The Communicator - October 2014

The Communicator A Brief insight into what is happening in your District

October 2014

Local Government Elections November 2014

Local Government Elections are conducted and administrated by the Electoral Commission SA across the State every four years with the process well underway with nominations having closed at 12 noon on Tuesday 16 September 2014.

For the District Council of Mallala there were changes to the electoral composition of Council following the Elector Representative Review which was finalised in 2013. The new structure now requires a Mayor be elected by the community for a four year term and not elected by the Council on an annual basis, as was previously the case. With a revision of the previous Ward structure Council now has three Wards, Mallala/Dublin, Two Wells and Lewiston. Each Ward will be represented by three Councillors. With only three nominations for the Lewiston Ward the Electoral Commission has declared there will be no election for this ward and the candidates listed below will be elected unopposed.

At the close of nominations the following candidates have been accepted and are listed in the order in which they will appear on the ballot papers.

Mayor Vacancies (1)

Councillor for Two Wells Ward Vacancies (3)

KENNINGTON, Duncan FLAHERTY, Tony

STUBING, Eddie DANIELE, Peppino (Joe) HELEY, Jan LAWRENCE, MeI TENNANT, Michael Howard

Councillor for Mallala/Dublin Ward Vacancies (3) KEEN, Terry HOWARD, Yvonne STRUDWICKE, Marcus JONES, Stephen PARSONS, Dave

Councillor for Lewiston Ward Vacancies (3) PICARD, Anne Elected Unopposed McCOLL, Karen Elected Unopposed SUMMERTON, B J (Tom) Elected Unopposed

The election will be conducted by the Electoral Commission by post with Ballot Papers mailed out in the week commencing Monday 20 October 2014. Completed voting material must be returned to reach the Returning Officer by 5.00pm Friday 7 November 2014. Even though voting is voluntary for Local Government elections the community is encouraged to have their say and cast their vote.

The scrutiny and count of the votes will take place at the Council Chambers Redbanks Road, Mallala from 9.00am on Saturday 8 November 2014.

Library News Starting 11th October!

Did you know that the District Council of Mallala’s Library Service is now a member of the ‘One Card’ Network which connects more than 130 South Australia public libraries.

That means with just one card you can borrow and return items, wherever you go in our State. You can borrow up to 20 items per borrowing cards which includes up to five DVD’s.

Books, audio books and CD’s can be borrowed for four weeks, whilst DVD’s and magazines can be loaned for two weeks.

With your library membership card and pin number you can reserve items from the comfort of your own home.

Please visit the Council website – www.mallala.sa.gov.au, go to the Library Services tab and click on the one card icon to view the library catalogue, which not only provides you access to Mallala’s Library resources but all Public Library’s stock.

Look out for our next author visit in November.

Watch this space Contact the Library staff on library@mallala.sa.gov.au or ring during opening hours at the Two Wells Library on 8520 2100

Toddler Read and Rhyme is held at the Two Wells Old Council Chambers, generally on the first Wednesday of the month from 9.30 am – 10.30am.

Community Transport Do you know someone who makes your community a better place?

The Citizen of the Year Awards are contribution has on the local proudly presented by the Australia government area.

Day Council of South Australia, sponsored by San Remo, and Community Event of the Year administered by the District Council Award: of Mallala.

This is presented to the The Awards reward and recognise person/group who has staged the most outstanding community event individuals and organisations that during the past year. have made a noteworthy contribution during the current year, and/or give an outstanding service Community Project of the over a number of years, to a local Year Award: community over and above normal This is presented to the employment duties. person/group who has undertaken a Outstanding contribution and significant project during the past community service includes areas year that has benefited the such as; education, health, community. fundraising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, Community Group of the arts, the environment, or any other Year Award: area that contributes to the This is presented to the group who advancement and well being of a have made a significant or beneficial community. contribution to the community during the past year.

Categories:

Citizen of the Year Award: To be eligible, the person must be an Australian Citizen. Selection criteria include the contribution to the community, scope of impact the individuals contribution has on the local government area.

Young Citizen of the Year Award: To be eligible, the person must be an Australian Citizen under 30 years of age on January 26, 2014.

Selection criteria include the contribution to the community, scope of impact the individuals

Nominations.

Nominate someone who makes a real difference in your community and give them the opportunity to be rewarded and recognised for their important contribution.

Nominations are open from the 1st of October until Friday 21st November.

Go to the website www.mallala.sa.gov.au and download or print a nomination form.

www.mallala.sa.gov.au

The Mid North Community Passenger Network (MNCPN) provides transport options for residents who may not own or drive a vehicle; may be frail, elderly, isolated or have a disability; have a medical appointment and have been advised they cannot drive home; friends or family who usually assist are unavailable or may be temporarily without transport for other reasons.

This fee for service option provides flexibility and is available for appointments Monday to Friday. Eligible residents may be taken to medical, health and shopping and social activities (conditions apply).

A community car is based at the Mallala Community Hospital, enabling easy access for residents. Volunteer drivers will collect passengers from their home and take them directly to and from appointments.

Veteran Affairs Gold cardholders may be entitled to service fee reimbursement. Out patients of the Flinders Medical Centre, Royal Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth or Modbury Hospitals may also provide reimbursement for all or part of travel costs.

In addition to its community cars, the MNCPN provides a Medical Bus Service. The bus is available Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays for appointments between 10am and 2pm.

There is provision for a carer to travel with you, and the bus is fitted with a wheel chair lift to enable access to all residents.

Bookings for both the bus and community car are essential.

The service is always on the lookout for volunteer drivers, so if you have some time to spare and would like to help your community please feel free to contact the transport coordinator.

For further information and bookings please contact Mid North Community Passenger Network on 8842 1677.

Fire Prevention Calomba Daisy – Courtesy from Gawler Natural Resource Centre Calomba daisy (Oncosiphon suffruticosum) is an annual, aromatic, unpalatable pest plant that competes with valuable pastures for water, light and nutrients.

If eaten by stock, Calomba daisy will also taint meat and milk products. And dense stands can also reduce the yield of cereal crops.

In common with a number of declared weeds, it originates from South Africa and is thought to have arrived in contaminated fodder in the 1920s.

What does it look like?

Many people who live in the Mallala area will be familiar with Calomba daisy and are aware that it continues to spread across valuable farming land and along roadsides. This is despite the considerable and continued control efforts from the District Council of Mallala and Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges. Calomba daisy is an erect, strongly chamomilescented annual herb growing to 60cm high. Its leaves are greygreen with a feather-like appearance.

The plant has a leafy flowering stem with minute, mustard yellow flowers in ball-shaped heads at the top. Each flower forms a seed about 2mm long, resembling fine chaff.

Calomba daisy seed germinates in autumn. The seedlings are tiny and need gaps in pasture or bare ground to establish.

Flowers appear in October and November and plants die in early summer leaving dry woody stems carrying the seeds.

Spread occurs when the whole flower head is broken off and moved by wind, animals or vehicles. Seeds may also be carried in fodder and produce.

How can it be controlled?

As with most weeds, prevention is the first step and this involves ensuring purchases of seed, fodder and livestock are seed-free.

Hand pulling is effective for the removal of small infestations. In pastures, spraying actively growing plants is also effective.

Chemical treatments are also available for cereal crop application.

Want more information?

The District Council of Mallala and Natural Resources: AMLR are concerned with the ongoing spread of this pest and also of the community concern that it is causing. We are asking that all landholders in the area be vigilant in identifying and controlling any plants that appear on their properties. A Control program is being carried out along roadsides but there is a limit to how far these resources can spread. Where the plant is identified on properties letters are being sent to owners seeking their cooperation in control to help reduce the spread of this pest plant.

If you would like information or advice on identifying and controlling Calomba daisy or other pest plants, contact the Gawler Natural Resources Centre on 8523 7700.

Fire Danger Season: Starts 15th November 2014 till 30th April 2015 ( unless changed by Government declaration).

Permit Broad Acre Burning: Starts 1st March 2015 till 30th April 2015 Property Inspections: From early October 2014 ongoing throughout the Fire Danger Season.

“Pursuant to the Fire & Emergency Services Act 2005,” the owner of private land in the country must take reasonable steps to protect property on the land from fire and to prevent or inhibit the outbreak of fire on the land, or the spread of fire through the land.

Council will be inspecting properties within the Council area from early October onwards to assess compliance with CFS requirements.

Property owners issued with a Bushfire Hazard Reduction Compliance Notice are required to comply with the requirements of that notice within the required time indicated; or Council may organise a contractor to perform the work required at the owners expense and may take further legal action against them.

PLEASE NOTE, Council is able to issue an Expiation Notice for the offence of not complying with the requirements of Bushfire Hazard Reduction Compliance Notice. Expiation Notice fee for non compliance $315.

CFS suggested Requirements: 1. Vacant town blocks are required to have all dry flammable material to be reduced to a maximum height of 10cm by means of slashing or mowing or removing and maintain throughout the Fire Danger Season.

2. House blocks are required to all dry flammable grass material to be reduced to a maximum height of 10cm by means of slashing or mowing or removing and maintain throughout the Fire Danger Season.

3. Larger blocks (more than 1 Hectare) in some situations (not in a built up area), will require having a firebreak, slashed or mowed to maximum height of 10cm to a minimum width of 5 metres around property boundary, and with a minimum width of 20 metres around any building or asset on the property. This must also be maintained throughout the Fire Danger Season.

4. All flammable material must be stored in a safe manner.

Please have an ongoing maintenance program to keep your property fire safe. Council thanks property owners and occupiers for the attention they put towards fire safety. Who knows, it may your own home you save.

If further information is required, please do not hesitate to contact the Fire Prevention Officer.

Peter Buttery – Fire Prevention Officer 8527 0200

Roaming Dogs & Secure Fences Council would like to remind all residents with the approaching Festive Season and Fire Danger Season – timely reminders: Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations 2001 Section 9(1) states that A person must not personally use a firework (Other the general use fireworks( toy cap guns, starting pistols, party poppers etc)) unless they hold a Pyro technician’s licence or acting under direct supervision of a person who holds that licence.

Max Penalty $5000 Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations 2001 Section 6 A person must no sell or supply or have fireworks in his or her possession or custody.

Max Penalty $5000 Fire & Emergency Services Act 2005.

Fireworks during the Fire Danger Season (15 November till 30 April) require a fire permit.

For a first offence—$5 000 or imprisonment for 1 year; for a second or subsequent offence—$10 000 or imprisonment for 2 years

Below is a couple of links on caring for your pets during Firework displays. http://kb.rspca.org.au/How-should-I-care-for-my-pets-during-fireworks-displays_82.html http://www.wikihow.com/Look-After-Pets-During-Fireworks

Capital Works Program Kerbside recyclables Bin Auditing October 20 2014 Council has been in the planning stages of carrying out kerbside recyclables and organics bin auditing.

October 20 has been chosen as the date to begin the auditing.

2014 - 2015

Construction • Elizabeth Street, Mallala - Not Started • Petticoat Lane, Two Wells - In Progress • Mallala Road Roundabout - Not Started

Residents bins will be tagged to indicate the bin has been audited and of the results of the audit.

The auditing process will be carried out over 4 recyclable and organic collections.

• Hill Road, Mallala - Design Stage • Gameau Road, Two Wells Spoon Drain - Not started • Relocation of Marshman Street, Mallala - In Progress

Depending on the results of the audit the program, further auditing may be expanded across a broader section of the Councils region.

• Seal Rehabilitation, Mallala Planning - In progress

Please feel free to contact Council 08 85827 0200 if you have any queries regarding the audit process.

A key objective of the Infrastructure Asset Management Plans is to maintain or preserve Council’s assets at desired service levels that meet Community expectation

Resheeting • Old Dublin Road - Turner Road to Frost Road - Complete • Marshman Road, Davies to Barabba - Complete • Barabba Road (Wasleys Road to Collins Road) - In progress • Day Road (Gregor Road to Humphrey Road) - Not Started • Gordon Road (Porter Road to Church Road) - Not Started • Windsor Road (Avon Road to Long Plains Road) - Not Started • Old Dublin Road (Long Plains Rd to Port Wakefield Rd) - Not Started • Franks Road (Hallion Road to Council Boundary) - In Progress • Jenkin Road, Korunye (Pratt Road to Williams Road) - Not Started • Clonan Road (Angove Road to Apron Seal) - Not Started • Conrad Road (Verner Road to Paddys Bridge Road) - Not Started • Hill Road (Dublin Road to Old Dublin Road) - Not Started • Pederick Road (Gawler Road to Sharpe Road) - Not Started

Other projects For more information contact the Council: Tel. 08 8527 0200 Email. info@mallala.sa.gov.au

• Mallala CWMS - In Progress • Barker Road Ford - In Progress • Thompson Beach Fire Protection infrastructure upgrade - Near Completion

www.mallala.sa.gov.au