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Summer seemed to turn into winter without a moment spent in autumn this year! I feel like I’ve been rugged up since April and my morning workouts down by the beach have been ravaged by wind and rain! Still, it’s good for our gardens and farmers, so I shouldn’t complain!

Bad weather threatened to cause trouble for the centenary of Anzac commemorations, but those who turned out for our local dawn services were blessed with a break in the rain and a stillness settled over the crowds who had gathered for this important anniversary. The text of my Anzac morning speech, delivered at Hallett Cove this year, is included in this newsletter. 

We live in a great part of Adelaide, where community is strong and people feel a real sense of belonging. The thousands who turned out for Anzac commemorations powerfully demonstrate this community cohesion. We need to do everything we can to preserve this village atmosphere and, while the physical appearance of our communities may evolve over time, the spirit of our communities must be preserved and nurtured.

In that vein, I have been disappointed by a number of planning processes which have gone against the community’s wishes in recent months; in particular the Hungry Jacks, planned for the corner of Edward Street and Brighton Road, is to go ahead despite being rejected by both the council and the Environment Resources and Development Court, only to be approved by the state government!   

I believe that our planning system can be improved and when a new Planning Act is brought to Parliament later this year, I look forward to working with the government to strike a better balance between the community voice and the need for progress through development. 

As always, if I can be of assistance with any state or local issues, please get in touch.

David.

Update on Cement Hill site

The go-ahead for development on the Cement Hill (Lorenzin) site is edging ever closer. Locals who have followed this saga over many years have a right to be sceptical about a final outcome as it has taken many years to get to this point, but I can assure you that we’re almost there!

Since 2012, a rezoning process has been ongoing on the site. I worked on this when I was the local councillor for this area (the site is awkwardly split between the cities of Marion and Holdfast Bay) and have maintained a close involvement since my election to State Parliament.

The Cement Hill site has huge potential to transform the ‘gateway’ to Marino and Kingston Park. It is likely to have mixed density dwellings, ideal for local people looking to downsize into apartment-style accommodation; a small community shopping centre and open parkland.

I will be pushing for the redevelopment to be a catalyst for improvements to the Scholefield Road/Brighton Road intersection and have been lobbying to ensure the closure of the Clubhouse Road entry into Linwood Quarry and the development of a haul road to take trucks to the south of the quarry onto Majors Road and away from Brighton Road.  

Once the development is approved by the Minister for Planning (this should happen by the end of July), there will be a period of public consultation. I will promote this on my website and via a community mailout when final details are confirmed. For more information, click here.

Save the Repat: the fight continues

Over 60,000 people have signed a petition, expressing their desire to save the Repat Hospital from closure. I am determined to continue this fight and to stop the State Labor Government’s short-sighted decision.

This hospital is viewed with affection by thousands in our community who have first-hand experience of how it has cared for loved ones, supported veterans, got seniors back on their feet, provided palliative care for people in the twilight of their lives, and simply provided a quality healthcare service to those who needed it.

The Liberal Party recently established the Save the Repat Steering Committee and this is another valuable plank in the strategy to prevent the closure of the hospital. This committee brings together veterans, community leaders and medical professionals, and it is my hope that they will be able to exert further pressure on the government and stop this reckless move.

I encourage you to join the fight by downloading a copy of the Save the Repat Petition, getting your neighbours, friends and family to sign it and then forwarding it to my office at Reply Paid 84660, PO Box 121, Brighton, SA, 5048.

Old Brighton Town Hall

The Original Town Hall at Hove is one of South Australia’s oldest remaining sites of governance and has substantial heritage value founded on its connection with Susan Grace Benny, the first female representative to be elected anywhere in Australia.

The Original Town Hall Cooperative Limited has recently submitted an expression of interest to buy the site and these documents highlight the commitment, insight and experience which the bid team bring to this project.

In my role as the state Member of Parliament for Hove, I have seen firsthand the enthusiasm and commitment which the community has expressed in relation to giving the hall a sustainable future. The cooperative which has developed around this bid is strong, resilient and has the capacity to transform the hall into a viable social enterprise, preserving an important heritage site and opening up a unique community development opportunity.

If you would like to join the cooperative and make a pledge towards saving the hall, visit The Original Town Hall's website.

Fix Brighton Road

Why resurface only half?

I am pleased that after significant pressure, the Transport Department finally resurfaced one section of the road. Despite this small improvement, however, there is still much work to be done to ‘fix Brighton Road’ and I will continue to push for immediate improvements such as further resurfacing, as well as long-term strategic improvements including a railway overpass at Hove. I am also in the process of working with Boral and the state government to see a haul road developed to take quarry trucks south towards Majors Road and South Road and away from Brighton Road. This will reduce traffic and will also reduce wear and tear on the road.

Recently I wrote to the Transport Minister to request that his department resurface the northbound section of Brighton Road, from Sturt Road through to Arthur Street, as I was baffled that they didn’t do this when they were resurfacing the southbound section. This is one of the stretches of Brighton Road in the poorest condition and I believe it poses significant safety concerns.

I also raised the poor visual amenity of the median strip, which looks barren and unbefitting for Adelaide’s major coastal thoroughfare.

Bike lane operating hours

Since it was created, the rarely used Brighton Road bike lane has had a significantly adverse impact on many businesses.    

I believe a better approach would be a clearway or bike lane which runs north from 7.00 am to 9.00 am and south from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm and I have written to the Minister for Transport urging him to consider this proposal.

The Minister has agreed to review the operating hours and I am hopeful an improved outcome can be found which balances the various interests of all concerned.

To help me fight for Brighton Road, I want to hear your feedback. What do you think are the priorities for Brighton Road? What are your experiences? Let me know at:

www.fixbrightonroad.com.au

Fair Trade Parliament

I have been passionate about fair trade since working in Uganda in 2007 and this was reinvigorated through my meeting with the World Vision representatives and my January 2015 trip with World Vision to Zimbabwe. This has led me to pursuing fair trade accreditation for my office and for the South Australian Parliament.

By making decisions about the coffee we drink or other items we buy, we, as consumers, can make a big difference to the lives of vulnerable communities. I encourage all local organisations to make the switch to fair trade and, for more information, visit www.fta.org.au.

1,000 doors update

In my last newsletter I announced that I would be undertaking a concerted doorknocking campaign, with the aim being to knock on 1,000 doors by Easter. While I have been out and about knocking on doors at every possible opportunity, I still have a little way to go before I reach 1,000 doors. To be honest, I am surprised by how much longer doorknocking takes compared to when I was a candidate, but it’s a pleasant surprise. I have had many great chats, cups of tea and meaningful conversations about the local issues which are important to our community.

Police news

The Manager of the Crime Prevention Section at the Sturt Police Station has informed me that our local area is currently experiencing an increase in vehicle related crime. This is not cause for alarm as I am informed that most of the offending is opportunistic, with vehicles being targeted when they are parked in the street, left unlocked, between 7.00 pm and 2.00 am.

Theft of number plates has also increased in recent times as has the theft of tools from work vehicles. You are encouraged to be vigilant and to park your car as securely as possible and make sure any valuables are out of sight.

An inquiry into capping council rates

I am very pleased to inform you that the State Parliament’s Economic and Finance Committee has agreed to my proposal to undertake an inquiry into the capping of council rates.  

Council rates are one of the biggest bills South Australian households receive and, with council rate rises consistently above CPI, this bill is placing increasing pressure on household budgets.

The Economic and Finance Committee will now investigate how council rates are set and, in particular, focus on the creation of a rate capping policy, which would restrict annual rate rises imposed on South Australian households. This inquiry is a great win for South Australian households and businesses and I look forward to working with the committee to investigate this important issue.

Pictured: Speaking to Channel 9 about the inquiry into capping council rates

Pensioner concessions on council rates

After nearly 12 months of uncertainty, I am pleased the Labor Government has finally recognised the need for our older residents to continue to be supported financially, with the announcement of a $200 cost of living concession for pensioners, low income earners and self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. It is important to note that this payment is instead of the $190 which was previously automatically deducted from the council rates bill.

The efforts of concerned people in contacting their local members, signing petitions and continuing to demand what is rightly due has made a difference. I and the State Liberals have always believed in the need to support our pensioners, and had secured the support of independent John Darley and the Family First Party to block any removal of pensioner concessions in the Upper House.

I am relieved that these efforts, and the efforts of the community, have forced the government to continue to support our most vulnerable.

Brighton Croquet Club 100 years

For any club to survive for 100 years and still be thriving is an amazing achievement, and the Brighton Croquet Club is one local club which has done just that. I recently had the pleasure of attending birthday celebrations at the club and even having a hit with the mallet myself!

The club has a fantastic international record of achievement, with it recently becoming the most represented club in the International Croquet Hall of Fame. Congratulations to long-term member Creina Dawson for being the most recent member to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Pictured: Getting a croquet lesson from President Anne Woodhouse

Seacliff Youth Centre mural

To help reduce graffiti at the Seacliff Youth Centre and to beautify the area, there is a new, colourful and artistic mural on the west wall overlooking the train line.

Congratulations to artist Ricky Spier for all his hard work on this project. The result is amazing!

Anzac Day 2015

Photograph by Ben Heide Photography

Anzac Day 2015 marked one hundred years since the Gallipoli landings, a pivotal moment in the history of Australia. In recent years there has been a resurgence in people marking Anzac Day, with more and more crowds gathering at dawn services. While this is great to see, we must be cautious that our respects do not drift towards celebration. I wove this into my dawn service speech this year, the text of which is below. Lest we forget. 

Sacrifice: Anzac Day speech

Sacrifice: a word; an act; a complex and fear-filled reality.

The meaning of sacrifice is so simple, yet so hard to truly grasp.

It is to give up one thing to ensure something that is of greater value.

But dig deeper, beyond the stories of war and heroes; and into the eyes of our troops in those faded photographs; into their stories and into the soil beneath the battlefields; dig deeper and that sacrifice becomes almost unfathomable.

War is not good. It is not something to be glorified. We can be proud of our heroes and remember their victories, but we cannot glorify or romanticise their sacrifice.

War is filled with pain and anguish; it is littered with bad decisions; selfishness and greed. It is a tragedy wrought by human hands.

Gallipoli did not last for a single day. It dragged on and on, spluttering through eight cruel months. In the first day, 2,000 died; eight months on more than 8,000 had laid down their lives.

19,000 more were wounded; fit, vibrant men, many left permanently disabled and disfigured: young men trapped forever in old bodies.

Most in the crowd this morning will, like me, never have served in the armed forces. We can only try to understand what that sacrifice is all about. To those who have served, we say a grateful thank you.

For all of us it is difficult to imagine serving in 1915.

How can we understand the bravery; the uncertainty; the sludge; the tyranny of distance; the loneliness; the broken hearts and broken bones; crushed hopes; cold, cold, cold nights.

The fruitlessness of it all.  One step forward, two steps back.

They sailed forth, then jumped; they waded through the surf. A momentary reminder of those sun-drenched beaches left behind, before memories were snuffed out by the reality which lay before them.

They came from these cloistered hills that slide down to the sea. Here they farmed sheep and dug mines; they grew orchards and nurtured vines.

For King and country, whatever that easy cliché meant to this embryonic, peaceful nation. They did their bit with loyalty and fortitude.

Adventure turned to hesitation, to fear, to anguish, to trauma and death.

And so we gather to commemorate.
Not glorify.
To bow our heads.
Not wave flags.
To honour.
Not celebrate.

And above all, we give quiet thanks; for their sacrifice.