Issue 390 November 2013 Community Newsletter District Council of Robe, Royal Circus (PO Box 1) Robe SA 5276 Phone l 08 8768 2003 Fax l 08 8768 2432 | Email l [email protected] Website l www.council.robe.sa.gov.au MAYOR’S REPORT & COUNCIL NEWS Preparation for Fire Season Undergrounding Power lines This year’s winter and spring have provided abundant growth Council over the past months has received several requests for Council to and the fuel load is likely to be high. Now is the time to com- consider undertaking an undergrounding of the power lines projects in part- nership with the Power Lines Environment Committee (PLEC). If Council mence preparations for the Fire Season. Flammable growth in- does support an application to PLEC and the application is successful in spections will commence at the start of November, with notices obtaining PLEC funding, Council is responsible for 1/3 rd of the costs of the going out on 8 November 2013. The Bush Fire Season start date project in addition to being required to prepare and implement streetscaping is 22 November 2013. Dates are subject to change dependent plans once the undergrounding project has been completed. Council is on conditions. prepared to support applications for undergrounding the power on streets Robe Tourism Association where all the property owners are supportive of the application and are prepared to contribute to Councils share of the project costs. The voice of Robe’s tourism and business interests held its AGM Retirement Living on 23 September 2013. The general meeting followed this. The The community has again identified through the Robe 2040 consultation, various sub committees presented their reports and there were that retirement living is still a priority for Robe. Council currently own and great contributions offered by those in attendance. The success operate Casuarina Lodge at Hateley Crescent , a property with 7 units of this important organisation for Robe’s business wellbeing de- upon it and a considerable amount of vacant land that abuts the golf course. pends on your business being a member and contributor. Make Council has advertised for expression of interest from retirement living pro- the effort to get along and observe and consider joining up. viders who may be interested in further developing this site and providing additional retirement living services for the town. Council is also seeking Police Remembrance Day interested members of the community in forming a focus group to assist 27 September 2013 was Police Remembrance Day; it was an Council in assessing the registrations of interest received and developing honour and privilege to attend this service in Mount Gambier. It options to enable Council to move this matter forward. is often overlooked that Police Officers are lost in the line of duty Retirement Living focus group serving our society. The District Council of Robe is seeking interested persons in becoming involved in a focus group to assist Council in pursuing opportunities for retirement living within Robe. If you have an interest in this subject and Australia Day Awards believe you have skills that could assist and be of value to Council in; Assessing the needs of the community, 2014 Nominations Assessing options available to Council and, Acting as a conduit between Council and the community please forward, either by letter or email, your details to, The District Council of Robe would like to invite nom- Retirement Living Focus Group inations for the 2014 Australia Day Awards, for per- District Council of Robe PO Box 1, Robe 5276 son(s)/groups who have made outstanding contribu- Or email [email protected] tions to the community. The three categories are as Regional Trails Master Plan follows: Council as part of the South East Local Government Association (SELGA) has been successful in obtaining grant funding to prepare a Regional Trails Citizen of the Year: To be eligible, the person Master Plan. The geography of the South East is ideally suited for the es- must be an Australian Citizen. tablishment of walking, cycling and horse riding trails and the development of a Regional Plan will; Young Citizen of the Year: To be eligible, the per- Assist the South East Councils coordinate their individual trails so that son must be an Australian Citizen under 30 years of patrons can easily move from one region to the next, Assist in sourcing funding to help develop trails age, as at 26 January 2014. Assist in the promotion of recreational tourism. Changes to Council Policies Community Event of the Year: Presented to the Recent changes to legislation relating to the establishment of the Independ- person/group who has staged the most outstanding ent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Office of Public Integrity community event during the year. (OPI) have required Council to amend its policies that set out how Council will manage the following subjects; Nomination forms and guidelines for the awards are Whistle Blower Protection Policy, available from Council Office, Royal Circus or on Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy, and Council’s website www.council.robe.sa.gov.au. Elected Members Code of Conduct – Complaints Handling Procedure. Nominations close 5.00pm Friday 22 November These amended policies were adopted by Council at its October meeting 2013. and copies are available at the Council Office or on the Council website www.council.robe.sa.gov.au INSIDE: Free Hearing Assessment Book launch- The Story of Robe Christmas Parade details COUNCIL NEWS CONT….. Coastal Protection works Redevelopment of the Lake Butler Marina Entrance The recent spate of rough weather which included a north westerly Council has adopted a concept plan which when implemented will rede- swell has caused further damage to the coastal dunes along town velop the entrance to the marina, improving the traffic flow, car parking beach. Officers from Coast Protection have met with officers of Council and give prominence to the Fisherman’s Memorial. Work will commence to plan remedial works along town beach which will protect the dunes, in removing the obstructions within the area and line marking the area and therefore the properties that adjoin the dunes, should we receive delineating the new design for the entrance. This will give users of the future similar weather patterns. This work will commence with the re- area and Council an opportunity to see how the new concept will work pairs to the rock groyne at the eastern end of town beach and a sand and allow for amendments if needed prior to physical infrastructure be- replenishment project which will place sand on Town Beach to protect ing put in place. Council is confident that upon completion this will im- the foreshore dunes and adjacent private property. The sand will be prove the amenity of this icon of the town, raise the profile of the Fisher- removed from Karatta Beach, trucked through the town and deposited man’s Memorial and improve the movement of traffic in the area. on Town beach adjacent the public toilets at the foreshore. Heavy ma- Business Continuity Plan chinery will then be used to move the sand along the beach to form two As part of the process of managing Council’s risk, Council has adopted small dunes adjacent the existing foreshore dune. This work will com- a Business Continuity Plan which sets out how Council will continue to mence as soon as weather and tides permit and while there will be provide services to the community should the Council suffer a cata- some disruption to the ability of people to access town beach it is strophic event. i.e. Fire. In recent times two Council Administration planned that this disruption will be minimal. Buildings have been destroyed by fire and the implementation of their Coastal walking Trail Business Continuity Plans have resulted in these Councils being able to As previously reported Council has received funding of $100,000 to continue to provide services to their residents the very next day. A copy formalize the coastal trail between the Drain L outlet and McIntyre Re- of Councils Plan is available on Councils website. serve. Council will be undertaking this work in the near future and the 2012-2013 Financial Statements surface treatment will be of a colour similar to the local limestone occur- Copies of Councils Audited 2012-2013 Financial statements are availa- ring in the locality. This will assist in reducing the visual impact of the ble either at the Council office or on Councils website coastal trail. www.council.robe.sa.gov.au Living in a bush setting is a lifestyle choice Partnerships and relationships are and the benefits are enormous, but so are important at every level of the the risks. The new start of a new bushfire CCOWS delivery of service. season is nearly upon us and it is time to start thinking of what we need to do to pre- Providing opportunities for children to share with each other, to pare. While fires are inevitable, they are cooperate, to stand firmly for their rights while “getting along” also survivable and your chances of saving with their peers is a cornerstone of their social development. yourself, your family and your home increase according to your level of Building relationships between children and carers includes planning and preparation. The CFS will not always be available to pro- listening, taking turns to talk, meeting needs (wiping noses, tect each individual property threatened by fire. Preparation of your comforting when sad), sharing funny things, celebrating suc- home and property is an essential key to ensure that you, your property cesses, setting reasonable limits for behaviour. These are all and your family survive.