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‘But you have to follow the party line.’

That’s a statement I regularly face when I’m talking to local people.     

They shrug their shoulders and say this almost apologetically. Yet this is not the case; the very essence of the Liberal Party is that I don’t have to do anything that my colleagues demand and there is no ‘party line’ that I am bound to follow. 

I joined the Liberal Party because its vision of free enterprise, freedom and smaller government is closer to my view of the world than that of any other party, but I don’t blindly agree with everything the Liberal Party says and I use my position to ensure that the interests of my community are dominant in my colleagues’ minds when decisions are being made.  

I hope that you have noticed a distinctive shift since my election last year in the sort of representation our community gets. I don’t just live in this community, I live this community. It’s my backyard as well as yours and I will always put you first. Sometimes that will mean me making a judgment on what I think is best and you may not always agree, but rest assured a lot of thought will go into every decision I make.

My focus on community representation is why, rather than being an epistle of political gripes, this newsletter aims to give you a snapshot of our local community, detailing what’s going on in your backyard and letting you know what I’m up to as your local representative.

I hope that after 18 months in the job, I am presenting the fresh alternative that so many people seem to desire from political representatives.

David.

Train horn update

As readers of my newsletter would well know, the loud train horn on the electric trains has been a huge issue for our community over the past year. This is an issue which I have been trying to hold the government to account on for a long time now. In the end it took 18 months to get an admission that there was a problem and, once that concession was obtained, it is still taking an unacceptably long time to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to reduce the sound.

I have had feedback saying there is an improvement in the frequency, loudness and pitch of the train horns on the electric trains since a different operational policy was introduced, but the phone calls and emails continue to come into my office mostly due to the randomness of the way that drivers use the horn.

I have been informed that the horns are in the process of being moved to the bottom of the trains and that there are a number of new approaches in terms of operation. However, it seems that some drivers are being particularly stubborn and are continuing to blast the horn. I have written to the Minister yet again requesting an update on his department’s strategy to address this issue going forward. This is 2015 - why can't such a problem be fixed?

Rest assured, this issue is still on the table and I will continue to push for improvements to the horn, including its placement and tone, to be rolled out across all electric trains.

Beach access for all

We all love our coastline and I know I'm not alone when I say that our beautiful beaches are the reason I live here. I can’t imagine not being able to access the beach and finding it impossible to dip my toes in the water, have a paddle or a gentle swim. Yet this is the experience of many people I come across who share my love of the beach, but who don't have the physical health to reach the water's edge.

That's why I have approached Surf Life Saving SA and the City of Holdfast Bay to see if we can work together to create disability-friendly access paths across the beach. My vision is that these would be available when surf life saving patrols are in operation so they can be monitored.

Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference and I'm determined to push this idea forward.

Kauri Parade Community and Sporting Precinct

Since beginning in June of this year, work on the Kauri Parade Community and Sporting Precinct is well underway.

Currently tennis and netball courts are being constructed and, with the concrete slab in the process of being laid, these works are on schedule to be completed in February 2016.

By the end of this year works will commence on the hockey pitch, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of March 2016, in time for the hockey season. In addition, the design for a central facility is currently being finalised and construction of this facility is scheduled to be finished by November 2016. Timelines for other works detailed below are still to be confirmed and I will keep you up to date.

The Kauri Parade master plan includes:
• hybrid wet/dry hockey pitch
• 12 court tennis complex which also incorporates 2 netball courts and community courts
• increased spectator areas including tiered seating and shaded areas
• new public amenities
• enhanced green open space areas with new trees and vegetation
• additional car-parking spaces
• a new central facility that can be used by all existing users plus other community groups.

For more information, visit www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/Kauri.

One of the pressing needs in our local community and one of my priorities is to support small business to grow and create jobs. 

One of my recent initiatives to support small business is the collation of a local business directory to help consumers discover what businesses are available in their immediate community.

Around every corner there's a business operating from someone's home and a tradie living in every street, but knowing who and where these people are is key to supporting them. That's why I am in the process of putting together a business directory which captures what businesses are in our community and where you can find them.

The community business directory will be an easy-to-read booklet that includes businesses from Hallett Cove through to Somerton Park who have indicated they would like to be included and it will be distributed later this year to every household in the area (13,000 households) as well as promoted on my website and social media.

Billy Jackson named Surf Life Saver of the Year

Brighton Surf Life Saver, Billy Jackson, has been named South Australia's Surf Life Saver of the Year in the statewide awards which recognise those who go above and beyond in keeping our beaches safe. He also received significant recognition at this year's Brighton Surf Club presentation night, receiving the President's Award (for major contributions to the club) and the Most Valuable Member award.

In the past year Billy has performed more than 200 volunteer patrol hours, not only at Brighton, but also at Goolwa where he patrolled and shared his experience at the new club which is just getting off the ground there. Billy volunteered for patrol on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, so other club members could spend time with their families. As a Patrol Captain, he supervised the rescue of three beachgoers who had been caught by surprise on sandbars as a result of rising tides and personally gave first aid treatment to a man who suffered a heart attack.

Billy will now represent South Australia at the upcoming national surf life saving awards, held in Sydney in October.

I know Billy personally as he was one of the trainers who trained me when I did my Bronze Medallion back in 2009. He's a great guy, a community-spirited bloke and a passionate surf life saver. He's also a fellow Scot, which surely makes him an even more worthy recipient! Congratulations Billy!

Billy Jackson speech - 9 September 2015

Feeling the pinch

Cost of living pressures are one of the issues raised with me most frequently and the increasing burden of taxes, levies, fees and charges on household budgets is unsustainable. This year has already seen yet another hike in the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) and with many in our local area ‘asset rich/cash poor’, relief is urgently needed. Below is a quick update on some important cost of living matters.

Emergency Services Levy

Almost 35,000 South Australians have been unable to pay their ESL bill in the last year. This is astounding and a key indicator that South Australians who were already struggling with the highest water and electricity bills in the nation are unable to keep up with the increasing pressure on their budgets caused by taxes, levies and charges increasing significantly faster than any wage growth they may receive.

The Liberal Party will wind back the cost of the Emergency Services Levy to its original levels if we are elected in 2018.

A cap on council rates

I am extremely concerned about the continual rise of council rates, which have far outstripped inflation and CPI increases in the last decade. This has resulted in rate bills becoming a crippling cost of living pressure for many local people.

With this in mind, I have used my position on the state parliament's Economic and Finance Standing Committee to initiate an inquiry into council rate setting, with a particular focus on implementing a cap on rate rises. I look forward to updating the community on the findings from this inquiry.

Cost of Living Concession

The State Labor Government recently back flipped on its decision to remove the pensioner concessions for council rates from 1 July 2015 due to the overwhelming response from the community and pressure from the Liberal Party.

The result is a ‘cost of living concession’ which is instead of the seniors concession previously received on council rates. If you have any questions regarding this concession, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Fair Trade office

My electorate office has now become formally fair trade accredited, ensuring that we do our bit to support decent, dignified work practices and sustainable economic development in developing countries.

To find out more about my fair trade office, visit www.davidspeirs.com.au/fairtrade.

St Teresa’s Primary School Fete

When: Sunday 25 October, 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Where: St Teresa’s School, 28 Strathmore Terrace Brighton

Gourmet food and wine, BBQ, jumping castle, kid’s games area, secondhand goods for sale, silent auctions and more!

St Jude’s Fete

Where: St Jude’s Church Brighton, 444 Brighton Road, Brighton
When: Saturday 7 November, 9.00 am – 2.00 pm

Food, sweets and preserves, clothing, bags & shoes, books, plants, crafts, treasures, jewellery, toys and more at very reasonable prices. There will also be henna tattooing and face painting.

Christmas in the Park

Where: Dover Square, Broadway, South Brighton
When: Friday 27 November, 6.00 pm – 8.45 pm

Enjoy festivities including live music, Father Christmas, food and drink.