My Say Alexandrina

Councils to Seek Funding Opportunity

On Monday 8 April both Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor agreed to proceed with a Regional Development Australia Fund Round 4 funding application for the Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre.

Peter Dinning, Chief Executive of Alexandrina Council commented that “this is a significant milestone for the Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre project. It is the furthest this project has ever progressed in the decades the community has been trying to secure a regional pool.”

Graeme Maxwell, City Manager of City of Victor Harbor said, “rhe councils received close to 2,000 survey responses from the community. The councils would like to thank those who responded to the survey. Your feedback was invaluable during the decision-making process.”

Of the total responses, 72% supported the Aquatic Centre concept plan and 59% would be prepared to incur an increase in rates.

In an independent assessment of the project by BRM Holdich said that ‘the Aquatic Centre project should not materially affect either councils’  ability to remain within the financial parameters they have established within the respective Long Term Financial Plans’.

The City of Victor Harbor, on behalf of both councils, will lodge an application to the RDAF fund on Thursday 11 April. The councils will find out if the application is successful in July.

City of Victor Harbor Councillor David Hall from City of Victor Harbor noted, “this funding round may be our best opportunity for twenty years to secure federal funding.” 

The councils will also apply for $500,000 of state funding for the project from the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program (CRSFP).

The Working Party and councils will continue to explore other possible funding options.

Alexandrina Councillor Alan Oliver said, “It is fantastic to see after many years of work that this project is now ‘shovel ready’.”

Find out more about the Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre here.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 (7) of the Local Government Act 1999, Alexandrina Council is to carry out a review to determine whether alterations are required in respect to elector representation, including ward boundaries and the composition of Council.

Council currently has 12 members including a Mayor elected at large with 11 councillors elected from 5 wards.  The representation review will explore whether Council should retain this structure, or consider alternative options for its representation.

Representation Options Paper

A Representation Options Paper detailing information regarding the review is available from the offices of Alexandrina Council in Goolwa and Strathalbyn, Alexandrina Council’s website and from the Alexandrina Council libraries, or by contacting the Governance Administration Officer, Christine Hamlyn,  on (08) 8555 7000.

Written Submissions

Written submissions are invited from interested persons from 1 March 2013 and should be directed to Chief Executive, Peter Dinning, Alexandrina Council, PO Box 21, Goolwa 5214, or via email to alex@alexandrina.sa.gov.au, or faxed to 8555 3603, to be received by close of business on Friday 12April 2013.

On Friday, 26 October 2012, the Prime Minister, Minister Tony Burke and Premier Weatherill visited the Historic Goolwa Wharf Precinct to make an announcement about Australian Government policy supporting a healthy Murray-Darling Basin.

On arrival, they greeted school children from the Eastern Fleurieu School Milang Campus and Goolwa Primary School, dairy farmer Clem Mason and Councillors Frank Tuckwell and Alan Oliver, who attended on behalf of Mayor Kym McHugh.

After viewing the Lower Lakes from the historic wharf, Prime Minister Gillard announced the government’s intention to ‘provide $1.77 billion over ten years from 2014 to relax key operating constraints and allow an additional 450GL of environmental water to be obtained through projects to ensure there is no social and economic downside for communities.’

Prime Minister Gillard said she was delighted to be in Goolwa beside the River Murray. ‘Growing up in this great State, you know what the River Murray means to South Australians.’

Minister Burke noted that the measures would support the River Murray to approach the next drought with a level of resilience it has never had.

Premier Weatherill commented that it was a ‘great day for South Australia’ and paid tribute to all South Australians for supporting a united approach on this issue.

The Gillard Government continues to work on the final elements of the Basin Plan, which along with legislation to support this fund, will be introduced to the Australian Parliament before the end of the year.

The media release about the announcement can be seen here: http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/returning-murray-darling-basin-health

ABC video of the announcement can be seen here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-26/gillard-to-announce-murray-darling-plan-changes/4334670 (8 mins 49 seconds)

Photo caption:

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Premier Jay Weatherill and Minister Tony Burke at the Historic Goolwa Wharf to announce measures in support of returning the Murray-Darling Basin to health, Friday 26 October 2012.