My Objectives

• A major objective in leading Council is to create an environment of respect and co-opperation between Council Administration, Elected Members and the community working together to create opportunity for future infrustructure development  while at the same time respecting the cultural, agricultural and historical heritage and values of the region.
• Strongly encourage a close working relationship between Council the Residents and Ratepayers Association and other key organisations in order to ensure transperancy and understanding of Council's operations and its ability to deliver services within budget and in a timely manner. 
• Communication at all levels between Council administration and the citizens of the region have been raised to a far higher platform. Clear and consise Media Releases will replace ad hoc statements from Council and a high quality quarterly interactive newsletter will be supported.
• Strongly discourage Supplementary Council Agenda items as this practice is considered totally unaceptable by residents and business leaders. Late items do not allow sufficient time or in some cases the opportunity for these items to be adequetly considered.
• Work toward developing a major Waste Management - Transfer Depot within the Council region. For example, a Public and Private Partnership could be created to facilitate this.
• Create an environment that provides the necessary resources to encourage sustainable Industrial, Retail, Tourism and Agricultural development and enterprises within the region.
• Continue to support and develop the local tourism industry as a major focus for future employment and business opportunity.

National Volunteers Week - Mayor's Speech

National Volunteers Week 13^th – 18^th May 2013

Thank You Speech

Volunteers, Mayor Brian Hurn, Ladies and Gentlemen and the young people here this evening, I extend a very warm welcome to you all.

We have been invited here tonight to formally acknowledge the outstanding contribution volunteers make to our communities and residents across our region. Presentations will also be made to a number of those volunteers for their outstanding individual contributions. Being asked to acknowledge and thank our volunteers and make these presentations is a very humbling experience indeed and I feel greatly honoured.

May I begin by sharing a quote that really resonates with me..”Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the numbers of moments that take our breath away”

As we approached National Volunteer Week with the theme “Thanks A Million,” my thoughts turned to the six million volunteers who contribute some 700 hundred million hours of unpaid work across Australia. The economic contribution is estimated to be more than 200 billion dollars outstripping mining, agriculture and the retail sector. The incredible contribution they make to our communities by managing resources, caring for the wellbeing of individuals along with the enhancement of our environmental and social fabric in general is outstanding.

There are so many aspects of volunteering that Council and the wider community constantly rely on and at times, unfortunately take for granted. Emergency Services, Health Services, Community Transport, Meals on Wheels, Landcare etc. The list of services provided is endless and please forgive me if I have missed your organisation or what you do. These services along with the considerable infrastructure built and managed by volunteers, which includes but not restricted to, the Children’s Playground and Toilet, Map the Miner and the Helipad at Kapunda and I am sure there many other examples across the Barossa region highlight this contribution. The list is endless and it would be fair to say that without volunteers our communities as we know them would be a sadder place and more likely unsustainable. Volunteering is a quintessential Australian trait and you are extraordinary people who continue to demonstrate Australia’s proud culture of giving.

As I look around the room I see many familiar and friendly faces. Each face tells a story; so many faces; so many stories. You come from all walks of life. You have many different life experiences and yet you have at least one thing in common, your willingness to give your time to others. I am sure I speak for many in saying I am humbled by your generosity of spirit and your compassion for your fellow human beings. It is all of you who so generously give of your time your skills and passion and your caring. It is all of you, doing what you do, that takes my breath away.

Volunteers build communities, share their joy and laughter and they sometimes shed a tear. They bring a kind word and warm heart and empathy to a person who is unwell, lonely or scared. They are dedicated, compassionate and willing to give their time to others.

What volunteers receive in return is a sense of achievement and satisfaction of being able to help somebody in need. They gain experience in communicating with people. They develop new friendships amongst other volunteers and they grow in confidence. I have seen powerful personal journeys where people have flourished when their confidence has grown through their volunteering. The roles they perform, the people they meet, and time and compassion given through all of this, they have reached great personal growth.

I would like to finish up by reciting a little poem. I am not sure of its origin but I thought the words captured what I attempted to portray in recognising and thanking our volunteers this evening.

Poem:

Dedicated hearts like yours

Are not so easy to find

It takes a special person to be

So generous and kind

To care so much for your fellow man

Is a quality all too rare

Yet you give of your time and talents

For all in need to share

So thank you for being a volunteer

We're privileged to work with you

We want you to know how appreciated you are

Not just today, but the whole year through................ Thanks a million for volunteering and thank you for listening and I look forward to meeting and talking with you during this evening.

{jcomments on}

Advantage SA's 2013 Regional Awards

Nominations and entries for the 2013 Advantage SA Regional Awards are now open.

* Nominations are open until Friday 21st June

* Entries close Friday 5th July

The Regional Awards aim to recognise people, enterprises and initiatives that have made a significant contribution to their region and the State over a twelve month period.

People can self nominate (which is rare) or, we can all assist by nominating those around us who we think is doing something fabulous that they should be recognised for.

Please click here for more information.

{jcomments on}

Mayor's April Activites

2/4 Media Television Interview UK Television Producer Amelia Hunter Kapunda
2/4 Media Interview ABC Radio Annabelle Homer
6/4 Meeting Invitation Wakefield Group Mayors & CEO's to SANFL match -Playford Mayor Dockerty Elizabeth
8/4 Meeting Executive Members Freeling RSL Freeling
8/4 Meeting Kapunda Mine Site Working Group Kapunda
11/4 Meeting Council Consultant John Shane Various Council Projects Kapunda
11/4 Meeting CWA Executive Members Kapunda
16/4 Meeting Advantage SA Executives Rowland Flat
17/4 Local Government Association Showcase & General Meeting West Lakes
18/4 Local Government Association Showcase & General Meeting West Lakes
24/4 Mayor-Committee Chairs-CEO and GM's pre Council Meeting
24/4 Council Meeting

Community comments are invited - Better Development Plan (BDP) Development Plan Amendment (DPA)

Light Regional Council has released the Better Development Plan (BDP) Conversion Development Plan Amendment (DPA) for public exhibition from 11 April 2013 to 7 June 2013.

This DPA reformats the Council's current Development Plan into the 'Better Development Plan' format developed by the State Government and has been developed with the aim of achieving:

State-wide consistency in Development Plan structure and broader consistency in policy content and expression;
Limitation of content to matters that require approval under the Development Act 1993; and
Plans that describe the appropriate forms of development using clearly expressed objectives and principles.
The draft DPA comprises modules selected from the State Government's BDP Policy Library as its basis with 'local additions' used from the existing Council Development Plan to add value and maintain consistency with the current Plan. The BDP version of the Plan does not fundamentally change any existing policy content and improves the document by:

Making it easier for members of the public to navigate the Development Plan
Emphasising use of 'plain English' expression for easy interpretation and understanding: and
Collating policy under specific topic headings (modules) to remove as much of the duplicated content as possible.
The process also adds new features to the Plan, including alphabetical listing of general and zone policy modules and the introduction of new colour mapping collated in one section of the document.

A copy of the DPA can be accessed for review via Council's website - click here

Please forward any comments to the Chief Executive Officer, Light Regional Council, by no later than 5:00pm onFriday, 7 June 2013.

By post: PO Box 72, Kapunda SA 5373

By e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By fax: (08) 8566 3262

A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday 19 June 2013 commencing at 7:30pm at the Kapunda Council Chambers (93 Main Street, Kapunda) to proceed in the event that Council receives submissions from respondents wishing to be heard. Further advice will be provided to respondents wishing to be heard regarding the arrangements for the public hearing in due course.

Appendix A - Module Selection Table(180 kb)

Appendix B - General and Local Additions Tables(3940 kb)
Appendix C - Changes to Contributory and Local Heritage Tables(303 kb)
Appendix D - Development Regulations Citation Checklist(275 kb)
BDP DPA Fact Sheet(333 kb)
Light Regional Council - BDP Conversion DPA - Jan 2013(17922 kb)

{jcomments on}