Newsletter
January 2009
AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS
The Council is pleased to announce that the District Council of Barunga West’s Australia Day Awards have been selected and they are as follows:
Broughton District
Citizen of the Year – Mrs. Grace Aitchison
Grace has had a long involvement in a large number of community groups and these include:
· Mundoora Women’s Bowling Club, and the Hutt and Hill River Women’s Bowling Association. She has served in a number of positions with the Club since 1967, including Club Secretary, President and Skipper. She has also been an office bearer for the Association. Grace is now in her 42nd year of bowls.
· Mundoora Institute. She has had a long involvement with the Institute, including holding the position of Secretary for 14 years prior to its winding up in 2000. Along with husband Trevor, this involvement was over 30 years.
· Port Broughton Historical Society. Grace has been involved with the Historical Society and the Museum for many years, and has contributed significantly to the Mundoora-Keilli section of the Museum.
· St John Ambulance of SA. She was a volunteer of St John’s between 1970 and 1988 and was awarded the National Medal in 1986.
· Port Broughton Red Cross. Grace was awarded the Red Cross Long Service medal (25 years) in 1994, and is still a member of Red Cross.
· Grace is also a member of the Port Broughton and Districts Genealogy Society (formed in 2007) and the Western Districts History group (formed in 2008), and is an active member of the Port Broughton Rainbow Quilters.
Event of the Year – Youth Advisory Council (YAC) - Tween Formal
The YAC held a Tween Formal on 2th April 2008 in Port Broughton, which involved holding a function for youth aged between 11 and 15. The Youth Council arranged for the catering, advertising, venue including the setting up, invitations, arranging a DJ and the guest speaker, Peter Goers of ABC fame.
The theme of the evening was etiquette, good manners and respect of each other, with prizes being given out based on these themes. Peter Goers spoke on a range of subjects such as values, bullying, respect for others etc, which was well received by his audience.
Approximately 72 “Tweens” attended the Formal, which was free of charge (courtesy of a grant). This was a learning experience, not only for those who organised the event, but those who attended on the evening.
Bute District
Citizen of the Year – Mrs. Georgie Simmons
Georgie has been an active volunteer in a number of organisations over a long period of time, and these include:
· Over 12 years she has been a Councillor for the former District Council of Bute and the current Council. As part of her role she has served on a number of committees including the Port Broughton Community School Library Board, Lions Club of YP Rail, YP Community Transport Services (formerly HACC) and Barunga Village Aged Homes.
· Georgie is on the Barunga Village Board (for 8 years), and has been involved in the Barunga by the Sea development.
· Is a volunteer driver for the YP Community Transport Service (over 8 years)
· Has a large involvement with the Bute Sporting Club (12 years) and is currently the Licensed Manager of the Club.
· Since the inception of Bute 2000 Onwards Committee, Georgie has been a member
· Has been a strong supporter of the Bute Tidy Towns Committee and has accompanied the Judge for some 15 years, prior to the judging format being altered.
Event of the Year – Kulpara Youth Group – Power Surge
The Kulpara Youth Group held their Power Surge in August 2008, (their sixth event), which involved approximately 220 people from a vast area covering Orroroo, Clare, Adelaide and Warooka. The Power Surge was held at the Kulpara Hall and involved a weekend of Youth Service (with a guest speaker) and a band, pooled supper and then a lively Bush Dance on the Saturday Night. Quite a number of the people camp overnight and enjoy a hearty breakfast and a Church Service on the Sunday.
Following the successful weekend the Youth Group, whose members are pretty weary by this time, have the task of cleaning up and preparing for next year’s event.
To organise this event requires members of the Youth Group to show organisational and leadership skills, to make this event a success. Members of the Kulpara community do help where required.
Presentations
The winners of this year’s Awards will be presented at Australia Day Breakfasts, to be held on Monday 26th January 2009, at the Port Broughton Foreshore, and the lawns adjacent to the Bute Soldiers Memorial Hall. Further details will be available closer to the day.
Community Grants – Pacific Hydro
The Council has been advised by Pacific Hydro (the constructors of the new wind farm at Clements Gap) that they are making available some grants to community groups for projects that benefit the local community surrounding the Clements Gap Wind Farm. This fund is called the Sustainable Communities Fund and is available for community groups in Port Broughton, who deliver social or environmental projects or services to residents of Port Broughton. Funding is not available to Governments (including Local Government), schools, or individuals. The fund is available for the life of the Clements Gap Wind Farm, and applications open once per year.
Applications for funding will be called in March, with advertisements in the local Newspaper. Details can be obtained from the website www.pacifichydro.com.au/fund This is a terrific gesture of Pacific Hydro and we encourage local groups, who qualify for the Funds, to submit an application. Some details can be obtained from Blue Jolly at the Council offices, alternatively community groups who are interested in the Fund are encouraged to contact Pacific Hydro’s Community Fund Coordinator, Chloe Carpenter, on 03 8621 6428 or via email .
Federal Government Infrastructure Funds
Recently the Federal Government announced the allocation of funds to Council for Infrastructure projects within their communities. This funding came with guidelines that required Council to ensure that the funding was spent on infrastructure projects not already in its budget.
Councils are required to submit their chosen projects to the Federal Government for its approval, by no later than 30th January 2009. The Council, at its December meeting agreed to fund four different projects across the Council area. These projects have not been previously allocated in Council’s budget.
1. Skate Park for Bute – on Railway land under Council’s control
2. Walking Trail at Tickera – along the cliff top
3. Further upgrade to Port Broughton foreshore footpath
4. Further upgrade to Fisherman’s Bay foreshore
Once the Federal Government grants approvals to Council’s projects we are required to have the funding spent by 30th September, 2009.
Partial Dry Zone Application
In the October Newsletter details were given of a proposal for Partial Dry Zones in Port Broughton and Fisherman’s Bay, and we were seeking comments from the public. Council received several comments, with them all positive, giving support for this proposal. Accordingly, the Council at its November meeting, agreed to submit an application for the Partial Dry Zone for the following areas during the times of 11.00 pm and 8.00 am each day.
Port Broughton
(a) West Terrace: from the eastern side of West Terrace to the Low Water Mark on the western side of Sections 525, 526 and 449 Hundred of Mundoora (commonly known as the Port Broughton Foreshore)
(b) West Terrace: Section 1037 Hundred of Mundoora (commonly known as the Port Broughton Boat Ramp)
(c) The area defined as follows:
a. The southern boundary of Edmund Street commencing from the western boundary of West Terrace, and ending at the eastern boundary of East Terrace,
b. The eastern boundary of East Terrace commencing from the southern boundary of Edmund Street, and ending at the northern boundary of James Street, and
c. The corner of Bay Street and East Terrace: Part Lot 90 Hundred of Mundoora (commonly known as Port Broughton Skate Park.
d. The northern boundary of James Street commencing at the eastern boundary of East Terrace, and ending at the western boundary of West Terrace.
Fisherman’s Bay
(a) The coastal reserve (within Lots 3, 8, 9 and Section 555 Hundred of Mundoora) which includes the foreshore area commencing at the southern boundary of the Western playground, off Whiting Road, through to the eastern boundary of the Eastern Playground on Whiting Road, which will include the Boat Ramp and adjacent parking areas.
It is hoped to have the application approved by the Easter Holiday period.
Bute Land Development
The Council recently considered a Draft Plan for the development of Council Land at Bute (off Arbon Road and Kulpara Road) into residential allotments. The Council agreed for this development to occur and for the Council, through its staff, to be the Developers.
Arrangements will now be made for Council to obtain developmental approval for this proposal and for work to commence on the development in mid 2009. It is intended to have the first allotment available for sale in the early part of the 2009/2010 financial year.
The first stage of this development will be some 10 or 11 blocks with access to Kulpara Road. At this stage, no prices have been determined, as full costings of the project have not been completed. However, Council is willing to accept names of any persons who may wish to lodge an expression of interest in an allotment. Contact should be made with Nigel Hand, District Manager on 8635 2107.
Electoral Representation Review
As part of its legislative requirements, the Council is required to review the ‘make-up’ of the Council, and we are in the process of undertaking this review. The three areas that the review is looking at are:
· Appointment of a Mayor or Chairman
· The number of elected members
· Use of Wards
Currently the Council appoints a Chairman, and this is done by all the elected members at their first meeting after the elections. (The Council has the ability to ‘retitle’ the Chairman as Mayor, and our Council utilises this option) The alternative is to appoint a mayor who is appointed by the people eligible to vote at Council elections.
The Council has 10 elected members, and has the possibility of reducing this to a lower number. We also do not have Wards with our Council and this is required to be reassessed.
An Options Paper has been prepared for public consultation and is available to the public, on our Council website www.barungawest.sa.gov.au (Under Council Services, then Council Documents – Electoral Representation Review), or by collecting a copy from the Council office.
Comments will be received by Council until 30th January 2009. Following this, Council will consider any comments, and then make decisions on how they wish to have the Council set up. This will then be available for public comment. Following this second round of public consultation, a recommendation will then be sent to the Electoral Commissioner for her endorsement.
The intention is to have the review completed and endorsed by the Electoral Commissioner in late 2009, to enable any alterations to the set up of Council to be enacted in the November 2010 Council elections.
Special Local Road Grants
Each year the Council is invited to submit applications to the State Government for funding under the Special Road Grant Program. For over 10 years the Council has unsuccessfully applied for funding for upgrading and sealing of the Wokurna – Snowtown Road. This has been done in conjunction with the Wakefield Regional Council for several years.
The Council has now agreed to apply to the program for an upgrade of the Port Broughton Bypass Road. This road, although upgraded by Council some 20 years ago, requires a substantial upgrade at the two intersections and to the pavement.
In consultation with the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, the Council has undertaken design work of the two intersections. An outcome from our application, to be submitted in February 2009, will not be known until later in the year.
Waste Disposal Sites – Fire Ban Days
A reminder is given to all residents that the Bute and Port Broughton Waste Disposal Sites will be CLOSED on all Fire Ban Days for safety reasons.
Please note that the Port Broughton site WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2009
TO THE
HOUSEHOLDER