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Welcome to the latest edition of inBright, your local community newsletter providing a roundup of what’s happening in and around the electorate of Bright. 

In the few months since my last update, I’ve been out and about, connecting with our community and meeting with many local groups and residents.

I’m pressing on with my campaign to Fix Brighton Road and I’ve been encouraged by the large number of comments and suggestions which have come into my dedicated website at www.fixbrightonroad.com.au. Getting progress on Brighton Road will be a long process, but we’re starting to gain momentum on this.

Locally, we have local government elections coming up in October/November and it’s good to see a diverse range of local people putting their hands up to represent us. Local councils provide an incredible amount of services and I encourage you to research your candidates and take the time to vote for the people who will be responsible for managing Holdfast Bay’s $76 million budget and Marion Council's $65 million budget! I look forward to working closely with Holdfast Bay and Marion councillors when they take office.

As always, if I can be of any assistance with local or state issues, give my office a call, that’s what we’re here for.  

David

Fix Brighton Road – road surface

From the discussion on www.fixbrightonroad.com.au, other community engagement measures and my own observation, time and time again, it is emphasised that one of the most pressing problems facing Brighton Road is the condition of the road surface. At many points the surface is broken and in need of urgent repair and/or resurfacing.

In July I wrote to the Transport Minister raising the issue of the deteriorating road surface and I provided examples of a very poor surface at the following points:

• southbound lane, South of Seacombe Road/Brighton Road intersection, Seacliff

• northbound lane, adjacent Brighton Central Shopping Centre, Brighton

• northbound lane, outside Brighton Secondary School, North Brighton.

I urged the Transport Department to take immediate steps to improve the condition of this major arterial thoroughfare.

I recently heard back from the Minister advising me of funds that were spent resurfacing sections of Brighton Road in the 2008/09 financial year (6 years ago) as well as informing me that the Department of Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) had inspected Brighton Road and that, while they found some areas where the road surface was such that it would affect ride quality, they didn't believe these defects caused a road hazard for motorists.

I completely disagree with this position and will continue to fight for more funding.

Slightly more encouraging is DPTI's reassurance that the sections of Brighton Road above (among others) are now included in their pavement resurfacing program and that they will be considered for funding against other state-wide projects.

I am obviously disappointed by this response and will continue to make representations to the government regarding the poor road surface condition. I encourage you to keep me informed of issues you encounter so I can effectively lobby the government on your behalf to prioritise Brighton Road.

Fix Brighton Road – bicycle lane update

Many residents approached me concerned about the government’s intention to install bike lanes along Brighton Road, not least because of the impact it would have on local businesses that rely on passing trade pulling over. 

At a meeting with the Transport Minister in May, I put forward a compromise position where the bike lane would be installed, but operating hours would be limited to peak traffic times and their interaction with business trading hours would be limited.

My proposal was to see the bike lane operate between 7.00 am and 9.00 am (as opposed to 7.00 am until 10.00 am) and again from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm (instead of 3.00 pm – 7.00 pm). This reduces hours of operation by two hours per day and limits the impact on business. 

I finally have an update from the Minister for Transport regarding this proposal and I am pleased to say that the minister has agreed to this compromise and the reduced operating hours will come into effect when the bike lane is installed later this year. 

While I have never been supportive of the idea of a bike lane being installed on a busy arterial road like Brighton Road (which has an average of 45,000 traffic movements per day), I was not going to be able to be able to persuade the minister and department to shelf the idea altogether, so I see this compromise as a significant win.

What you're saying

I remain committed to making representations to the government regarding Brighton Road and encourage you to visit www.fixbrightonroad.com.au to share your thoughts, experiences and feedback. We’ll work together to Fix Brighton Road.

Graham

"Having rail crossings over a major arterial road is archaic in a city… The other bottleneck on my drives are the intersections with Diagonal Road, Jetty Road, Glenelg and Anzac Highway. I also totally agree the surface of Brighton road is poor. I also do not agree with bike lanes at any time on Brighton Road as it is too narrow and too busy to add bikes also."

Michael

"I drive on Brighton Road, North and South, frequently. The road condition between Somerton and Glenelg is appalling. It may not cause accidents but it is surely damaging our cars. There seem to be ‘road works’ going on often but no work being done on the roads! Work is being done on curbing and pathways."

Alan

"An overpass at Hove crossing is a long way off, but must be persevered with. In the meantime, better synchronisation of crossing closing with nearby traffic lights, such as Sturt Road and Jetty Road."

Tom

"Of course bike lanes are not going to improve anything. While I’m not anti-bikes, I much prefer the back streets than placing myself at risk on Brighton Road."

Lisa

"The situation at this crossing [Hove crossing] is beyond crisis point. I live a stone’s throw from it, and the hazard it causes in local congestion alone is unacceptable."

Richard

"Brighton Rd is a disgrace, there isn’t a 100 metre stretch that isn’t pot holed or disintegrating."

Tackling graffiti

There is no doubt that the area from South Brighton through to Hove is suffering particularly badly with graffiti at the moment and it continues to be a problem of great concern throughout our wider community.

I am working alongside Holdfast Bay Council, the police and neighbourhood watch groups to try to get graffiti under control and come up with new strategies to address this issue. 

Below are details of where and to whom to report graffiti vandalism depending on where it has occurred. Reporting to the appropriate person should assist with timely removal and will assist the police and the council in addressing this issue.

Graffiti on private property

If you have become a victim of graffiti, please report the incident to the Sturt Police Station on 8207 4700. To report an offence in progress, please call police on 131 444.

The City of Holdfast Bay is unable to remove graffiti from private property, but they will supply free graffiti removal products to residents and businesses within the council area to assist residents in keeping their property graffiti-free.

Free graffiti removal products

Available for collection from:

Brighton Civic Centre: 24 Jetty Road, Brighton
Opening Hours: Weekdays, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Council Works Depot: 16-20 Seaforth Avenue, Somerton Park
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7:00 am – 4:00 pm and Friday, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm

Graffiti on council property

Please report graffiti on council property to:

Customer Service Centre

Phone: 8299 9999
In Person: Brighton Civic Centre, 24 Jetty Road, Brighton
Online: http://bit.ly/reportgraffitinow

Reporting graffiti on utilities property

SA Power Network                                131 261
Telstra                                                   180 2244
TransAdelaide (Train, Tram & Bus)      1300 311 108
Adshel (Bus Shelters)                           8364 6000 or 1800 501 402
Major Roads - Transport Services        1800 018 313
United Water                                         1300 883 121
Australia Post                                        13 1318
SA Housing Trust (SA Housing)            13 1288

Exploring the future of the Brighton Town Hall

Seaford line update

As a regular train commuter, I have been taking our new electric trains from home to Adelaide on days when Parliament is sitting. The trains are spacious, modern and enjoyable to travel in. 

I’m a big believer in public transport and want to see more investment in Adelaide’s fragmented public transport network. The electrification is a great first step to modernising the system and encouraging more people off our congested roads and onto trains, but this is only half the answer.

We have the new trains, but now we need to turn our attention to user experience: planning for the people. Our public transport needs to make people want to use public transport, minimising the excuses people will have to jump in their cars. Put simply, it needs to be equally (or more) convenient and similarly pleasant to driving. Some areas I think we need to look at include:   

  • train stations, are they pleasant and safe places to visit and spend time in? Do they achieve their primary purpose of providing shelter?
  • the role of modern technology in public transport. Are we able to create an environment where the train or bus becomes an extension of the office? I’m pleased to see Adelaide Metro trialling Wi-Fi in some trains and buses, but this has a long way to go before it’s truly reliable.
  • seamless connections between buses and trains, to improve the reach and convenience of services deeper into the suburbs.
  • reliability remains a big reason why people will or will not take public transport. Regular commuters on the Seaford Line will know that trains are frequently late and this is undermining our faith in the service. 
  • comfort, peak hour trains are packed with standing room only by the time trains get to Seacliff or Brighton in the morning. I have been assured that this will improve once all electric trains are running, but in the meantime it’s off-putting to many potential travellers.

I’ll continue to lobby the Transport Minister for the best possible train service and if you have any suggestions for our local train or bus network, please get in touch with me.

Dementia friendly Bright

In August I hosted a free seniors forum in partnership with Alzheimer’s Australia. It was attended by over 100 guests who gave great feedback on how informative, interesting and interactive the event was.

Guests were able to give feedback on how to make Bright more dementia friendly and I will be working alongside state and local government, community groups and the public to achieve dementia friendly status in Bright.

Free seniors forum: Advanced Care Directives

Building on the success of our last seniors forum in August, I will be hosting a free seniors forum on Advanced Care Directives in November.

An Advanced Care Directive is a legal form that allows people to write down their wishes, preferences and instructions for future health care, end of life, living arrangements and personal matters and/or appoint one or more substitute decision-makers to make these decisions on their behalf when they are unable to do so themselves. These directives are a great initiative and ensure that your wishes are respected when you are at a vulnerable life stage.

Where: Lighthouse Community Church, Jetty Road, Brighton
Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm on Tuesday 25 November 2014 (afternoon tea provided)

Expert guest: Margaret Brown from the University of South Australia will be our guest speaker and will explain more about Advanced Care Directives. She will answer your questions and talk you through filling out a directive.

RSVP: Ruth van den Brink on (08) 8296 9833 or at ruth.vandenbrink@parliament.sa.gov.au

South Brighton Neighbourhood Watch: where residents become neighbours

With the support of the local community, South Brighton Neighbourhood Watch continues to expand and offer a significant contribution to the safety of the local area. 

Crime is a community responsibility and the community needs to work collectively with police in preventing crime. The community’s intricate knowledge of their particular area is vital to the police in not only detecting crime, but preventing it.

Area Coordinator John Wallace who was previously a policeman for 40 years commented that Neighbourhood Watch is, “the most valued police community collaboration that has been undertaken and needs to be expanded in all areas.”

It is important to note that Neighbourhood Watch is not only a crime prevention initiative, but it genuinely cares for, looks out for and protects the welfare of the community, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.

For more information or to join the South Brighton Neighbourhood Watch, contact Area Coordinator John Wallace on 8298 7320. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings which are held on the second Wednesday of each month at St. Joseph’s Church, Strathmore Terrace, Brighton.

Local information at your fingertips

Smartphone users – have you heard of the My Local Services App? This app delivers local council information on things like waste collection, events, your councillors and facilities. It also allows you to report maintenance issues and receive council news. 

I use the app for bringing maintenance issues to the council’s attention. When I’m out and about doorknocking and making visits around the electorate, I often come across uneven pavements, damaged drain covers, graffiti vandalism, and a range of other things that need to be brought to the local council’s attention. So using My Local Services, I take a photograph on my iPhone and simply load it up as a report, which is automatically GPS-located and forwarded to either Marion or Holdfast Bay Council (whichever I’m in).

Available on Android and iOS (iPhones).

Garage Sale Trail – Saturday 25 October

Garage Sale Trail is a day that will see thousands of garage sales occur across the country at the same time. It is for households, streets, neighbourhoods, community groups, schools, charities, makers and creators. Absolutely everyone can get involved!

Garage Sale Trail is about sustainability, community, fundraising and having a whole heap of fun. It's free for community members to register and anyone can register a sale. This event encourages people to be waste-wise, but it's also about connecting people in the community.

Anyone can see what sales are happening or register their sale on www.garagesaletrail.com.au. If you are hosting a sale, whether individually or corporately, make sure you check out the fantastic ‘how to guides’ at www.garagesaletrail.com.au/how-to-guides.

Holdfast College for Seniors

The Holdfast College for Seniors is an award winning (COTA – Every Generation Awards 2011) community group which has been operating for twenty-seven years and enables seniors to enjoy classes on a variety of topics for an affordable price. Topics include computer skills, water colour painting, chess and even French!

The college year consists of four terms of seven weeks duration and classes are held at St Andrews by the Sea Church, Jetty Road, Glenelg on Wednesday and Friday mornings, with shared morning tea time.

Cost:
For most classes there are no tuition fees. There is a Registration Fee of $20 per term which entitles you to attend all general classes on Wednesdays and Fridays. Computing students are charged an additional $25 per term for computer maintenance and internet access, but that one fee allows you to join any number of the computing classes, assuming there are enough available spaces.

Dates:
Term Four: October 15 – November 28 2014
Registration Day/Enrolment Day: Friday October 10, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at St Andrews by the Sea Church, Jetty Rd, Glenelg.

Contact:
If you would like to be mailed a brochure, enrol or have any questions about the College, phone Jenny on 8295 1773, Suzanne on 8295 1771, or Gaye on 0402 824 427, and a brochure will be mailed to you or your enquiries answered.

If you miss the enrolment date for Term 4, but would like to join the College for term 1 2015, contact Gaye on 0402 824 427.

Kidney health

Recently I met with an ambassador from Kidney Health Australia whose wife is one of the many Australians affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and it prompted me to use this forum to encourage people to regularly check up on all aspects of their health.

Adult Australians are at increased risk of CKD if they have high blood pressure, diabetes, smoke, are obese, have a family history of kidney failure, are over 60 years of age, are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, and/or have established cardiovascular disease. If you have one or more of these risk factors for kidney disease you should see your doctor about a kidney health check. You can also get a kidney health check through some pharmacies.

There isn’t currently a cure for kidney disease, but early detection is key to slow the progression of this disease.

Local events

Brighton Moon Lantern Festival

Light a lantern and walk to Brighton Jetty, lighting up the night. Funds raised support the construction of a kindergarten in Cambodia, built with the help of Brighton Secondary School.

Cost: Donate $5 to receive a lantern
Where: Wattle Reserve, Wattle Avenue, Hove
When: Wednesday 24 September 2014, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

Can:Do 4Kids 140th Anniversary Community Fair

Join Can:Do 4Kids on the grounds of historic Townsend House for a relaxed afternoon of food, wine and entertainment for the whole family. Entertainment includes live music and tours of historic Townsend House and kids' activities include a jumping castle, animal farm and giant board games. 

Cost: Entry is by gold coin donation
Where: Townsend House, 28 King George Ave, Hove
When: Sunday 28 September 2014, 11.00 am – 5.00 pm

 

High Tea at Kingston House

Enjoy a selection of gourmet savouries, assorted cakes and slices, scones with jam and cream, tea and coffee. Bookings and pre-payment before are essential. For further information and bookings please enquire at the house or contact Coralie on 8358 2445.

Cost: $30.00
Where: Kingston House, Cameron Avenue, Kingston Park
When: Saturday 1 November 2014, 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm