Mayor's Message - December - YouTube   

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 In the Mayor's video for December, Michael Hewitson discusses topics from the Council agenda for its final meeting for 2020. The Mayor talks about the benefits of a major development planned in Unley Central, plans for the completion of the Wood-Weller bikeway to make it safer for the community, and also Council's vote to ban artificial grass from street verges and footpaths.

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Mayor's Message - November

Published on 02 December 2020

 Mayor Michael Hewitson talks about highlights from the recent Council meeting in November, including topics such as the recent round of Community Grants, an important plan we are consulting our community about regarding healthy living and which we'd like your feedback on, and a recent decision to join an international alliance which requires our City to formulate approaches to dealing with climate change at a local level.   

 Mayors November message

Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,                     

                             I wish to talk rubbish. In 2006 my very first newsletter was about rubbish. 

               Unley is doing comparatively well with rubbish. Already we have made savings of $55,000 last year. But waste management is more than dollars. It is about our environment and the capacity of planet earth to support human life. Proof readers of the newsletter thought my reference to planet B was a typo. It’s not. The 8.3 Million tons enter our oceans in 2020, a great deal degrading into Nano particles coated with poisons. I googled to find…. “The average person now ingests five grams of plastic each week, the equivalent of a credit card, a new report by WWF has found. Researchers found that people are consuming up to 102,000 tiny pieces of plastic of less than 1mm - 250 grams each year - with nearly 90 per cent coming from water, both bottled and tap.”  Climate change is but one of the challenges we face as individuals, as an Unley Community and as a Global issue. 

 I am proud of our community and the work we are doing in Unley. We are cleaning up Adelaide. 

The Summer News attached describes the next step. 

With my best wishes

Michael

Mayor's Message - October | City of Unley

https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/News-articles/Mayors-Message

Mayor's Message - October. Published on 03 November 2020. In this video, Mayor Michael Hewitson recaps some of the highlights of the Council meeting in late October, including the selection of a new Deputy Mayor, the climate emergency debate and Council's representation of its community in a Representation Review we'd like your feedback on. Tagged as: Announcements.

• Mayor's Message · Mayor's Message August 2020 · Mayor's Video Message July 2020
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Mayor's Message - September

Published on 02 September 2020

Mayor Michael Hewitson AM talks about highlights from the recent Council meeting, including redevelopment of Edmund Avenue cottages, Council's Active Ageing Strategy and a green waste initiative.

Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,             

Jobs were disappearing even before Covid-19 and our grandchildren are now being lumbered with debt. Your Council is acting…. Forming partnerships and building opportunities for both young and old. (Called “mature” in PC speak) See Village Green story. As we distance our local liveability, our parks, our shaded streets and our local community are even more important to get right     

Pride they say comes before a fall. I am proud of this Council. Issues are being dealt with and all voices are respected. 2020 is not easy… from zero overall rate increase yet rising costs…. From a loss of trees with the loss of control of planning rules…. Job creation with start-ups……. I hope you find the Spring 2020 newsletter interesting 

Ruining our footpaths?

You choose the best...!

Village Green Plans

Rates Rise O%,  How?

Angus sells peaches

Unley Life, a waste or?

Everard Park to Glen Osmond nature trail?

National Recognition

Thank you for your support and Ideas.

 With my best wishes,

Budget and Mike Turtur Bikeway

First Video effort - Mike Turtur bikeway and budget 2021

Video link Budget 2021 Mike Turtur Bikeway  Right click on the links and then open to see an amateur Mayor present the latest on Unley Council happenings.  To have your say by May 21st go to Budget 2021 have your say and see the budget.  At least I dressed up for the occasion. Email you comments! mhewitson@unley.sa.gov.au

WINTER 2020 news

Winter 2020 news 

Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,

On Sunday 3rd of May Councils were encouraged to open our playgrounds. Tempted... I had already discussed with our CEO to open them on Monday... 

Ros cycled past the playground next door on Sunday and saw delighted children playing.  The ropes were down and Ros asked, "did you remove the ropes?" I was so glad they were gone, but a Mayor does not take over. Hopefully we can continue to control the virus spread and regain our ability to to open up and enjoy life together. I have downloaded the COVID-19 app to enable us to do so. In SA, we do not have immunity so a new infection spread must be caught fast for us all to be safe.

Please find attached the 2020 Winter news with both the 2021 Budget and the Tree strategy out for consultation. How do we best help those struggling with the COVID-19 lock down and particularly those businesses which have had to shut down? The needs are changing daily. Council is consulting on a budget that may well need to be changed as a result of feedback. We are discussing taking action by amending this year’s budget to provide immediate help. Our Coordinator Business and Economic Development gave me the email links so the information I am sending you will be updated.

Thank you for your support, ideas with open and honest feedback. So much of our strategy is thanks to the contributions you have made and how this is to be applied, I hope will make. 

Keep safe and keep well

With my best wishes,

                                          Michael

 

Autumn 2020 news...

Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,

           Council formally asked for further development of our draft tree strategy. Unless we come up with a strategy to change the net annual 2% loss on private land our strategy will fail. We must achieve 1,326 extra trees on private property each year to stop the loss reported in the newsletter. The Minister for Planning in his letter attached has advised that all new developments will be required to have 15-25% soft soil. This is more than enough soil for all developments in Unley to have over 15% tree canopy. This means that all new developments will be able should they choose to do so be able to grow at least a 15% tree canopy cover.

The only mechanism to provide the financial resources to drive this change is via rates with rebates or charges. What if all NEW developments had to either grow a canopy cover of 15% or fund Council to do it ?  Sydney demands 15% Melbourne and Brisbane demand more.

 Will Council take action to make it actually to happen in Unley?