2023 Summer news
Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,
We
have a new Council. Thank you for returning me as your Mayor. We have four
years to deliver the reality of a future Unley that is liveable.
Please let either Justine or I know if you do not wish to
receive the four times a year emails with the quarterly newsletters attached.
Planning Council
Assessment Panel (CAP) Vote 6/5
On 12th of December Council voted not to have any
Councillor on the Council Assessment Panel. (CAP) Unley Council has no power
over planning matters. The six members who voted not to elect a Councillor to
CAP, did so to underline the reality that Council has no say. Our planning rules
have largely been taken over by the State Government. The Unley CAP is made up
of professionals who have to apply the State Planning Rules. We are trying to
have the State Planning Minister give us the power to have a ‘tree offset fund’
so we can deal with a well-known local tree canopy problem. Our problem is not
shared by so many Councils in outer areas like Playford with large tracks of
open space. Council does however have the right to select the membership of the
CAP. We will be looking for people with an understanding and empathy for our
City. Five members opposed the motion because they believed that CAP would be
improved with a member who understands the political will of the local people.
Please open the link to the Council agenda and Minutes for December to see who
voted each way. Cr Don Palmer moved the motion and Cr Michael Rabbitt seconded
it.
Tree canopy and our future 50°C hot summer days? Vote 9/2
One of my key election commitments was to voice the reality
of life in Unley with a loss of tree canopy. I was extremely relieved at the
strong commitment of the new Council to continue to tackle head on the known
loss of tree canopy in half of the new developments that increase the built
form. Council voted 9/2 in favour of the motion for Unley Council to be able to
have an offset fund.
After everyone else has had the opportunity to speak, I was
able to address the concerns of the two members opposing the motion. I argued that our motion did not let the State
Government off the hook. Whole of SA planning rules do not address the
particular need of the inner City Council with the least amount of open Space
in SA. Should the State Minister give us some power to deal with our local
issue, the State Government is addressing one real problem with the working of
the code… the loss of trees on private property in an inner city suburb. No
amount of public consultation and new ideas can address a problem over which we
have no power to act. Please open the link to the Council agenda and Minutes
for December if you wish to see who voted each way. Cr Jack Gaffey moved the
motion and Cr Don Palmer seconded it.
Wishing you and all those you love a Merry Christmas and a safe
and prosperous 2023.
I hope you enjoy the attached newsletter,
With my thanks and best wishes,
Mayor Michael Hewitson
