
the Alexandrina Council website
www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au Council
will modify its management program
as bird numbers change and new
techniques are employed to assist in
Little Corella Management.
Council encourages residents to
report any damage or problems the
birds may be causing. Residents are
also encouraged to take appropriate
actions on their own properties.
Actions such as shining a high powered
torch at roosting birds will prevent
the birds becoming comfortable in
a site and encourage them to move
away from town areas.
Dog’s Breakfast Workshop
On Sunday, 5 Dec.
the Natural Resource
Management Board
based in Adelaide
hosted a Dog’s Breakfast
Workshop at Basham’s
Beach Reserve Middleton.
The aim of the workshop was to educate
dog owners in relation to how dog
behaviour can adversely impact beach
nesting birds, particularly the Hooded
Plover, which is an endangered species
currently nesting on local beaches.
Council requests that all dog owners
obey the instructions on the signs
and act responsibly around the clearly
marked nesting areas.
Council wishes to thank all those who
attended the event, with a special thanks
to Pam Keen and the Middleton dog
obedience group for their attendance.
Council takes this opportunity to remind
dog owners of the recently revised
policy regarding dogs off leash. Dogs
must be on a secure leash on beaches
and Council reserves between 10
am and 6 pm daily. Outside of these
times, and only in those specific areas,
dogs may be off leash and under
‘effective control’. Dogs must be on a
secure leash whilst in any other public
area.
4

Councils Parks and Gardens Upgraded
Many of Council’s park facilities have been upgraded recently.
Commadore Reserve at Port Elliot
has a new barbecue and shelter
facility, replacing an old structure
that was built in the early 70s. The
electric barbecue is free to use and
includes two hotplates.
A new playground replaces the old
non-safety-compliant structure at
Lakala Reserve. The main features
include stepping stones through a
planted landscape, two slides and a
double swing, all over rubber soft fall.
Planning and Development — Year in Review
2010 has been another busy year for the Planning and
Development team, with over 1400 development applications,
including land divisions, being lodged and decisions made.
A large tree has also been incorporated into
the play area. Surrounded by soft-fall pine
chips, this area offers children an opportunity
for unstructured tree climbing and balance
activities.
A new shelter facility at Richard Ballard Reserve
in Goolwa includes table and bench seating
and a free electric single hotplate barbecue.
The shelter has been erected near a recently
upgraded playground
and new landscaped
area, offering access
to the river bank and
views of the Hindmarsh
Island bridge.
Two new barbecues
have also been
installed at Soldiers
Memorial Gardens in
Strathalbyn, as well as
two picnic settings, new landscaping and new
turf.
New timber beach access has been built at
the end of Syke Avenue in Middleton, which
previously had no designated beach access.
This project was jointly funded by Council
and South Coast Dune Care.
Council has approved 362 new
dwellings and 69 land divisions,
which equates to 102 additional
allotments being created. This means
that $93.3 million worth of building
work was approved in 2010.
Some of the more significant
developments that have commenced
during the year are Piper’s Crest at
Strathalbyn, a 230-plus residential
land division, and the continuing
development of the award-winning
‘Beyond’ development at Port
Elliot.
Highlights of the year have been:
• Winning the Planning Institute
of Australia Award for the Rural
Areas Strategy and Action Plan
with our planning consultants
URPS.
• The installation of the touchscreen
computer in the Goolwa office to
assist with, for example, our public
consultation processes, reducing
the amount of paper usage when
it comes to notifications, and the
provision of the development
register.
• The commencement of our
local heritage development plan
amendments for Milang and the
South Coast townships.
• The establishment of the
Alexandrina Sustainable
Agricultural Round Table,
which is a group made up of
representatives from across
Council’s rural sector to assist
with establishing new policies for
our Rural Areas Development
Plan Amendment and to develop
a brochure that highlights the
realities of living within a rural
environment.
2010 also saw the release of the
State Government’s 30-Year Plan
for Greater Adelaide that has
created some interesting debates in
some council areas. For Alexandrina
it has meant that our identified
growth area for Goolwa has been
endorsed; it is therefore intended
to commence a structure planning
process in 2011 to ensure that as a
community we achieve growth on
our terms.
‘Movember’
Each November sees the sprouting of
new moustaches around Alexandrina
Council. This year the OAFFS (Official
Association of Facial Fuzz Seekers)
raised $820 for men’s health.
OAFFS — Phillip Bonner, Mark Sommerville,
Josh WIngrove, Tim Jarrett, Simon Granfell,
Paul Barnes, Stewart Ratcliff, Andrew Houlihan
and Colin Shackleford
visit us at …
www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au
email us at …
alex@alexandrina.sa.gov.au
5

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL
RIVERPORT OF GOOLWA
www.woodenboatfestival.com.au
Messing about in Wooden Boats …
The historic wharf at Goolwa
comes alive with the 2011
South Australian Wooden Boat
Festival. The biennial event will
set sail on Saturday 26 and
Sunday 27 February 2011.
Goolwa will be buzzing with
the 10,000 people expected to
join in the festivities over the
weekend.
Organisers are delighted to announce
AVJENNINGS & RIVERBREEZE
as the major sponsors of the 2011
SA Wooden Boat Festival. Their
commitment to Goolwa and their
support of the Festival has enabled
the organisers to put together
another exciting, jam-packed Festival
Program!!!
Entry to this year’s Festival is FREE,
with great entertainment for the whole
family! The festival will celebrate the
important history of Goolwa and
Wooden Boats, the River and the joy
and fun of owning a wooden boat! Soak
up the atmosphere with exhibits, displays
on water and land, paddlesteamer
rides on the PS Oscar W, rides on the
Steamranger Cockle train, sailing races
including the biggest fleet of racing
Restricted 21s in Australia or just jump
on a boat and have a chat with a boatie,
sharing their passion, history and the
magic of wooden boats.
Taste some of the regional wares and
premium wine in the Woodstock Wine
Pavillion. Woodstock Wines McLaren
Vale is the major wine sponsor of the
2011 South Australian Wooden Boat
Festival. The Pavillion will include
an array of fabulous food from local
producers, including the renowned
Woodstock Coterie. Woodstock Wines
believe fine wines and great food are
a natural partnership, so come and
taste the sensation in the Woodstock
Wine Pavillon! A highlight on Sunday
morning is the Cittaslow breakfast—a
gourmet breakfast designed by local
chefs in the Pavillion.
26 & 27 FEBRUARY 2011
The Puppet Palace returns with a great
line up of shows each day, as well as
the youth art exhibitions, showing and
appreciating wooden boats through the
eyes of future boaties!!!
Wooden Boats, all shapes and sizes,
vintage sailing yachts, traditional
riverboats, putt putts, steam boats,
clinker boats, row boats, canoes and
model boats will be on display—a
boating spectacular with parades and
racing events all weekend! Talk to the
owners, builders and craftsman and hear
their stories.
Ecostar, associated with environmentfriendly
solutions for the future, have
also come on board as a sponsor.
Don’t miss their amazing exhibit at the
Festival!
We thank the Ngarrindjeri for use of
their traditional land, and welcome all
to visit the Ngarrindjeri Culture tent
at the Festival. There will be a number
of artists and crafts people, exhibits and
workshops, opportunity to purchase
Ngarrindjeri arts and crafts, and to
meet, talk and learn about their culture.
Join us for a fun weekend; grab a
Program with all the highlights. FREE
ENTRY. Gates open at 9:00 am on
Saturday!
For more details phone the
FESTIVAL OFFICE
Ph 8555 7240 or visit
www.woodenboatfestival.com.au
6

817 Squadron Visiting For Festival
Approximately 80 personnel from the Royal Australian Navy’s 817
Squadron personnel will be exercising their right to Freedom of Entry
of Goolwa on Saturday 26 Feb in Cadell Street, Goolwa commencing at
10:30 am.
The River port town of Goolwa adopted
817 Squadron in 1987 following the
Bicentennial celebrations. Many visits
have followed to their home away from
HMAS Albatross, Nowra NSW over
the years, and it is now with a touch
of sadness that we will be saying a fond
farewell; at the end of 2011 the Squadron
is to be decommissioned and the Sea
King helicopters retired from service.
As part of the Festival program the
sounds of gunfire, marching feet and
fine music will echo around Goolwa
Wharf at 5:30 pm, with a traditional
Ceremonial Sunset being performed
to mark the end of the day. This will
feature 817 Squadron in a precision drill
Building News in Alexandrina Council
The replacement of the metal sliding
doors at the Strathalbyn Show hall will
be undertaken in early 2011. These will
be replaced with timber swinging doors
modeled on the original doors and
in keeping with heritage values. The
replacement of these doors is necessary to
meet fire safety requirements.
Building 1 at Signal Point has been made
ready for the new tenants with new floor
coverings, air-conditioning, improved
lighting and a paint out. Planning approval
has been given for the replacement and
extension of the existing paved deck on
the wharf end of Building 1. This will take
place in early 2011.
The plans for the redevelopment of Signal
Point Building 2 have been submitted
for Planning approval. These works will
go to tender early in 2011 with this part
of the Signal Point redevelopment to be
finished late in 2011. This work includes
a large timber deck with ramp and stairs
providing a connection to the wharf area,
new auto entrance doors from the deck,
glass balustrade on the upper level and
existing ramp, a lift from the upper level
display supported by the RAN South
Australian Navy band. It is a solumn but
spectacular ceremony where the Guard
for the Ceremonial Sunset will fire a
volley of blank shots with the River
Murray as the backdrop.
The Ceremonial Sunset is derived from
the oldest of naval traditions; originally
ship’s drums were beaten as a call for
the Ship’s company to man the quarters,
or action stations, when battle was
imminent. Ceremonial Sunset reflects
the world-wide naval tradition of
saluting the lowering of the ship’s ensign
at sunset each day on ships in harbour
and shore establishments.
to lower level. Further improvements will
include toilets servicing Building 2 and
upgrading of fire services.
The finger wharfs at Goolwa wharf have
been filled in to provide a safer and more
usable facility. The space between the
main wharf and the lower finger wharf
had been identified as a risk area and
council officers working under State
Heritage advice came up with the infill as
a good compromise and meeting heritage
and safety values.
The new finger wharf infill at Goolwa
Mosquito Management
Program
This season has brought perfect
conditions for mosquito breeding,
given the additional rain the state
has received.
Alexandrina Council has received a
larger than usual number of complaints
in relation to mosquito numbers as a
result.
Alexandrina Council has a Mosquito
Management Program, which is
designed to identify and target
mosquito breeding sites for chemical
treatment.
As part of this treatment program,
Council uses a chemical with high
specificity for mosquitoes and low
environmental impact. The product
prevents larvae from developing into
adult mosquitoes.
Due to the nature of our natural
environment in Alexandrina, mosquitoes
are a part of our ecosystem and will
never be completely eliminated.
Many breeding sites are also located
on privately owned land and include
bird baths, septic tanks, rainwater
tanks and pot plants.
For this reason, Council also supports
the SA Health messages from the
Fight the Bite program, which are
largely about personal protection from
mosquitoes and preventing mosquito
breeding around the home.
For more information on personal
protection from mosquitoes, and
preventing mosquito breeding around
your home, please refer to Council’s
website, www.alexandrina.sa.gov.au.
What’s happening at Goolwa Wharf
Check here to see …
http://goolwawharf.alexandrina.com.au
7

Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority takes over
Waste and Recycling Services
On 1 December 2010, Alexandrina
Council handed over its waste
and resource management services
to Fleurieu Regional Waste
Authority.
Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority
has combined the waste and resource
services for Alexandrina Council, City
of Victor Harbor, District Council of
Yankalilla and Kangaroo Island Council
to ensure a regional approach to waste
and resource management.
The Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo
Island Regional Waste Management
Strategy Committee (the Committee)
was formed in 2006 to oversee the
development and implementation of
the Fleurieu Peninsula Regional Waste
Strategy which was adopted by all four
councils in 2007.
A key recommendation of the Strategy
was to establish the Fleurieu Regional
Waste Authority (FRWA), a regional
subsidiary pursuant to Section 43 of
the Local Government Act as a priority
for the successful implementation of a
regional approach to waste and resources
management.
Early this year all four councils and
the FRWA Board adopted the FRWA
Charter, the 10 Year Strategic plan, the
3 year Business plan and the start-up
budget for the Authority.
The FRWA management team was
appointed mid year and the preparation
of the operational stage commenced. The
FRWA Board meeting on 1 December
and a joint meeting with site staff from
all four councils marked the first day of
full operation of the FRWA.
All customer service enquiries, including
kerbside waste collection, bin purchases
and landfill enquiries, are to be directed
to the Goolwa Waste and Recycling
depot located on the Port Elliot to
Goolwa Road or by phoning (08) 8555
7260.
Change in
Visitor Centre Hours
Opening hours of Alexandrina
Council’s Visitor Information Centres
have aligned.
Alexandrina Council proudly
supports two accredited Visitor
Information Centres, at Goolwa and at
Strathalbyn.
‘Alexandrina Council is known within
the tourism industry for its professional
service delivery, which has been
recognised with multiple tourism
awards and will continue to promote
and streamline the service provision’,
said Tourism Manager Tanya Mitchell.
‘Aligning the open hours provides a
consistent approach at Goolwa and
Strathalbyn Visitor Information Centres
and maximises Alexandrina Visitor
Services resources.’
Accredited Visitor Information Centres
play a vital role in visitor servicing.
The aligned open hours at
Goolwa and Strathalbyn Visitor
Information Centres will be:
Monday to Friday
9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Weekends and public holidays
10.00 am to 4.00 pm
(Goolwa VIC is closed Good Friday and both
VICs are closed Christmas Day.)
Alexandrina Council Immunisation Dates 2011
Are you Bushfire Ready
‘The Fire Danger Season is here.’
Please remember it is your
responsibility to maintain suitable
fire breaks on your property for the
entire fire danger season.
Do you have a
Bushfire Survival Plan
Now is the time to sit down with
your family and create your own
Bushfire Survival plan.
Plans are available from your
local CFS or Council.
Fire Danger Season Dates
Mount Lofty Ranges —
1 December 10 to 30 April, 2011
Murraylands —
15 November 10 to 15 April, 2011
Goolwa Clinic
9.30 am to 10.00 am
Council Chambers
11 Cadell Street, Goolwa
Phone: 8555 7000
for bookings
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
May 18
June 15
July 20
August 17
September 21
October 19
November 16
Strathalbyn Clinic
3.30 pm to 4.15 pm
Strathalbyn Town Hall
High Street, Strathalbyn
Phone: 8555 7000
for bookings
January 27
February 24
March 24
April 28
May 26
June 23
July 28
August 25
September 22
October 27
November 24
8