NEWSLETTER SUMMARY
The discussions in this week's Burnside Council meeting highlighted how integral councils are in implementing state and federal goals as we received and debated our Annual Environmental Sustainability Scorecard. We have done extremely well in the last couple of years at reducing our Carbon footprint. There has been a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions in the last 12 months. This represents another strong step towards the Burnside Council's commitment to be Carbon neutral by 2030.
So read on and check out what we discussed in this week's Council meeting.
COMMUNITY MATTERS
But first some community news:
Glenside Lions Art Show
The Glenside Lions Club Art Show opens tonight on the 27th of October at 7pm. This is a wonderful event that the Glenside Lion Club has worked hard to put on so I encourage everyone to come along and have a look at the beautiful pieces of art. The show is open until 5pm on the 2nd of November. Visit for more information: Glenside Lions Club Art Show
City of Burnside Photography Competition
Returning on the 13th of November 2021 is the Burnside City Photography Competition. This year the competition is exclusively on Instagram. It is very simple to enter. You must:
Post an entry on Instagram; and
Tag @cityofburnside and use the hashtag #burnsidephotocomp.
There will be three winners and if you are one of them you will receive a double pass to George Bolton Swimming Centre or to the Regal Theatre. Entries are open from the 13th of November and close on the 10th of December. Go to https://bit.ly/BurnsidePhotoComp for more information. All entries must be photographed inside the City of Burnside.
Community Grant
The Australian War Widows SA Inc are a winner in the 2021/22 Community Grants. They are a not-for-profit organisation that supports war widows in South Australia. This grant will go provide the organisation with a smart TV that will assist in keeping the members connected and organised. Well done, this grant is richly deserved!
Visit www.warwidowssa.org.au for more information.
Super Walk-in Weekend
If you are irritated by having to get an appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccine, then you can walk into several sites without needing to book anything. These sites can be found at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidvaccine.
Citizen of the Year Nominations
Nominations are now open for the Citizen of the Year Awards. There are four different categories, they are:
Citizen of the Year Award;
Young Citizen of Year Award;
Community Event of the Year Award; and
Award for Active Citizenship.
If you wish to nominate a person, an organisation or an event for one of these awards, outline how they have made an outstanding contribution to the local community and why they deserve it. Nominations close at 5pm on the 24th of November. Nominate at https://bit.ly/CitizenoftheYearBurnside.
AGENDA SUMMARY
11.4 Annual Environmental Sustainability Scorecard and Review 2021
Council is committed to being carbon neutral from 2030.
Important environmental issues were discussed when we voted to receive and note the Annual Environmental Sustainability Scorecard and Review and to endorse Green Adelaide’s National Park City initiative by signing the National Park City Charter. We, as a council, are investing into a sustainable future whilst actually reducing the costs to council as we implement our Environmental Sustainability Strategy. The strategy includes:
Deliver habitat planning, development and promotion;
Implement Canopy Action Plan and annual tree planting program;
Deliver waste and contamination reduction initiatives;
Delivering additional solar power generation; and
Supporting the reduction of community carbon emissions.
This Strategy can be seen here:
We have achieved a lot already and continue to make huge savings each year as a result. From a forcast of 2,008 tonnes of CO2 in 2020/2021, the Burnside Council has reduced that by about 25% to 1,581 tonnes of carbon emitted. Ultimately, Burnside Council has reduced its emissions by 36.7% from 2018 to date, saving us millions. This was achieved through:
Upgrading internal lights with LED lighting;
Using more efficient computer hardware;
Installing LED street lights;
Setting up a new Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning unit on the Burnside Civic Centre; and
Improving in the installation of windows in the Town Hall.
I note the Prime Minister’s plan for Australia to be Carbon Neutral by 2050, we as a council will play an important role in achieving that aim. A significant portion of last year's reduction by 15% from the previous year is as a result of sustainable energy generation into the grid.
Our further reductions in CO2 emissions will be achieved through work to be done at the George Bolton Swimming Centre and the Regal Theatre with the replacement of heating systems. Ultimately, between 2021 and 2030 there will be a reduction of 2000 tonnes of CO2-e emissions, an incredible figure. Accompanying these efforts is an active campaign to further strengthen and support our biodiversity with 8,697 plants being planted in 2020 and a 11,798 in 2021.
If Burnside and other council follow suit we may well as a nation be in a position to, as a country, be carbon neutral much sooner than 2050. By following the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Roadmap, the Council can use the data collection from external agencies such as Green Adelaide to make Burnside the most livable area within the 2nd most livable city in the world according the Economist.
Below are a few graphs that I trust will be helpful:
11.3 Heritage Policy Update
The Heritage Policy has been updated incorporating the culture heritage of the Kaurna people. Most notably the text has been added that states, ‘“Kaurna heritage” is the legacy of tangible and intangible belongings transmitted by or acquired from previous generations of the Kaurna People, the traditional owners of the Adelaide Plains. This heritage can include traditions, artifacts, language, places and ancestral remains that are of importance to the Kaurna People.” This change was made trough consultation with the Council’s Leadership Team and Elected members and is part of the positive movement to integrate the legacy of the Kaurna nation into our Council. What do you think about this change?
11.5 Finance End of Month Report – September 2021
The Council voted to receive and note the September 2021 Financial Report and I am glad to say that the Council is on track to achieve the adopted budget with $400 thousand left to spend.
11.6 Minutes – Audit Committee 18 October 2021
Minutes from the Audit Committee were received and noted. This committee’s job is to enquire and make recommendation to the Council on:
“Financial and strategic reporting and sustainability;
Internal controls and risk management;
Internal and external audit;
Policies, systems and procedures;
Other investigations; and
Regional subsidiaries.”
So you can rest assured that our finances are being monitored frequently to ensure the greatest chance for prosperity in our region.
11.7 First Quarter (Q1) 2021/22 Budget Update
Recommendations that the Council approve adjustments to the 2021/22 Adopted Budget to create the First Quarter (Q1) Forecast (full year),” were approved. They were the Operating income be given the net increase to the amount of $264,649, the Operating Expenditure was given the net increase to the amount of $430,540, the Net Operating Surplus was given a net decrease to the amount of $165,891 and the Capital Expenditure was given a net increase to the amount of $1,378,859. These adjustments were made with consultation with executives in the Finance Department, the Executive Team, the Audit Committee and Department Managers. The exact amounts were based on the expenditure variances review as of the 27th of September this year.
11.8 Review of Audit Committee Terms of Reference
The name of the Audit Committee has been changed to the Audit and Risk Committee, the Terms and References have been altered and the Terms of Reference for the Audit and Risk Committee have been adopted. Of note is the alteration of the Terms of References from section 126 (2) which now specifically excludes, “the appointment of the Mayor as an ex-officio member of the committee.” Essentially the Audit Committee will now allow two members to be appointed to committee who are independent to the Council. New blood is always needed in Council committees so this is a good move that will help create diversity of opinion within the Council.
11.2 Co-naming of Kensington Gardens Reserve and Kaurna Naming of New Kensington Gardens Reserve Playspace
Council voted to adopt the co-name ‘Kensington Gardens Reserve / Kensington Wama’ for the previously known Kensington Gardens Reserve and gave the name Kensington Wama Mukangka (roughly meaning, 'place to play'), for a new nature play space. This is a great idea that we came to through consultation with the community and the Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi group, that is dedicated to the revitalization of the Kaurna language.
11.10 Chief Executive Officer Report – September 2021
We received and noted the September 2021 report from the Council CEO and as always it shows what a busy schedule a Council CEO has. The report was dominated by meetings with the ERA Water Board, law firms such as Pyne and Partners, emceeing events such as the City of Burnside Citizenship Ceremony among many others. I advise all readers of the newsletter to check out the report on the Burnside Council Meeting 26 September Agenda if you are interested in what exactly the CEO gets up to.
You can raise any other council issues with me by emailing me at:
Or find out what I have been working on by visiting my website:
That's all from me this week! If you have any queries or just want a chat, I will link all my social media down below. I hope everyone has a lovely week and I look forward to updating you all again very soon.
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