Tuesday, 5 May 2020
Sunday, 3 May 2020
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.
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
Sunday, 1 March 2020
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?
Friday, 15 November 2019
Summer 2019 News We waste water but save some.
Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,
The new State Planning rules will affect us all. Will local councils have any role in shaping our local communities? Or will councils be blamed for the problems that arise.... hot and dry? No trees on private property? High-rise next door overlooking us? Developers following State wide rules or getting special deals from the State Minister? Where is the oversight with checks and balances? Or will developers working with their councils be allowed to develop their local plans subject to Ministerial approval? How will the rules governing an approval be enforced? More expensive red-tape or an owner driven low cost compliance?
Unley Council is proposing our answers to these questions. We have 15% mandatory tree and deep root zone on all new developments. We have a 30 degree envelope ceiling rule around all high rise areas, sunlit and not overbearing. Our full list will be on our agenda early next year.
Wishing you and your families a joy filled Christmas and hopefully with us, a cool green and bright New Year.
Saturday, 31 August 2019
Spring news 10 degrees hotter
Spring news 10 degrees hotter
We need State
Government help. Opie Avenue is 10 degrees cooler 32°C than Park Street 42°C. This story will be told
in my Summer Newsletter when I
know the outcome of our Council's request to trial a planning rule in Unley requiring new developments to have 15% deep root zone and tree canopy cover when the trees are fully grown.
(Heat map data from
Eastern and Northern Adelaide Collaborative Heat Mapping Project; 2018 aerial
imagery)
Please email me on mhewitson@unley.sa.gov.au to receive this newsletter four times only per year.
Monday, 24 June 2019
Michael's Winter News
Dear Friends
and Owners of Unley,
Once
again I thank you for your support and ideas. In this newsletter I am asking
for your thoughts on how new rules for new developments could be enforced to achieve
a cool green and sunlit Unley.
We passed our first budget of the new Council last night and the full details are in the agenda on this link. June Council Agenda full details
The meeting was an excellent meeting with hotly contested debates on issues that really mattered to Councillors.
We passed our first budget of the new Council last night and the full details are in the agenda on this link. June Council Agenda full details
The meeting was an excellent meeting with hotly contested debates on issues that really mattered to Councillors.
Everything
we consulted on has been passed. In the agenda are details of many items
summarised in the newsletter. Rates had to be increased by 0.15% or about $2.00
per rate to cover half of the cost of a $37 rate impost for dumping rubbish into
land fill. I would have liked the State government to have used the money to
generate SA based recycling businesses so we do not rely on Indonesia or others
to do it for us. We need to reduce our landfill and increase our recycling and
make money doing so!
With my best wishes,
Michael
Mayor Michael Hewitson AM
With my best wishes,
Michael
Mayor Michael Hewitson AM
Wednesday, 8 May 2019
Autumn News
Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,
Please find attached Michael’s Autumn News… the good news
- Council voted against an
amendment that allowed rates to be more than 2.1% and more than 1% above
CPI. Rates in budget approved for consultation is a 2.1% increase.
- Surplus 5% used to pay
down debt
- Trees were well
supported with $711,000 budget for year one of the plan.
- King William Road design is all complete and a
contractor appointed.
With my best wishes,
Michael
0439 752 867
Mayor Michael Hewitson AM
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