Listen to the People: 50 years of community activism: 1970-2020

A residents’ association that has not only endured but also thrived for 50 years is an impressive feat. How has the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA) achieved it? This compilation of stories reveals the passion behind ‘building healthy communities’ through commitment and generosity, skills and actions, advocacy and friendship. It’s about ensuring that the people who live in this place – Adelaide’s western suburbs – have a voice. The spirit of this community is unbeatable. May this book inspire you to make connections in your own community and beyond.

Dedication In memory of David Schofield (1948-2018) who was a dedicated community activist and whose friends fill the pages of this book.

Printed in February 2022

by Eureka Printers © Copyright 2022 Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA).

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by copyright law.

Contents Foreword.................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 3 The WACRA History Project method...................................................................................... 3 In the beginning...................................................................................................................... 4 What is community activism? ................................................................................................ 5 Networking ............................................................................................................................. 6 Identifying a concern.............................................................................................................. 7 Preparing a case ..................................................................................................................... 7 Communicating the message to the community ................................................................... 7 Collaboration .......................................................................................................................... 8 Grant applications, negotiation and resolution ..................................................................... 8 Each situation deserves its own strategy ............................................................................... 8 Media is political .................................................................................................................... 9 Organising a protest ............................................................................................................. 10 Social engagement ............................................................................................................... 10 Fundraising ........................................................................................................................... 11 Sustaining WACRA ................................................................................................................ 12 Leadership ............................................................................................................................ 12 Activism in an age of protest................................................................................................ 13 Beginnings................................................................................................................................ 14 Grange Ratepayers’ Association .......................................................................................... 14 Community development .................................................................................................... 17 Building healthy communities.............................................................................................. 20 Coastal living ............................................................................................................................ 22 Save Our Beaches – Listen to the People............................................................................. 22 Save Our Beaches – impact .................................................................................................. 30 Save Our Beaches – another perspective ............................................................................ 32 Save Henley Dunes – coastal ecology .................................................................................. 35 Wara Wayingga-Tennyson Dunes Conservation Reserve .................................................... 36 The Coastal Pathway – unfinished business ........................................................................ 38 Ban shark fishing .................................................................................................................. 41 Jet ski exclusion zone ........................................................................................................... 42

Saving Henley Dunes ............................................................................................................ 46 Environment ............................................................................................................................ 49 Community relationships: WACRA and Friends of Gulf St Vincent ..................................... 49 River Torrens – Breakout Creek (Karrawirra Pari)................................................................ 51 Dredging Outer Harbor ........................................................................................................ 52 Saving Menkens Reserve...................................................................................................... 54 Greening Henley and Grange ............................................................................................... 55 Negotiating green issues in the Charles Sturt Council area ................................................. 56 AdaptWest............................................................................................................................ 56 Earth Hour ............................................................................................................................ 58 Public spaces ............................................................................................................................ 60 Henley Beach Library’s history ............................................................................................. 60 Lobbying to save Henley Beach Library ............................................................................... 62 Driven to save Henley Beach Library.................................................................................... 62 Community Library Action Group (CLAG) ............................................................................ 62 Paid parking meters in Henley Square ................................................................................. 65 Community engagement ......................................................................................................... 67 Establishing a community engagement policy..................................................................... 67 Communities in Action event ............................................................................................... 67 Harnessing community energy to create change ................................................................ 70 Living under a flight path ..................................................................................................... 70 Planning, development and heritage ..................................................................................... 72 Development planning and sustainability in Greater Adelaide ........................................... 72 Major development at Henley Beach .................................................................................. 73 High-rise construction of the Baju/H2O developments....................................................... 75 Community Alliance SA ........................................................................................................ 77 Saving Estcourt House .......................................................................................................... 79 Saving old Grange Primary School ....................................................................................... 80 Campaigns against telecommunications towers.................................................................... 83 Association of Citizens Against Telecommunications Towers (ACATT) ............................... 83 Telstra tower, Henley Beach 2016-17 .................................................................................. 86 The Wake following Telstra tower being built ..................................................................... 89

Public art and community gardens ......................................................................................... 90 Community public art movement ........................................................................................ 90 Festival of the Coast ......................................................................................................... 90 Henley Summer Sundays.................................................................................................. 91 SALA in the west ............................................................................................................... 91 Sea eagle 2006.................................................................................................................. 92 Fishing boxes for SALA 2007 ............................................................................................ 92 Sea Creature Trail 2007 .................................................................................................... 92 Worm farms for SALA 2008.............................................................................................. 93 June and Bernie: pelican sculptures on the River Torrens 2008...................................... 93 Mosaic Stepping Stones 2009 .......................................................................................... 94 Poles Apart 2016-17 ......................................................................................................... 95 Blue Groper sculpture 2013 ............................................................................................. 96 Planned public art projects .............................................................................................. 96 Henley and Grange Arts Society (HAGAS) ............................................................................ 97 Molly's Garden ..................................................................................................................... 97 Henley Community Garden .................................................................................................. 98 Connecting community ......................................................................................................... 102 A president’s perspective ................................................................................................... 102 WACRA’s history in images ................................................................................................ 103 Being part of the community ............................................................................................. 104 Social networks .................................................................................................................. 106 Bonding .............................................................................................................................. 107 Hearty Henley..................................................................................................................... 107 The pool table men ............................................................................................................ 110 Energy Friends: ‘From little things big things grow’ .......................................................... 111 Power to the people........................................................................................................... 112 Working together for the greater good ............................................................................. 115 Power of the community ................................................................................................... 117 Organisations, department names and acronyms ............................................................... 122

Foreword Next time you take a walk at West Beach, Henley Beach or Grange, spare a thought for those who saved you from a treeless view of multi-storey Gold Coast-like glitz and too much asphalt. Spare a thought for those who fought for these beautiful beachside villages, for the natural world, and for decent, inclusive, culturally rich and economically inclusive communities.

So many things that we love and enjoy every day, and often take for granted, have been fought over, defended and clawed back from the jaws of some get-rich-quick deal or a bureaucrat’s plan to save money and keep things tidy. And this effort, and the people making it, is so often lost in the sands of time and unsung – as well as unpaid, demanding and frequently boring. Just ask those who took fi fty years of meeting minutes.

So much of the greenery and waterways that shape our wellbeing, protect creatures, and mitigate the consequences of changes in our climate, has been struggled over, as this book reveals. This struggle has been undertaken by citizens who – before anything else – paid attention.

And, on the shores of West Beach, Henley Beach and Grange, they have done a lot more than that over the last half-century. Beyond the powerful act of paying attention, they have joined together, built organisation and relationships, read innumerable boring reports, listened to the science, excavated plans and road rules, turned up to meetings, made food, painted signs, stuck their necks out in untold media grabs, linked arms to blockade bad decisions, and sometimes been physically roughed up. All to stand up for their place and their people.

Some of the tree planters, undercover planning spies, cooks, minute takers and blockade dwellers we hear of through this book are no longer with us. I hope they are happily housed on a beautiful be ach somewhere, looking down on the trees and green spaces they planted, the seagrasses, the library they saved, the waterways they protected, the shark fishing-less and jet ski-less beaches, and feeling just a little bit pleased. They did not win everything they went after, but they won a lot. Enough to change the world so that all the citizens of our city and state – and beyond – who make their way each year to our western beaches and put their toes in the sand and sea, can e njoy the beauty of this place. It has been protected by a stout band of warriors who have fought, laughed, eaten, and love d each other.

The strong fibres of relationships made through the actions of the residents of our western be ache s are obvious throughout these pages. We see the hard work of struggle, the power of strategy, the importance of extraordinary leadership and courage, as well as the joy of relationships created by acting together.

Margaret Mead famously said: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ She might have been watching a site on western Adelaide’s beaches sometime in the past fifty years to arrive at this conclusion.

We owe these heroes a great debt. And we owe thanks also to those who chronicled this struggle by creating this book with all its stories and images. Without this record, memory fades, lessons are not passed on, local heroes are forgotten. Leadership and courage come in many form s – owl, eagle, pelican, seagull, tern – and it is only by finding ways for all to speak, to be listened to, and to be remembered that we can make good politics that save and build our world. Listen to the people indeed.

Barbara Pocock Emeritus Professor, Business School, University of South Australia

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Acknowledgements We wouldAdelaide like to thank theResidents’ followingAssociation for their contributions (text and/or images): Western Coastal (WACRA) acknowledges the generous assistance of the History Trust of South Australia in the production of John Apostolakis Acknowledgements this publication.

Kate Barrett We would like to thank the following for their contributions (text and/or images): John Behenna John MartyApostolakis Cielens Kate BarrettCranwell Bernadette John Theo Behenna Ellenbroek

Marty Cielens Heather Flanagan Bernadette Cranwell Alan Goldsmith Theo Ellenbroek Fernando Gonçalves Heather Flanagan Deslie Goudie Alan AlisonGoldsmith Harvey

Fernando Gonçalves Ian Kirkegaard Deslie Goudie Don Lewis Alison Harvey Becky Llewellyn Ian Kirkegaard Virginia Paterson Don LewisPsarros Anthony Becky Llewellyn Andrea Rankin

Virginia Paterson Lisa Redman Anthony Psarros David Schofield

Andrea ChrissieRankin Schultz Lisa PeterRedman Schultz David Schofield Richard Smith Chrissie Schultz Paul Sutton

Peter KenzieSchultz van den Nieuwelaar Richard Smith Val Wales (deceased) Paul Lynn Sutton Walsh

Kenzie den Nieuwelaar Bridgetvan Wardlaw (Bannear) Val Wales (deceased) Anne Wheaton

Lynn Walsh Rick Whitehead Bridget Wardlaw (Bannear) Extra thanks go to Andrea Rankin, proofreader and formatter.

Anne Wheaton Rick Whitehead Extra thanks go to Andrea Rankin, proofreader and formatter.

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Introduction This is the story of nearly 50 years of community activism by a residents’ group in the western Adelaide coastal suburbs. Association members, past and present, were interviewed in 2018 and 2019, and their recollections of campaigns and actions make up the stories in this book. If there is an underlying theme, it is about wanting to preserve and enhance the idea that people have a say in how their community changes and develops. It is about asserting the value and legitimacy of a community voice, and how listening to that voice can make for better decisions and build a culture of mutual respect and caring. Sometimes residents’ groups are criticised for being negative, anti-development or just self-interested, but this story shows how one group embraced change and helped shape it to build a community that cares about fairness and quality of life for all.

While there has been a formal community residents’ association in the area since 1975, the name and structure have undergone a few changes over the years. The original Grange Ratepayers’ Association expanded its catchment to become the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association in 1994, which in turn broadened the base further to become the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association in 2006. WACRA, as it has become known, is incorporated under South Australian law as were its predecessors. The geographic areas discussed by those interviewed are predominantly Henley Beach and Grange, Adelaide; however, the coastal suburbs of West Beach, Glenelg, Tennyson, Semaphore and Largs Bay are frequently included.

Elsewhere in Adelaide, residents’ organisations have been, gone and returned when a pressing issue arises, whereas WACRA (and its antecedents) has been constant in the field since the 1970s. How does a community organisation like WACRA survive and continue to grow? What is community activism? Can identifiable steps in community activism be identified?

The WACRA History Project method Dr Tina Koch was the interviewer and project manager. A project oversight committee was set up with WACRA Committee members. Snowball sampling was used where participants were encouraged to recruit other active members of the association. After ethical considerations had been met, over thirty people volunteered to be interviewed. The timeframe was 20 months, starting in September 2018 when the first one-to-one interview took place at Tina’s house. All interviews were recorded and many were transcribed.

Eventually a condensed version of the storyline was returned to each interviewee for validation, editing and changes. It was not unusual for several storyline drafts to be exchanged between interviewer and interviewee before both settled on the story’s final version.

There are 50 or so separate stories in this book, covering events from the 1970s to 2019 when this introduction was written. Topics discussed include the installations of public art along the coastline and the River Torrens wetlands, tree planting and greening the environment, creating a community garden, safeguarding our coast, dune plantings at Tennyson and Henley Beach, protecting public spaces, planning and development (accompanied by campaigns), saving heritage buildings (Old Grange School, Estcourt House),

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saving Henley Beach Library, social justice issues, and community health matters. WACRA’s extended relationships with like-minded community organisations feature prominently, including Friends of Gulf St Vincent, the Powering Poverty (2002) movement, and the ongoing AdaptWest team addressing the likely impacts of climate change. WACRA’s relationship with state and local governments, initially Henley and Grange Council and now Charles Sturt Council, are part of most of these stories. Often council funds have been granted to kickstart projects such as the Henley Community Garden, dune care and tree planting. Although there have been differences, the relationship between local government and WACRA has worked well in furthering the interests of the larger community.

Fernando Gonçalves is a longstanding WACRA member and a professional photographer who has portrayed most of WACRA’s activities over the years. He has provided a visual history of WACRA’s community activism – the events and people behind the stories.

In the beginning Don Lewis recalls the protests that were organised to stop rows of high-rise development in Henley and Grange in the early 1980s. The community did not want our shores dominated by the type of Gold Coast high-rise development that had already overtaken Glenelg.

Thousands of signatures were physically collected and presented to the local counci l and SA Government. The (then) Henley and Grange Residents’ Association actively lobbied councillors and state government MPs when both were soon due for elections. The lobbied candidates eventually gained council positions and parliamentary seats in the subsequent elections – and we stopped high-rise development. Many residents found for the first time that community activism could actually result in desirable change. For some it was astonishing that a resident – an ordinary person in the street – could have a powerful voice and really change the world.

The World Health Organisation set forth the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in November 1986. In response, community health, primary health care and public health programs were set up internationally, within Australia and in local communities. The charter articulated the fundamental conditions and resources for health: peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. In her interview, Virginia Paterson describes community development in the 1970s and 1980s. Her role as a youth worker coincided with local promotion of the Ottawa Charter. As a volunteer, she persuaded the Henley and Grange Council to open a shopfront for local unemployed young people to set up their own recreational activities. The project was a success. Young people got involved, learned new skills, and many found employment. The social inclusion tactics generated by Virginia back in the 1980s initiated a strong local focus on building a healthier community.

It is no coincidence then that one of the key objectives of this residents’ association is Building healthy communities. WACRA believes a broad social view of health must include a clean environment, education available to all, cultural acceptance, ‘a fair go’ for pensioners, social inclusion, circles of friends, looking out for your neighbours, safety, a roof over our heads, and friendships between people of all ages. The association’s objectives are to:

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encourage, represent and advocate for residents to build and maintain a healthy, safe, joyous, equitable community; protect our residential character and cultural heritage; promote the protection of our biological diversity and the maintenance of indigenous species; work cooperatively with governments, other residents’ associations, groups and peak organisations to protect, enhance and conserve our environment.

Guided by these objectives, residents have been able to pursue matters of social justice and challenges to inequality because we live in a society where there is freedom of speech, the rule of law, free press and accountability in government, even if some of these freedoms are sometimes under threat and currently being debated. Social inequality drives WACRA’s priorities. Jim Douglas comments: We call for social justice responses, we demand government policy oversight, we investigate shady corporate interests, and challenge corrupt organisations and industries that we believe require democratic oversight. We are acutely aware of climate breakdown and environmental pollution. Most importantly, we listen to the people.

WACRA, as a corporate body with clearly defined roles, structures and processes, argues that positive outcomes can come out of community activism. WACRA communicates using a website https://wacra.org.au/ and has over 700 Facebook followers. On the website you will read this message: Find up-to-date news and information for the coastal residents of western Adelaide in South Australia. An enormous number of coastal environmental, open space and social justice issues, in addition to inappropriate development, are causing great concern to our community.

Being organised is undoubtedly one of its most important attributes. WACRA Committee members tend to divide the tasks that must be completed, such as writing newsletters; informing members about activities, issues and outcomes; writing grant submissions; and attending local council meetings. Minutes of WACRA meetings are available on the website.

The association regularly reviews its overarching aims and objectives. Recently WACRA Committee held a planning day aimed at prioritising issues, delegating and sharing the enormous workload.

What is community activism?

Democracy demands passion, and community activism can embody that passion. Activism attempts to engage in social, political, economic or environmental reform. The desired outcome is to make positive changes in society. Activities include consultation and negotiation with those in power, writing letters to newspapers, petitioning elected government officials, strikes, running a political campaign, rallies, street marches or sit-ins.

Recently, the creation of art (‘artivism’) has become more prominent. Highly visible actions involving many people working together have the most impact. Media coverage makes a protest visible. Social media facilitates communication, combining politics with technology.

Collective action that is organised, purposeful and sustained over time is a movement.

A resident, a community member or group can approach WACRA with an idea, situation or problem. WACRA members are open to suggestions, particularly when action can stimulate 5

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positive change in the community. The association deals with a variety of requests. ‘Listen to the People’ is this residents’ association’s catchcry.

In the sections that follow, residents talk about the many ideas that have surfaced in the last 50 years and resulted in community action. They address issues such as protecting our dunes, banning jet skis, greening our suburbs, claiming parks for residents, attempting to stop high-rise development, protecting Gulf St Vincent, cleaning the water of the River Torrens, and creating public art. Their stories suggest that joining an activist group encourages community engagement and gives the ordinary citizen an opportunity to have a voice and make a difference in the world.

Knowing what is going on in the local community is paramount. WACRA members are vigilant and stay informed. Between them they cover a range of special interests: heritage, environment, planning and development, public art and so on. Armed with new or relevant information, WACRA Committee organises education sessions and workshops. Keynote speakers are invited to the bimonthly general meetings. Staff from the local council, the City of Charles Sturt, have extended invitations to WACRA members, seeking a representative on some of its committees. WACRA members work with the AdaptWest team, aiming to build resilience to the present and future challenges of climate change. Committee members meet regularly with the local state member of parliament to discuss current issues. WACRA cooperates with other council areas. For instance, when you read Peter Schultz’s story, you see how WACRA worked alongside Port Adelaide Residents’ Association about dredging Outer Harbor. WACRA is an active and founding member of Community Alliance SA on shared issues of concern in urban planning.

Networking Working alongside local government is a common theme. In his interview with Tina, Charles Sturt Council’s CEO, Paul Sutton, explained that: [Our] relationship has reflected WACRA’s interests in a variety of things that have been happening in our city ... WACRA has been a supporter of council playing a role in managing the late-night economy and once again, we find ourselves together in discussions about the business activity around Henley Square. Sometimes there is a contentious issue … Council and WACRA collaborated on the jet ski exclusion zone along our coast. This is a good example of where council worked quite closely with WACRA to achieve the result the community generally wanted … WACRA often brings matters to council that may have been missed otherwise. The most recent was asking for a defibrillator to be installed on a pylon in Henley Square, thus making this device accessible for people on the beach or on the square. We celebrated its installation in late 2018. This was not an issue that council would have been aware of without WACRA drawing attention to the need.

Over the years, this residents’ association has accumulated a wide network. It has connections with other community groups and local councils, and WACRA members belong to or are involved with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Community Alliance SA, South Australian Living Artists (SALA), Coastal Ecology Protection Group (CEPG), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) – formerly the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI), AdaptWest, Friends of Gulf St Vincent (FoGSV) Henley

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and Grange Arts Society Inc (HAGAS), Henley Community Garden (HCG), the Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA), and so on. A list of organisations, department names and acronyms can be found in the last pages of this book.

Identifying a concern Anyone in the community can approach the association with a question or problem. Issues raised include how to prevent proposed telecommunications towers, how to save specific heritage buildings from demolition, concerns about increasing beach erosion, and loss of tree canopy/open spaces. Issues go initially to the WACRA Committee and are reported to the wider membership via general meetings, emails and the website/Facebook. Each question or problem identified warrants a response. That response is guided by WACRA’s aims and objectives. The overall aim is to build a healthier and fairer community.

Preparing a case Many issues have concerned this community over the years. Deciding whether and how to respond on each issue is discussed within the membership. Initially this is with the WACRA Committee. Once a consensus is reached and background research completed, an action plan is developed. Key stakeholders are identified. Allies, that is individuals or organisations who might share an interest in resolving the problem, can then be approached with a well researched, cohesive position.

Communicating the message to the community Communicating the message is just as important as the message itself. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this message to instigate change? What are the elements of the story? What are the available means for communication? This message presents the choices and focuses on how we can achieve a desirable outcome. Having identified a problem, investigated all sources and made an action plan, a communication strategy is identified. Information provided explains why the association is involved, why it is important to seek answers, and why we should argue for change.

From the 1970s to 1990s, emailing or letterboxing local people was common. Nowadays social media is predominant, with some use of mass media such as newspapers and radio as appropriate. Whichever mode of distribution, the message with information about the problem and a ‘call to arms’ is carefully formulated. WACRA communicates using the website https://wacra.org.au/ and has Facebook followers. However, WACRA will use whatever media strategy fits the purpose, including the letterboxing techniques of earlier years and radio/television interviews. Email is vital for internal communications within WACRA and with key stakeholders. Maintaining a list of contacts is obviously important.

A public meeting to discuss an issue or to promote an idea such as Building healthy communities is a well-travelled route for community engagement. In the 1970s, Don Lewis organised a public meeting as a protest to limit high-rise development. Jim Douglas and Bridget Wardlaw (previously Bannear) called a public meeting in October 1997 at the Henley Town Hall for the Save Our Beaches campaign. It attracted 400 people – standing room only.

Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar spoke at a Forum for Better Henley, held in May 2011 at the 7

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Henley Town Hall, on ‘No more high rise for Henley’ and ‘Planning a sustainable future for Henley’. Recently, meetings organised to Save Our Library were held in the same venue.

Careful planning is required to reach out, provide information and recruit as many residents and volunteers as possible. At these public meetings, a call for volunteers is often made and a communication network established, building on the developed organisational skills and experience of many WACRA members. Once jobs are allocated, trust is placed in those who have signed up to complete the tasks. Keeping members, residents and those interested informed is an ongoing task.

Collaboration Other community groups, local councils or individuals often join forces to resolve a problem.

WACRA’s network is indispensable. Public art projects initiated by the association have relied on collaborating with local council and other groups within the council boundary for grants.

WACRA introduced the Communities in Action project in collaboration with the local council and pushed for a community engagement policy. Using a media campaign and working with local MPs resulted in the ban of shark fishing on our jetties. WACRA collaborated with council, MPs and the then Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to prevent jet skis operating along some sections of the coast during the summer months.

Grant applications, negotiation and resolution The Tennyson Dunes project was successful in gaining a Coastcare grant and, with local council’s assistance, the applicants undertook revegetation of the dunes and ran community education programs. In the early 1990s, through the initiative of local councillor John Behenna, tree planting became a communal activity funded by council. Around the same time, Jim Douglas led a small group of residents to plant and green Menkens Reserve at Henley Beach. Its tall native trees are a majestic presence today. In 2012, when the Henley Community Garden was transferred from Henley High School oval to its present site as requested by Deslie Goudie and others, Charles Sturt Council made funds available and a vacant urban plot north of the Henley Oval was turned into green spaces that are a source of great community pride. Henley Community Garden now supports fruit and vegetable growing activities contained within 50 small plots and has 100 local members who meet regularly. Recently, the Henley Dunes Group was successful in revegetating dunes south of Henley Beach Road with a small grant from Charles Sturt Council, initially auspiced through WACRA. Other green community groups were linked in using Facebook. Local schools often sent students to learn about vegetating the dunes and to help water the native plants. Clean Up Australia days and working bees attract a diverse population. The plants are thriving, according to Bernadette Cranwell and Lisa Redman.

Each situation deserves its own strategy Sometimes, a larger strategy involving alliances may be necessary. The accounts given by interviewees suggest that WACRA has the community organising experience to design and implement effective collective action processes. According to Jim Douglas, WACRA’s past president, each situation deserves its own specific strategy. For example, in one campaign facilitated by Theo Ellenbroek, the history of heritage-listed Estcourt House, then threatened 8

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with demolition, was researched and documented. WACRA spread the story via local networks. A public forum was held at the Henley Town Hall. Local papers were contacted, local MPs were consulted, and finally the local council was brought to the party. In just a few months, Estcourt House was saved from the bulldozers. In the same way, the old Grange School was saved and is now occupied and heritage protected, albeit after ten years of various strategies, activism and struggle.

Marty Cielens, Becky Llewellyn and several others talk about their role in saving Henley Beach Library. Henley Beach Library was saved by several community groups coming together. WACRA and the Community Library Action Group (CLAG) used petitions, banners, information brochures, talks at local schools, trading tables at an open day in Henley Square, and press and radio interviews. In addition, Charles Sturt Council invited people to have a say about the library on their Your Say webpage. Residents had been alerted; they made a lot of noise and attracted attention to their cause to keep the library. The outcome: Henley Beach Library remains open.

When matters are not resolved through consultation, negotiation and campaigning, WACRA is likely to go into protest mode. The Baju/H2O multi-storey apartment and retail development near Henley Square was a major project that raised serious concerns with WACRA from its inception to the present day. Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar and Jim Douglas report how they organised the protest. WACRA was very concerned that the development was in an historic conservation zone and the development application went to the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court. A public forum was held at the Henley Town Hall, which overflowed with concerned citizens. A speaker from the National Trust reminded the audience about the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. Media coverage was guaranteed. A website, Henley Voice, was maintained, but unfortunately the development went ahead. However, major changes were achieved.

Assessing if outcomes can be achieved by community activism can create tension. It was revealed during interviews with Anthony Psarros and Jim Douglas that the Save Our Beaches campaign was predicted by them to be particularly challenging: the SA Government led by John Olsen had a position that would be difficult to shift. Yet the protest went ahead. It was driven by the will and sheer numbers of people who wanted to demonstrate. Even when the odds were against getting a good outcome, these leaders felt obliged to go with the flow of popular demand. If you don't fight, you lose.

Media is political In 1993, Kate Barrett was successful in mobilising citizens against telecommunications towers being built in Henley Beach. Perhaps because there was no other avenue for protest, extensive use was made of mass media. The campaign attracted a lot of interest and engagement, and some initial successes. Many years later, in 2017, a new proposal saw a huge Telstra tower constructed on East Terrace. WACRA was successful in getting the tower awarded a brickbat for inadequate consultation and duty of care from the Civic Trust of South Australia.

During the major Save Our Beaches (1997-98) campaign, the media was fully engaged.

WACRA had daily interviews on radio and television. Newspaper articles captured the effort

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to protect our shores. Media coverage lasted over six months, with association members regularly protesting on national TV. Many of the stories to follow will call attention to this collective action. Bridget Wardlaw and Jim Douglas highlight the importance of managing and using the media pragmatically.

Organising a protest The Save Our Beaches campaign had a huge impact on the lives of many who took part and several tell their stories in this book. The proposed development was to build a groyne or rock wall out to sea for the new West Beach boat launching facility. The community had not been informed, let alone consulted, so the next step was to spread the news far and wide.

Protest and information messages were distributed using creative methods, including rubbish bins with messages, posters, flyers and letterboxing, as well as mass media. Several large public meetings were held at the Henley Town Hall. The association’s organising team attracted people who had scientific expertise, power and influence.

On 1 October 1997, the association and West Beach Surf Life Saving Club organised a public rally. Negotiations took place with the SA Government and the latest scientific evidence was presented to those meetings. The coastal scientists predicted that building a rock wall would ruin the beach by restricting natural sand movement, killing seagrasses and polluting sea water. Beaches predicted to be most affected by scouring and loss of sand were West Beach and Henley South.

Jim Douglas describes the way in which the campaign moved to the next stage. The members and volunteers decided on a blockade. Those at the town hall meeting were asked to sign a pledge. This was the pre-smartphone era and setting up campaign communication networks was a major task. Next was planning the blockade stages. Rules were formulated for protesters. The code of conduct document assigned aims and objectives and emphasised that the blockade was to be peaceful and non-violent.

The stories tell of a strong and palpable solidarity across what was a fairly diverse group of protesters. Bridget Wardlaw (Bannear), Anthony Psarros and Jim Douglas instigated routine group debriefs after each demonstration. When groups met to discuss strategies for the next protest, conversations were about creative ways to attract media attention. Activist relationships thrived within this supportive structure.

After blockading for months, chain-wired security fences were set up around the construction site. Protesters were locked out. So together they wove strips of cotton sheets into the fences to read Listen to the People. Helicopters circling above them caught their message and sent it to news channels around Australia. The campaign attracted in excess of 800 media reports and received a media award for the story thread that had the most hits.

Accounts of the protest were presented in South Australia’s House of Assembly. The Save Our Beaches campaign brought this community together like no other issue.

Social engagement In 2000, WACRA and Charles Sturt Council started the community public art movement. This blossomed in subsequent years, highlighting the way in which a residents’ association and

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local government can work together. Regrettably, a designated arts officer position is no longer supported by council. Nevertheless, for several years the community enjoyed the Festival of the Coast, involving a wide range of people including schoolchildren, older people and culturally/linguistically diverse groups in its many and varied cultural events.

In 2006, the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association initiated the first western suburbs South Australian Living Artists (SALA) event. Local shops, hotels, restaurants and public spaces were asked to open their doors to exhibit art created by members of the local community. Involving the community in art projects has built new friendships. Eighty local residents, often in family groups, made the ceramic mosaics for the Sea Creature Trail along the Esplanade foreshore in 2007, and in 2009 the Mosaic Stepping Stones were created on the Torrens riverbank. As Jim Douglas said: ‘Bringing people together to make art is the magic.’

In 2015, WACRA coordinated the public art event Poles Apart. Chrissie Schultz and Anne Wheaton talk about the importance of making art. The tall, grey, ugly Stobie electric poles of Main Street (near the central Henley Square) were transformed. Over 50 local community members spent several days painting boards attached to the poles to radically improve them. The subjects for the paintings were seascape scenes and local birds. It was ‘artivism’ – art with an environmental message.

The Henley Community Garden is another venue where community members meet, sharing their gardening ideas and produce. This new garden project was started by Deslie Goudie in 2012 on land made available by the local council. WACRA introduced communal gardening and occupied the first community garden in 2003, using the land in and around Henley High School, before moving to the 2012 site.

WACRA was also responsible for the brilliant Energy Friends project, since adopted by the SA State Government. In 2002, residents’ association members were educated by experts about home energy efficiency and then invited to review their homes to reduce energy usage. Paul Laris talks about this as one of WACRA’s first climate change strategies in ‘Power to the people’.

In 2018, WACRA set up the successful Defibrillator Action Group, spearheaded by Rick Whitehead. WACRA lobbied council for the installation of an automated external defibrillator in Henley Square. In October 2018, Charles Sturt Council’s mayor cut the ribbon to celebrate the installation.

Fundraising Raising funds is imperative. Like many community organisations, WACRA’s largest single expense by far is insurance. Social activities organised to raise funds have the added benefit of bringing people closer together. Chrissie Schultz and other WACRA members have organised film nights and food nights. A few interviewees recall that longlasting friendships formed at these social gatherings.

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Sustaining WACRA A community action protest, whether successful or not, can bring its members and the community together. In 2017, Heather Flanagan walked the neighbourhood putting information in letterboxes to let others know about the proposed construction of a telecommunications tower immediately adjacent to her backyard. Sadly, the tall Telstra tower was finally built in a Historic Conservation Zone in Henley. Unsuccessful outcomes can be painful for participants. The community mourned together; robed in black, they walked through surrounding streets in the semblance of a wake.

The 1997-98 campaign Save Our Beaches/No Boat Harbour was another example of how engaging a community in protest can strengthen relationships, even in the face of defeat.

Over 600 people, young and old, locked arms to prevent heavy machinery entering the construction site. Television’s evening news bulletins showed protesters being dragged away by police. Bridget Wardlaw recalls these times as exciting and points out the diversity of people committed to the protest. Anthony Psarros tells of being troubled by threatening phone calls late at night. Deslie Goudie talks about her grandchildren being part of the protest, preferring to stay at the site rather than go to school.

Ultimately, the action was unsuccessful and the development went ahead. Some members were devastated, but small gains were made. The groyne rock wall was reduced in length.

WACRA warned that future maintenance of the beaches would be expensive and, sadly, we have been vindicated. The wide beach and dunes at West Beach have been scoured away.

Cartage of sand to West Beach is an ongoing concern, escalating into more protests, this time from residents in Semaphore whose sandy beaches are being physically removed and transported to replenish the naked shores at West Beach.

It seems likely that resident solidarity arising from this campaign contributed to WACRA’s endurance over 50 years. Bonds were forged, as is reflected in today’s members who have a wide range of interests, varied expertise, and a mix of educational, social and economic backgrounds. The gender mix is balanced, but most are aged over 50 and most live in the beach suburbs of West Beach, Henley Beach and Grange.

Leadership WACRA presidents (now chairpersons), past and current, have given this corporate body its stability. Don Lewis, Bridget Wardlaw (previously Bannear), Anthony Psarros, Jim Douglas and Paul Laris tell their stories. The central role Jim Douglas plays has been mentioned by many interviewees. He was WACRA’s president 1998-2018, so it is not surprising that he was the source of many stories. All acknowledged that he has worked unstintingly for this community. He is the arch activist driven by a strong social conscience.

When Jim joined the local residents’ association in the 1980s, he already had a reputation as a skilled union leader known for interventions that addressed inequality and advocated for better conditions in the workplace. Jim Douglas is the subject of a chapter in the SA Unions book Movers and Shakers (2007), and the Joy Noble/Yvonne Allen publication Breaking the Boundaries, in which he shares his experiences as a union leader. His role as campaign manager for innumerable causes has been praised by interviewees.

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Alongside his role as campaign manager, Jim has represented WACRA at court hearings and council meetings, and assisted with innumerable grant applications. As president of WACRA, Jim established a doctrine of social responsibility to protect and preserve the community, while, and by, speaking truth to power. He has shown what can be achieved when a group works together, and the civic value of that contribution. To quote Jim: ‘A government committed to wellbeing should welcome the public interest voices of civil society.’

In this book, Jim Douglas has contributed to around 25 of its stories and was interviewed on many occasions. Jim strongly believes in collaboration with others, and he would argue that little can be achieved without community solidarity. He continues to play a central role in WACRA. Paul Laris, WACRA’s current chairperson, has the last word: What I’d like is for WACRA to be seen by people in our geographic community as a resource for them. It’s about being a tool of influence, enabling people to be engaged in the process of decisions that are made about their lives by local and state governments in particular. At the moment, we are a small group of motivated people who enjoy being involved and share values. We have over 300 members/supporters, but I think we need to expand our base. We need to engage more with younger people. People stand up at WACRA general meetings and talk about an issue that is bothering them. It would be good if we can broaden that so that people can approach us not only about problems and protests but also about ideas to improve life in our community. We can be part of the solution or play a catalyst or brokerage role.

Activism in an age of protest WACRA has recently developed a specific focus on climate change, calling for better adaptation and urgent emissions reduction. Climate change protests are being held in Australia’s major cities and elsewhere. The catastrophic and unprecedented bushfires of 2019-20 have highlighted the urgency of action. The refusal of our national government and major political parties to acknowledge the need for fundamental changes is a cause for dismay, but also a rallying call for action. In this context, the future of local community action may be in forming the grassroots for wider, profound social movements.

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Beginnings Grange Ratepayers’ Association Don Lewis

The Grange Ratepayers’ Association was first formed prior to present memory. It has gone through a number of name changes. I recall this order: • • •

Grange Ratepayers’ Association Incorporated (23 April 1975) Henley and Grange Residents’ Association Incorporated (30 March 1994) Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association Incorporated (18 September 2006)

The Grange Ratepayers’ Association was formed with Bruce Harris as president. He was a journalist and fishing guru. Some early members were Garth Sadler, Clive Hill, Jim Claringbold and Doug Price. It was known as the Grange Ratepayers’ Association for quite a while; incorporation and a name change came later, when residents made known to the council that they wanted members to be not only ratepayers but inclusive of all residents.

The Grange Ratepayers’ Association was incorporated and later became the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. Its renewed focus included Henley Beach and West Beach. In 1969, Bronte Edwards, a local resident, commenced a term of almost nine year s as mayor of Henley and Grange Council.

An issue being tackled in the 1970s was the disproportionate use of available council funds in Henley, Henley South and West Beach council wards compared with Grange Ward. Grange was by far the greater area and its rate base exceeded that of the other wards. Another concern was that road and footpath sealing in Grange was very poor, with some unsealed major roads (e.g. Jetty Street). Unsealed laneways were also a problem.

In the 1970s, I was president of the Grange Ratepayers’ Association and later, in the 1980s, became president of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. I was also secretary of the Grange Sailing Club. It had come to the association’s attention that the local council was about to release a development plan. Having just bought a property between Military and Seaview Roads, I noticed that the development plan had our area zoned R3. That meant you could build a series of flats on very little land. The council organised a town hall public meeting, inviting the executive of many local organisations to break the news to the community in general and promote word-of-mouth communication. The mayor, Bronte Edwards, addressed the meeting. We learned that the major zones for housing were R1 (detached dwellings on a single allotment), R2 (single or two-storey flats with low density) and R3 (designated areas where four-storey flats could be built for which minimal council permission was required). A building block could house 12 flats. The four-storey building next to the Iris Macdonald (Henley Community Aid and Advisory) Centre just north of Henley Square is a good example of what could be permitted. That was known in Adelaide as a Humsy development, named after the man who built these flats. After the council town hall meeting, I organised a public meeting so that residents and others could discuss this development plan. Most people were unhappy with this kind of high-rise building. As president of the association, I purchased the 24-page, A4 size Development Plan and

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scrutinised it closely. Zones were designated. The zone R3 dominated the area between Military and Seaview Roads.

I sought information from other areas of Adelaide where this type of development zoning had been applied. Areas near the CBD and parklands had attracted R3 zoning. Changing the zoning by council and then seeking the minister’s approval was the methodology to stop high-density/rise development. We learned from other organisations in Adelaide how they managed to stop high-rise development. A solicitor named Barnett Hewitt was up in arms about R3 developments in the Rose Park area. He had a single-storey house and a young family, and in an effort to protect their quality of life wanted to avoid living in the midst of high-rise dwellings. He reiterated that anyone could buy a plot of land with an old house, demolish it and build a block of 12 flats on it. He grabbed media attention, local papers and so on, and soon residents in Rose Park were protesting. Together they stopped R3 zone developments in Rose Park.

Closer to home, you can still see the Humsy four-storey flats at Henley Beach, and others between Beach and Jetty Streets in Grange, built in the 1970s as part of R3 zoning. They had shot up before we realised. Then four more were approved near the Grange Railway Station.

I asked for the plans of the allotments. I did the calculations, measuring size and required land space, and found they were incorrect. So I presented my findings to Henley and Grange Council. The building of one block of flats was stopped and the others reduced to eight twostorey flats instead of 12 four storeys. Planning and zoning were a completely new thing at that time. The Building Act did not cover flat construction very well and they transferred this incomplete information to the 24-page Development Plan. I exposed the loopholes to Henley and Grange Council. I arranged a public meeting in the Grange School Hall. Barnett Hewitt from Rose Park was the speaker. About 50 residents turned up. I invited television crews to cover the meeting. Communication about the R3 zone and the potential to change Seaview Road into a high-density development scared local people.

News coverage was helpful in spreading information and exposing development plans.

Knowing that four-storey flats could be built anywhere in a zoned R3 area, without too much interference by council and with a disregard for planning regulations, was a shock to most people. On television people saw that along Seaview Road, between Grange Road and Henley Square, houses were to be demolished and rows of high-rise flats built on those sites.

In the media, development plans for Seaview Road were likened to Surfers Paradise (Queensland) and residents made it known that they did not want high rise in Henley Beach.

Members of the residents’ association letterboxed, and we made ourselves available to talk to the media at every opportunity. We received petitions with thousands of signatures opposing category R3 locations. Local papers headlined the proposed development.

In the 1970s, a position became vacant on the Henley and Grange Council. I nominated, was elected, and became a councillor for the Grange Ward. My main task, as councillor, was to alter the zoning to allow residents to keep their properties. I did the research, provided evidence and produced a document which was distributed to every councillor in the chamber. The council engaged a contract planner for the first time and later employed a city planner. We had motions listed on zoning. We managed to change the zoning to R1 and R2 categories. We stopped the construction of multi-storey buildings and the category R3 in our local area. My presentations at the Planning Appeal Board were numerous.

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I was on the local council for 22 years. I questioned the high-rise development plans for the foreshore of Henley Beach, and this resulted in a huge protest against such development in the 1980s. We prevented high-rise development at that time. Being a member of both the local council and the residents’ association meant I was alert to new developments in the area. I am not against development per se, but I think two-storey levels are enough for Henley and Grange, and rejected heights above that level. Many residents agreed about height restriction.

The big single thing in planning is that once a building goes up in height or occupies less space than required, it sets a precedent. Anywhere a precedent has been set, a developer/planner will use this information and demand the same height and/or space to build their construction based on these measurements. In my opinion, every developer looks for a precedent. Once there is a precedent, that becomes the rules for planning in that street. It is not parliamentary acts, zones, legislation or regulations that count, but setting a precedent. My role in council was stopping precedents. In 2018, if you wish to have a say about a planned development, you have to make a formal appeal requiring at least a planner, a surveyor and legal representation in court.

Today, development planning has gone almost full circle. We are nearly in the same position prior to the 1970s introduction of zoning (small areas of land, large buildings covering land with no regard for human quality of life, or environmental problems such as vegetation, water soakage, car parking and building mass heat). The development planning acts today are contained in a massive 1000-page document. Yes, it has grown from 24 pages. People don’t read or follow this document as they should; instead, they rely on precedents. As argued previously, precedents set the tone for every development. The Baju/H2O multistorey building, commenced in 2011 on the corner of Seaview Road and Henley Square, is evidence that a precedent has been set. That development consists of two huge apartment blocks four levels high with two levels of undercroft car parking. Using the ambiguity of the new Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act (SA) and the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court to obtain decisions to ratify the building is not surprising. One reason future development of high-density buildings at Henley Beach may be stalled is that an artesian type spring or underground water reservoir was hit during the construction of Baju/H2O undercroft car park. Today, 82,000 litres of ground water are illegally pumped out to sea every day and the local beach has absorbed this water flow since 2011. This unresolved issue may act as a deterrent for planning and development on Seaview Road or the Esplanade at Henley Beach in the future. It sets another kind of precedent.

One of my arguments against R3 and high-density development plans was their effect on the environment. Adelaide is built on a flood plain. We now talk about 100-year storm events; however, that was not the language we used in the 1980s. Nevertheless, I was alert to the problem of flooding, particularly behind the sandhills. I spent most of my earlier life on a farm and I knew how pumps worked. I know that the council now uses submersibles but in the 1980s pumps were housed in steel traps, usually in the middle of a roundabout or in grey boxes on the side of a road. There were at least six pumping stations with under road or street concrete pipe reservoirs in the Henley and Grange area. These were used to pump stormwater out to sea. One pumping station could dispose of millions of litres of water per hour. One of my arguments against higher level density buildings concerned the flood plain catchment area. Soakage areas would be reduced and water ‘run-off’ areas increased. Once 16

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they started building flats, water problems were worse. Council spent very large amounts of money on bigger reservoirs, more pipes out to sea and sometimes larger pumps to stop frequent flooding which had occurred after developments. Grange, Henley Beach and Henley South suffer at different times.

In Adelaide, which has about 600 mm of rain per year, the catchment area is usually dry at the start of an event. More buildings, more concrete around developments, less garden and therefore less natural water absorption by the soil, more water run-off to the street, and more stormwater to be pumped out to sea. Flash flooding occurs as creek beds fill up quickly and, when the pumps cannot handle that amount of water, the low-lying areas of the flood plain in our area of Henley and Grange are regularly flooded. No-one takes any notice; they keep covering up the land.

Grange Institute – meeting place of the Grange Ratepayers’ Association

Community development Virginia Paterson

My roles in the Adelaide western suburbs have been as youth worker, community centre manager and community development officer. In the 1970s, it was especially grievous that the youth congregating in and around Henley Square had been forgotten, appeared to be lost and were possibly resorting to petty crime. Youths, known as the Square Kids, were mostly young men aged 14-17. Twenty youths were standing around showing a raucous interest in members of the opposite sex as they walked by. I bought a packet of chips, stood behind one of the tall men in the group, was encircled, the chips being the major focus of interest, and I learned from them that they were bored and there was ‘nothing to do’. As a volunteer, I persuaded the Henley and Grange Council, via its council member Iris

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Macdonald, to give young people access to a local shopfront. In 1976, once the shopfront was open, I encouraged local youth to self-determine their own recreational activities.

Activities included setting up a youth committee, motorbike riding, billiards, camping, youth dance, a basketball team for girls, and bus outings. These activities were funded by the local council and the SA Government’s Welfare Department, as many of the youths were receiving welfare support.

In 1977, this group became the Henley Unemployment Group (HUG) and we had support from various local church facilities from 1977-79. Based on the good outcomes of this social engagement program, the Welfare Department offered me a grant. My volunteer position had turned into a paid position as youth worker on a yearly grant basis. The youths were thrilled that the group would continue and encouraged me to reapply in subsequent years.

Activities changed to a mix of recreational pursuits and some skills training sessions. Group training was done in an informal way and so attracted the youth. Skills training included woodwork, run by a retired woodworking teacher, and driving lessons for the over sixteens. I ran a course on interview skills.

The Welfare Department congratulated us on our results. The program was going well, and I was advised to apply for tri-annual funding. And as tri-annual funding was only offered for community centre management, I was encouraged to include the general community in our activities. I ran the idea past the youths. It was welcomed. Many of the youth skills activities continued. We were offered the use of the disused Catholic school in Burnley Street, Henley South. The site had multiple classrooms, an oval and an empty plot where we were able to develop a community garden. An unemployed mechanics tutor ran sessions on pulling an old donated car apart and rebuilding it again. Rotary Club members built a shelter for our car mechanics and a closed-in opportunity shop was opened and run by a local older woman on a twice-a-week basis. The first Henley and Grange Community Centre in Burnley Street was born. We began some new activities: keep fit, a community garden, scuba diving sessions, one-to-one guitar lessons, ball sports and a food cooperative. We held regular Christmas concerts either on the oval or in its main classroom. Many of the committee members and their friends and relatives sang, acted in the fun skits, and generally entertained a crowd of around 100 at most concerts.

Building on our strengths, we joined with other similar groups: Port Adelaide Unemployed Action and DOME (Don’t Overlook Mature Expertise). People in the combined group often became activists wanting to be heard by politicians.

In 1985, the HUG Community Centre had to make way for the sale of the school by the Catholic Church. This is when we moved the community centre to the back of the Grange Institute building in Beach Street, Grange. Here the activities were revised as we had lost some facility space, but we encompassed sewing, typing, cooking, travel and leisure. I worked outside this council region from 1986-93, returning in 1993 to work in a community health service in Bowden/Brompton, now part of the Charles Sturt Council.

As a community development officer, I began by offering theatre skills workshops with the aim of putting on stage productions. Local doorknocking uncovered two directors who were happy to volunteer their time directing the group’s plays. The group set up its own

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committee, and we applied successfully for funds to hold theatre skills workshops and yearly theatre productions in the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

I coordinated another community-led program with members of the Housing Trust in the western Adelaide area, situated at the Holbrook Housing Trust complex. There were many issues at this complex and here again we used a doorknocking procedure which led to the establishment of a tenants committee.

This committee ran various activities including BBQs, a youth band, coffee mornings, billiard activities, basketball and soccer teams, men's and women's groups, busy bees, day trips to show tenant refugees SA tourist spots, Harmony Day activities alongside the local Church of Christ pastor, a sewing group for Afghani women, and a travel and leisure group. I retired in 2004; however, this committee continued their activities for many years without a paid worker and invited me back to one of their coffee mornings in 2007 to show off their tenacity. I am a member of WACRA and share its philosophy of community engagement.

Virginia Paterson (top), first Henley and Grange community development officer

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Building healthy communities Jim Douglas

In 1975, a group of concerned residents formed the Grange Ratepayers’ Association Incorporated that mainly took up issues relating to proposals and decisions of the then Henley and Grange Council.

In 1994, the name changed to the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association Incorporated and at the same time the rules were changed to allow a greater area for membership and broader issues of interest and coverage.

In 1997, the association became heavily involved in opposing the Holdfast Shores Development and in particular the construction of the boat launching facility and Barcoo stormwater outlet at West Beach. This community campaign involved over 600 people and more than six months of blockading in an attempt to stop the rock walls being constructed, as science advised that sand would be depleted from West Beach and create significant damage to beaches further north. History now shows that the science was correct.

In 2006, the association’s name and rules changed again to become the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association Incorporated (WACRA) to provide more scope for membership and to better reflect local, state and federal government issues that WACRA presently addresses. This change gave the association the opportunity to make submissions, presentations and representations to all levels of government on behalf of its membership and the broader community relating to living standards and building healthy communities.

Emphasis on building healthy communities

Our interest in building healthy communities was affirmed in 1999 when the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association was contacted by a researcher from the Public Health Department at Flinders University, asking us to be part of a case study in a project on Health Development and Social Capital. We jumped at the opportunity. The project explored the role community groups and organisations play in the development of health and social capital. A survey of 40 community groups with questions about group aims, structure, membership, activities, resources, partnerships and future plans was conducted. Twenty five case studies were carried out, one of which was our residents’ association.

Case study: Henley and Grange Residents’ Association (1999)

Many of the association’s activities cited in this book are told in future sections: Henley and Grange Australia Day Festival of the Coast, lobbying for the right to keep the local gymnasium, traffic management, advocating a youth needs study, the Save Our Beaches campaign, Association of Citizens Against Telecommunications Towers, and cleaning up the River Torrens. The actions taken brought people together, ‘reinforced optimism for the future, strengthened a belief in the power of the collective community, led to the formation of other groups, and increased the capacity of residents to facilitate change in their community’ (Social Capital in Action Report, 1999).

Survey findings focused on being a caring community, inclusivity of youth and older people, and the importance we place on wellness and social inclusion. Great emphasis was placed on the need for a clean environment as it relates to our health. At the conclusion of the study, 20

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recommendations were presented. The central finding was the way in which people interacted, in both social and civic circumstances, and how the quality and type of interaction positively impacted on health and wellbeing.

The final report had an impact on our residents’ association members. We organised a community forum on Building healthy communities. It was held in October 2001 at the Fulham Community Centre with over 150 attendees who came from many western Adelaide suburbs and various organisations. The Flinders University Public Health team presided over the gathering. Sharing the findings of this research with a larger group of local residents aimed to encourage our community to 'develop ideas and actions for change for better health’. The group work and sharing of various ways of interacting with this audience of 150 people was inspirational. We also had great fun in between all the serious work, being entertained by Dave Clark providing wonderful music to tap our feet, dance and sing along.

Feedback from the participants was exciting and encouraging to the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. We continued to put a great effort into implementing initiatives from this forum towards building a healthy and vibrant community.

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Coastal living Save Our Beaches – Listen to the People Jim Douglas

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) Federal Government of 1991 provided $816 million in its Better Cities Program. In response, John Olsen, the Premier of the SA Government, identified a project to dredge the Patawalonga Basin. The Patawalonga Creek is about seven kilometres in length and is located near Glenelg, a suburb on the beachfront in Adelaide. The Patawalonga Basin, often called ‘the Pat’ by locals, was known for its unpleasant odour. It consists of six adjoining creeks that meet at the Glenelg water collection basin. It was a tidal estuary before engineering work in the 1950s made the Patawalonga into a basin for collecting stormwater. The Pat caught water from draining the surrounding swamps, making possible the building of Adelaide Airport and residential houses. In the early 1990s the basin was grossly polluted, and its toxic overflow was discharged into Gulf St Vincent. When it was announced that a clean-up of the Patawalonga was to occur, we of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association were supportive of the initiative.

We followed through with a question to planners asking about the disposal of dredged materials. We were told that dumping of contaminated soil would take place opposite Adelaide Airport using clay-lined bunds or collecting chambers. When West Beach residents heard about these collecting chambers, they were worried. Their main concern was that toxic waste collected in bunds was very close to their everyday living spaces, with the associated risk of air pollution as toxic materials evaporated. This was the issue that brought coastal residents together.

Keeping residents informed about the Patawalonga project plans was not a strong point with local and/or state governments. When we investigated further, we found out that this project was much bigger than dredging the Patawalonga Basin. The plan, when it eventually became available to the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association, indicated that reversing the flow of the Pat’s water was intended. We learned that deep dredging would occur at the river’s mouth so that the water would come in from the sea at tide level and then be flushed out through a big pipe called the Barcoo Outlet. The outlet would consist of an 885-metre pipeline, diverting stormwater out of the final length of the Patawalonga and out to sea. The intention was primarily to enable dirty stormwater from the catchment to be diverted away from the Pat. We also found out that sections of Colley Reserve, a community space at Glenelg, would be taken up with large apartment buildings, retail facilities and a hotel, and that developers would create a boat launching facility at West Beach. In other words, this was a major development proposal.

We continued to ask questions. Here is an excerpt of one sent 16 July 1997 to the Project Manager Glenelg/West Beach Development Project from Bridget Bannear, president of the association: We understand that a development application will be lodged. What assessment of environmental impact will be undertaken? South Australian expertise? Longterm effect of launch facility? Budget implications? We want effective management of our suburban

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coastlines. What is the impact of outfall of stormwater and the construction of a vast solid structure on our central beaches?

Together with West Beach residents we continued our research. We had solid scientific evidence that our beaches would be ruined with the discharge of polluted waters. And the rock wall, or groyne, which was to be built as a boat harbour, would obstruct the natural flow of beach sand from south to north. We shared this information at public meetings held at the Henley Town Hall.

On 1 October 1997, a public rally was organised by the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association at the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Dr Scoresby Shepherd and Dr John Hailes, both with expertise in marine science, warned that any groyne obstructing the beach or coastal area would result in damage to the ecosystem. We heard that a boat harbour would consist of thousands of tons of rock in an angled wall 22 metres wide at the base and 10 metres high from the sea floor. Such a solid obstruction, it was argued, would cause radical reflections of wave energy which would deposit sand in the mouth of the harbour, blocking it regularly as was already happening at Glenelg. As a consequence, sand would be depleted further north causing troughs which would create even more disruptions to wave action, making sand management impossible and the associated cost totally unpredictable.

We negotiated with the SA State Government on numerous occasions, bringing the latest scientific evidence to those meetings, showing that such a plan would ruin our beaches, kill seagrasses and pollute the sea water. Beaches that would be most affected were West Beach and Henley South. We were dismayed to learn that this development would go ahead.

Campaign: Save Our Beaches

The Henley and Grange Residents’ Association decided to alert residents along the coast once we had development plan details. We started our education campaign making a stencil and sprayed it with white paint onto rubbish bins so that when people wheeled their bin out on collection night it had the message: Save Our Beaches/No Boat Harbour. We attracted people from the environment, union and social justice movements. These people had expertise in using the media and creating posters and flyers. We extensively letterboxed, used the media (TV and radio), as this was before social media (Facebook and Twitter). A media release (21 March 1997), from Bridget Bannear, president of the association, said: Patawalonga Diversion – Disaster for the Beaches: Patawalonga Catchment Water Management Board to divert stormwater into the marine environment and away from the Patawalonga Basin. The stormwater discharges a few hundred metres off the coast will kill off even more seagrasses which stabilise the sand and keep it in reserve for the beaches. There is incredible filth in stormwater…

Interestingly, Holdfast Bay Council, then the Glenelg Council, was totally in support of the development project. In contrast, our Henley and Grange Council supported residents; in fact, this council paid for an independent scientific environmental impact study, hiring an expert from NSW. Decision to blockade development

We called a public meeting 15 October 1997 using a central venue, the Henley Town Hall.

The gathering attracted 400 people; it was standing room only. People were crowded right 23

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up to the back of the hall. Speakers, including scientific and environmental experts, talked about the Barcoo Outlet and about the stone wall or groyne that was to be built, and provided ecological damage evidence. At that meeting, we asked those interested to sign a pledge to be part of a campaign to Save Our Beaches. About 300 people signed up. We agreed to blockade the development. We established a campaign committee consisting of 25 members. This committee met every Monday night.

Newspaper clipping: ‘ANGRY PROTEST: Residents pack the Henley Town Hall yesterday, pledging to fight on against developers’ (courtesy of Weekly Times Messenger, News Ltd)

A media release from Bridget Bannear, president of the association, gave these facts in an Information Kit for Anti-boat Harbour Campaigners: • • • • • • • • •

The boat harbour will be a $10 million rock wall rising 10 metres from the seabed. It will be longer than Henley Beach Jetty.

All professional advice warns against it.

The Coastal Protection Board warns against it.

Twelve local marine scientists signed a letter stating they are against it.

Senator Bob Brown and Dr David Suzuki warn against it.

Assessments over the last 20 years have stated that out-to-sea development is not an option.

The City of Charles Sturt, local MPs Steve Condous and Stephanie Key (ALP), and the Australian Marine Conservation Society are against it.

Everyone except the state government and the developers are against it.

The boat harbour could trap up to 100,000 cubic metres of sand on the southern side of the rock groyne and inside the boat launching facility. The cost to bypass this sand 24

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northward would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. If the sand is not bypassed, the beach and dunes at West Beach and beaches north will be severely degraded.

The accumulated sand would have to be dredged regularly, and collected and moved by huge trucks at massive costs causing considerable damage to the shoreline.

Setting up campaign communication networks was critical. We organised a phone tree system whereby the people on the campaign committee were called the owls, supposedly the wise people on top of this pyramid, and the other 400 members or so were allocated into groups called sea eagles, chief pelicans, pelicans and then seagulls. Sea eagles comprised our early warning system. Their first priority was to contact key decisions makers, the owls, when they believed construction was starting. Owls then contacted the chief pelicans who then telephoned ten or twelve pelicans, who in turn warned the seagulls.

Seagulls provided the physical presence needed to stop the construction. We also had another group called the terns. Terns are vocal birds that give out a shrill call. Apart from the call, terns did not partake in actual physical blockading of the area but provided food, boiled fruitcakes, sandwiches and fresh water for protesters. The Blockade Coordinating Committee had the task of bringing people together and managing all blockade aspects.

Contacting was done using telephone landlines as there was very little knowledge or use of mobile phones.

The community blockade began as a month-long vigil before construction commenced. We had a roster of two shifts with 10 people for each shift running 7 days a week. Once construction started, the blockade proper began. Construction was halted briefly until SAPOL (South Australia Police) intervened, using physical force to break the blockade line and admit the trucks. Seagulls and others were reminded that non-violence was our code of conduct. It was to be a peaceful protest.

The rules

On 29 January 1998 rules were distributed to all campaigners, stating that: As a member of the Organising Group, I have a right to fully participate and be equally involved in decision making, express my opinions and ideas, and have my right to speak valued and respected. I am responsible for contributing to the group culture which encourages participation, accepts mistakes without penalty, does not attack or blame others, allows listening without interruptions and encourages free/creative exploration without negative judgements, expressing and explaining my ideas to others who seek clarification, addressing the issue, not the person, when challenging or seeking clarification, speaking only for myself; coming to this process with an open mind, the assumption that there’s no right and wrong, and a willingness to be flexible and compromise and helping the group to stick to the agenda.

The facilitator was responsible for encouraging participation; keeping the meeting on time; ensuring that issues on the agenda were addressed as adequately as possible and steps taken for action to occur; taking a mediating role when issues became personalised and/or where emotion was a barrier to productive discussion; and clarifying the time, place and facilitator for the next meeting.

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Our aim was to block trucks and bulldozers coming into the worksite on Barcoo Road, West Beach. People took it in turns to sleep at the site in tents or cars, and to alert others if they saw any development activity. Once we were warned, usually around 6.30am, our response was immediate. We arrived at the site, quickly forming a physical barrier by locking arms, setting up a community picket line. Sometimes up to 300 people would turn up to blockade.

Truck drivers and bulldozers were stopped and turned away.

On 19 February 1998, the ALP Member for Kaurna John Hill had this to say in the House of Assembly in opposition to the West Beach Boat Harbour: I move that this house: Calls on Government to honour its commitments made in December 1997 regarding West Beach Boat Harbour and in particular an independent environmental consultant will prepare an assessment for public release Condemns Liberal and Independent members of the Public Works Committee for forcing a vote on West Beach before considering the promised independent environmental report Expresses its opposition to the proposal to divert stormwater run-off through a pipeline into the Gulf at West Beach

John Hill later said that the amendments were designed to stop the West Beach Boat Harbour proceeding, not to stop the Glenelg development. Unfortunately, we did not have the numbers and we were not able to change the government’s position.

Six months of protest

We protested for about six months. When our picket line grew larger and stronger the police intervened. And then the police force became bigger and stronger. Their attempt to remove us from blocking the development was to try pulling us apart. It became a very physical blockade. We were manhandled. It was pretty vigorous. We suffered injuries of shoulders and arms, and often people were in tears. We certainly needed time to debrief after each event.

Capturing media attention was another aim. However, not all media was in our favour. Brady Haran in The Advertiser on 19 February 1998 wrote: An army of bulldozers, cranes and tractors (25 SA companies) have begun the $185 million transformation of Glenelg’s foreshore. It will include a 59-berth marina, two apartments and an offshore reef… The Mayor of Holdfast Bay Council was most excited about the project: after 12 years of negotiating a project on that site, it’s a relief to see progress. About 2500 tons of rock and dirt are moved every week… Work will start but might be impeded by a peaceful picket by the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association.

We had a list of all SA media outlets: print, TV and radio. In drawing media attention to our cause, we were creative. We did something different and creative at each protest.

Sometimes we would sing, occasionally we would hold arms chained like statues, quiet.

When we felt the government and others were not listening, we put bandanas around our

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mouths, to show that our voices were gagged. Imagine trying to keep 400+ people silent!

Protest signs were up. The self-discipline shown by the protesters was amazing.

In the House of Assembly on 17 March 1998, Stephanie Key, ALP member for Hanson, said this about West Beach Boat Harbour: My question is directed at the Premier [Olsen]. Why has the government not fulfilled its commitment to the parliament regarding West Beach boat facility which includes preparation of an assessment by an independent environmental consultant, the public release of sand management plans and the redesign of the facility – and will the government now release to the parliament all the documents that impact the West Beach development? The opposition has copies of the reports which were prepared by the Coastal Protection Board and the Development Assessment Commission and released under freedom of information, and which raise two major concerns about sand management… One report canvasses the future removal of the West Beach boating facility and raises concern about the trucking of sand and the unsuitability of the site selected to supply additional sand for the beach.

As the protest action increased, so did police numbers. Police brutality escalated. We started getting arrested. They just threw us in the back of the paddy wagon and took us away. It was difficult to breathe, no windows, out in the boiling hot sun and nothing to sit on. Police would leave you in the paddy wagon until such time as our protesters had been dispersed and the trucks were able to drive through. Then we would be taken to the police station at Glenelg or driven two or three kilometres away. They would unlock the back of the van and make us walk back to the site. That was their way of dealing with the troublemakers, they told us.

In March 1998, the City of West Torrens became involved, working against us. Parking our cars near the site was made problematic when this council tried to make it illega l. We did our homework and challenged their legal rights. Police and the CEO of the West Torrens Council tried to shift us, in front of the cameras, but still we did not move. We pointed out that the road we were on was not in their jurisdiction and they would need a bylaw to fine us. They needed to obtain appropriate approvals of the closure of a public road. The CEO was not happy, reportedly.

We continued the blockade for another 42 days. Eventually trucks gained access, rocks were delivered and the groyne was built. Continuing the protest, about 200 of us clambered onto the sea wall where Beach protestors blockading and stopping the we physically moved about four tons of entry of trucks into the boat harbour site (1997) rock, using them to blockade another section. With TV cameras showing the world, viewers could see the physicality and the determination of the people.

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At this stage, the police bought in its Star Force. They came with guns on hips. Dressed in black, they looked serious. They seemed determined to ‘rough us up’. They arrested a couple of people. They just picked them up physically by their arms and legs, face down, and dragged them through the rocks and whatever else and then threw them into the back of paddy wagons. Some of our people jumped in the water. The Star Force used a motorised vessel to pick up these people and to arrest them whilst they were still water bound. We thought that we did not deserve this rough handling. It would end our campaign if people were hurt. Instead, we piled rocks across the gateway. Channel 7 used a helicopter to film this event. That night TV viewers could see the rocks spelling SAVE OUR BEACHES. Next, we decided to have a big protest on the sand at West Beach. Four churches were involved: the Catholics, the Anglicans, the Baptists, and the Uniting Church. The clergy of these churches did a ‘Blessing of the Waters’. Basically, we knew that things were coming to an end and we wanted to have a peaceful farewell. We started at 10am, about 1,000 people forming the word ‘NO’ on the beach to be visible from the air. All TV channels were there.

With media coverage aplenty, interviewers captured church people, seeking their opinion.

Our council’s mayor, the late John Dyer, spoke to the media. He said it was going to cost the local government a lot of money in the end to keep the beaches safe. The beach gathering went for a couple of hours. When the church people spoke, a big group knelt down on the sand. It wasn’t a prayer or anything like that, but we all turned to the water. Our message was SAVE OUR BEACHES. Don’t destroy the beauty of West Beach.

Right at that time, a pod of dolphins arrived in front of us. Probably about ten dolphins were in the shallow water diving up and down, and they stayed there for a good half hour or more. We were all part of this community; you couldn’t walk away from the beach without feeling you’d achieved something. Even though we knew that we were not going to win against developers and the government, we had sent a message to all.

Our protest was on TV news channels almost every night. On every occasion we blockaded it was on the news. TV cameras were on us when the police were dragging us away. Chris Warren, the reporter for Channel 7, covered this blockade and said: ‘Despite not being successful in stopping the groyne being built, it had not broken the spirit of the people.’

View ‘The battle for West Beach’ video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nNXW0mczUk We had another big meeting in the Henley Town Hall. About 400 people turned up. We had to say: ‘Look, we have done a fabulous job, we got the message out to South Australians, it has become a national issue, hopefully this will never happen in another place again.’ But no-one wanted to stop the campaign, even when we knew the odds were against us.

We agreed to all go down to the boat harbour the following Sunday after the meeting at the Henley Town Hall. Fences were chain wired around the site. Together we wove strips of cotton sheet into these fences to read Save our Beaches/Listen to the People. Of course, the media came down. Viewers watching the evening news saw our messages again: Save West Beach, Save Our Beaches, Listen to the People. Relatives from Queensland rang and said: ‘I saw all you lot down there, Save Our Beaches.’

The media update, written by Jim Douglas and produced by Bridget Bannear as president of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association on 11 June 1998, summarised our effort. We

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said that not one environmental issue in South Australia has ever raised so much interest and awareness as the Save Our Beaches campaign. Since the campaign went into action there had been in excess of 800 reports through various media outlets. We had been at the site on more than 40 occasions since we commenced a blockade, and by our actions we educated a huge population to this most significant environmental issue. But it had not been easy. Our committee met every Monday evening to consider strategies and tactics with the aim to stop the construction and force government to consider other alternatives. We fought them on the beaches, but the government forces were just too powerful and totally disregarded the democratic process, nor would they consider viable alternatives.

Our letter to the media explained that the government, the developers and their proharbour supporters had tried every trick in the book to discredit us, but thanks to residents, we continued to fight on. The government passed legislation to restrict access to the site, and the police had to uphold their laws of trespass and obstruction. Unfortunately, there were not enough of us to stop the groyne from being constructed, but we should not feel defeated by this fact. We achieved a lot in our struggle: • • • • • • • • •

Educated many about the damaging effects of groynes and artificial structures that are out in the sea Exposed the lack of democratic process to conduct a proper Environmental Impact Statement consultation United a community to voice and be heard Empowered ourselves by the action we took to challenge the status quo Formed friendships through our struggle Forced government to review its sand management program and commitment to a budget enshrined in legislation Exposed the weakness of the local member MP (the late) Steve Condous in that he would not support the community by opposing the construction at West Beach Developed skills Engaged the community.

Some people did not want to stop the protest. Media attention about the sand drift and erosion at West Beach and Henley Beach South continues today.

Twenty years later – 2019

The Glenelg foreshore building development went ahead and a boat launching facility, a 150-metre rock wall or groyne in a U shape, was built on our shores at West Beach.

Stormwater from the Sturt, Airport, Brownhill and Keswick Creeks is discharged out to sea through the Barcoo Outlet. In fact, the Barcoo Outlet is the main mechanism for discharging stormwater 200 metres offshore into Gulf St Vincent. However, with high flows stormwater enters the Patawalonga Lake and, when tides allow, is discharged. Using the control of locks, sea water comes in through the Glenelg Gates, is then circulated through Patawalonga Lake, and flushed out to sea through the Barcoo Outlet. The development continues to be controversial with failures to handle stormwater, pollution of Adelaide’s beaches, West Beach sand drift and huge erosion problems. This is the story of our campaign.

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Save Our Beaches – impact Anthony Psarros

I joined Henley and Grange Residents’ Association in 1992. Environmental issues were important to me. My background was in geography and environmental studies (Adelaide University). I understood the coast and local river systems. I knew where stormwater drains and the sewerage plants were located. I understood what the main pollutants were and why seagrasses were dead. I thought I might be able to make a difference at a local level, given my dissatisfaction with state and federal politics. I went to a few local monthly meetings and met a man named Doug Price. He was the heart and soul of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. Most of the positions were vacant on the committee at the time. This is my recollection; it may not be accurate. As soon as Doug saw me at the meeting, he reportedly said this is someone who can take over from me. He was desperate to get me involved. His son and I were friends at school, so he had known me for quite a while. I was voted in as the secretary of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association and held that position for about three years.

At that time, the residents’ association consisted of a small group of older people. They talked mainly about rates, rubbish and footpaths. I thought we needed to look at broader issues like stormwater and beach erosion. I wanted more consultation with Henley and Grange Council. Of course, that was before the merger with the larger council, so you could have a conversation with the local councillors. I became president and started to look for other people to become involved. Alan Shepherd was my secretary at the time. Eventually Jim Douglas joined us. I knew Jim through the union movement; he was a personal friend.

As president, I oversaw constitutional reform. We worked on beach management policies and talked about the built environment – the way people wanted to live. We branched out a bit. In 1996, Bridget Bannear became president and Jim Douglas became secretary. I nominated myself as the environmental officer. I was involved with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF). Networking with environmentalists has always been important.

If you talk about community mobilisation, the Save Our Beaches (1997-98) campaign was it.

The West Beach Boat Harbour was to be a $10 million rock wall rising 10 metres from the seabed. It would be longer than Henley Beach Jetty. All professional advice warned against its construction. An environmental impact assessment (1996) stated that development was not an option.

Initially Jim and I were a bit reticent being involved with the campaign, to be honest. We could see the amount of energy that needed to be put into it. But it was not up to us to kill it off either. We organised a public meeting to talk about what would happen if the boat harbour was to go ahead. Four hundred people rolled up at the Henley Town Hall. People were in the doorways, cheering throughout the presentations. The meeting elected an executive group to drive the campaign. I said to Jim: ‘How can we let this go now – it is so huge.’ Those at the meeting pledged to stop the West Beach Boat Harbour. So we went into the campaign. Picketing in the form of non-violent direct action would take place at Barcoo Road as soon as construction commenced.

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We gathered good people on the committee: people from the residents’ association and people elected from the public meeting. Experts came from various backgrounds: marine scientists, lawyers, environmentalists and, mostly, local residents. They were really committed.

Organisation was required for protesting and picketing. Bridget, Jim and I had those organisational skills. We had regular committee meetings, we spread our networks, the media was ever present thanks to Bridget’s perseverance. She was running PR from her workplace during her lunchtime. There was a press release nearly every day. Cameras were on, newspapers, radio interviews, we knew how to do these things. We did not all have mobile phones back then. Contacting 400 people about the protest blockage was achieved regardless. Imagine if we had access to mobile technology, what we could have done. But we did extremely well rostering people to turn up at the site using the phone tree network (described in the account above). Residents painted messages on their rubbish bins. On rubbish bin collection day, we could read: Save West Beach/No Boat Harbour. We fought to halt the construction for about four months.

We built good relationships and made a lot of new friends. It was a really good time. There is nothing like an issue to bring people together. When people are committed to something, they make it happen. Henley and Grange Council had merged into the City of Charles Sturt.

The council and Mayor Harold Anderson were initially on our side. Our networks grew enormously.

Towards the end, construction work people tried to fence off the site. I went to the Land Titles Office and found out that Barcoo Road, which was the entrance to the planned boat harbour, was not a public road. I told the police on site that they could not block this road.

One policeman said he wouldn’t arrest people if he did not have the legal authority. He was smart enough to back away. Legislation to make the road public had to be passed in parliament. We had six weeks grace. Up to ten people were on site at Barcoo Road every day. They had a tent, and protest signs were up. Eventually the regulation to close the road was passed and the protest became active. I don’t know how many times we sat in front of trucks. The developers got the fence up of course.

Our protest was non-violent, definitely. But police were quite fierce, don’t you worry about that. We would link arms but to stop you they would pull your thumbs back. And even when we were linked up in position, police would try to drag us away. Being dragged away was quite vicious. We were manhandled. There is quite a bit of footage showing this. Once I was put in a paddy wagon but not arrested. I ended up with sore ribs and sore thumbs. The police were often violent from our point of view.

Some media covering the blockade was not flattering to us. Some of the pieces in the local papers described us in a derogatory manner: we were a bunch of unemployed people, career protesters and Labor Party stooges. Also, I was getting nasty phone calls at night. This was quite upsetting. A group wanted to meet me on the site after hours to sabotage the dredge that was starting to remove sand for the boat harbour. I said no, that was not something we would do. ‘If you want to talk with me come to my home.’ I think they wanted me down there so that they could beat me up. I let the police know about the threatening phone calls.

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We fought all the way. We even fought when they were putting the first groyne rocks out to sea. You can see footage of us jumping in the water in protest. Eventually it was all over. The rock wall was built.

One consequence is that that the once beautiful West Beach is now severely eroded. And the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club will be lost. When the Patawalonga Lake drainage system overflows, stormwater is diverted under the channel at Barcoo and piped polluted water goes out to sea. Environmental damage is real.

We lost it. That was it for me. They were four of the most intense months of my life. I was exhausted. I dropped out of the residents’ association after that.

Anthony Psarros representing protesters at Parliament House (1998)

Save Our Beaches – another perspective Bridget Wardlaw (Bannear)

In 1998, I was president of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. I will talk about ‘we’ referring to all members. We learned to use the media effectively during the campaign Save Our Beaches. That year we received a media award for the story thread that had the most hits. Jim Douglas was terrific, appearing on my doorstep with drafts for a media release. Jim and I would hammer it out and get it off. I distinctly remember using the fax machine at work. Having the fax machine on fast dial and pressing the all media button meant all outlets were reached simultaneously. I think my employer was secretly tolerant about my fax use because we were environmentally sound, though later it became a bit tricky. The mayor of the council where I worked was actually friends with the developers. It was not unusual that at lunchtime a television crew would turn up at work. People working in the council were expecting that the mayor or the town clerk was about to be interviewed.

I’d say: ‘It’s OK folks, it is me.’ Then I would hop into the car park, do a quick interview to camera, and return to work. They were exciting times.

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Working full time and being a single mother, my son and I were often up first thing in the morning. We would go straight to the demonstration (demo). I would be in my formal office clothes and he in his school uniform. Precise start times at work and school meant we were very organised. It was quite stressful too. And then we were called out by Steve Condous (Liberal Colton MP, House of Assembly, 19 February 1998) as ‘unemployed non-contributors to society’.

There were lots of people just turning up to protest. We had written and were guided by a code of conduct. Its emphasis was on non-violence, not doing things that could be misinterpreted by the TV cameras which were mostly onsite for the duration of the demo. If someone was just clowning around, the camera would capture this and show it on the news channel as behaviour belonging to all of us, so we were very careful, including the way we dressed and how we spoke to the media, learning not to voice our opinion sarcastically as we found our words could be twisted or manipulated in the press. Some of our protesters were older women. That was a good look. That contradicted Steve Condous’ portrayal of us as hard-core unemployed protesters. Young people were dispersed among others so that we could not be photographed and interpreted as dreadlocked youth clumped together. We paired up people of varying ages and asked them to look after each other. It presented a united front to the press. There was a lot of combatting deliberate misreporting from the various media outlets. However, some of the media were on our side. When we chatted with reporters, they were often a source of information. ‘Do you know…?’ and we would often find out from them the background to some of the issues we were dealing with.

I realised when I was standing talking with developers who came on site that I was getting a crick in my neck. I am not very tall, not quite five feet. I’d be looking up at these people thinking: ‘Mmm, there are a lot of tall people.’ And then I was told that all these people used to play basketball together in their youth. There is this little clique of basketball players turned developers and suddenly it all started to fall into place, including the mayor of the council where I was working.

We kept saying that the community had not been consulted. I distinctly remember an appalling attempt at community consultation that took place in Glenelg Council Chambers.

They wanted us to speak so that it could be recorded in the minutes as consultation. It was just a stunt to say the community had been consulted. After a while we were wise about real consultation and events we should avoid. Through it we learned from each other, learned about much better ways of campaigning.

One of the successful strategies during the campaign was the phone tree we used for communicating with each other, with a structure of sea eagles, pelicans, seagulls and terns. I was in a pub one night in East Adelaide. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and said: ‘I like what you are doing and by the way I am one of your seagulls.’ There was a real sense of community. I think we had as much reach using the technology of the late 1990s as social media does today. I would go to work and people would say: ‘I am sick of hearing you on the news.’ I mean people were getting calls at 6am to say the protest or blockade was on, and they would turn up on the site. We had turnouts of 400 people. I don’t think you would do much better using today’s social media.

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Has anyone told you about the Blessing of the Beach? This happened when we were labelled as ratbags, dissidents and other kinds of troublemakers. One of the protesters, an older woman from a local church, mobilised her church group to support our cause. Soon all church leaders in the area were alert to Save Our Beaches and wanted to help. Four ministers were on the beach, all from different denominations. This support in Adelaide, known as the City of Churches, gave us the stamp of respectability.

We set out to make a difference but realised at the beginning that it was going to be difficult. We did force developers to modify their plan. The groyne rock wall was reduced in length, and the design of the boat wash facility was changed so that pollutants would not be flushed into the sea. We pointed out that maintenance of our beaches was going to be costly and we were absolutely vindicated in that. Look at the problems today.

I think our campaign was successful in providing environmental information, gathering community groups to work alongside each other, skilfully organising a protest, and managing the media. In this situation, developers I refer to as the basketball team had positioned themselves in places of power and could bulldoze anything. It seemed that those who were in positions of power had the final word. If we really want to change things and combat developers, we need to be elected to parliament. If there was general economic value in environmental protection instead of destruction, it might have a chance. Owning a newspaper might help.

Bridget Bannear negotiating with Police Sergeant Mart (courtesy of The Advertiser, News Ltd)

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Save Henley Dunes – coastal ecology Alison Harvey

I moved to Henley South in 1987, and although I have a long family history in the area, I did not know anyone. I met families at the Henley Community Kindergarten and Henley Beach Primary School and began to make social connections. Within a few years, I joined the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association, the Henley and Grange Arts Society, the Henley and Grange Historical Society, and the newly formed Henley Dunes Care Group.

The Henley Dunes Care Group was formed by community members in 1992. As a longtime Trees for Life grower with an interest in gardening and native plants, I became a founding member. The dunes of West Beach, Henley South, Henley Beach and Grange had been created as a result of sand-drift fencing placement by the council over the previous 20 years.

These dunes were weed infested, had very low plant diversity, had too many access tracks resulting in trampled bare sand patches, and contained minimal native vegetation.

Instigated by Henley and Grange Council’s Environment Officer Damian Moroney, this small group of dedicated volunteers worked on vegetation surveys, weed control, foot traffic control, plant propagation, revegetation, and production of educational pamphlets and interpretive signage. Our first planting day was held in June 1993 on the then bare dunes directly north of the Grange Jetty.

Unable to purchase endemic dune plant seedlings, we collected seeds from the remnant Tennyson Dunes and established a plant propagation nursery in the south-eastern corner of the Henley Memorial Oval complex. We then propagated and introduced thousands of native seedlings into the dunes from Grange to West Beach over the next ten years. After the amalgamation of Henley and Grange Council into the City of Charles Sturt in 1997, we shared the plant nursery with the Tennyson Dunes Group and Semaphore Dunes Group, and met as combined groups to plan projects, propagation, plantings and community education publications.

My short stints working as SA Regional Coast Care Facilitator in 1997, 2000 and 2003 gave me insight into the kinds of issues being tackled by coastal communities from Willunga to Whyalla, and provided me with information, skills and strategies to share with the dune care groups and Henley and Grange Residents’ Association.

In 1997, we were successful in gaining a Coastcare grant to produce a series of coastal interpretive signs to be installed along our coast. We combined with the Marine Discovery Centre at Henley Beach to complete this project of eight initial signs. This association continued on, with more than twenty coastal interpretive signs being installed along the City of Charles Sturt coastline over the years. Subsequent Coastcare grants enabled us to undertake more fencing, revegetation and community education projects.

As a dune care representative, and in conjunction with Jim Douglas from the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association, I made representation to the Torrens Catchment Management Board in favour of the removal of horses from the lower Torrens catchment and the creation of wetlands to improve the quality of stormwater flowing onto our beaches. In 1994, I spoke about the need for well vegetated stable dunes for protection

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against coastal erosion at a Save Our Beaches rally organised by the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. As a member of both groups, I assisted in representations to local council, the local MP and Premier Dean Brown regarding the folly of the West Beach Boat Harbour development. We also had representation alongside the residents’ association and the Marine Discovery Centre on the Coastal Community Reference Group formed by the City of Charles Sturt in the early 2000s.

As is the case with many community groups, eventually key members of the dunes group moved away or were unable to continue volunteering, and the group dissolved sometime around 2004. However, evidence of our efforts is easily detected, particularly in the West Beach, Henley South and Grange dunes where there are lovely pockets of diverse native dune species growing, stabilising the sand and providing habitat for birds, reptiles and insects.

Wara Wayingga-Tennyson Dunes Conservation Reserve Val Wales

I moved to the coast in Semaphore Park in 1998, and shortly thereafter formed a small group with some neighbours and the support of Charles Sturt Council to clean up the rubbish from the remnant dunes in front of our houses. It took about two years to remove truckloads of rubbish, after which we turned our attention to improving the area by revegetation and weeding. We heard that there was a group that was doing just that at Tennyson Dunes with help from the Environment Department, so I asked if I could join and learn how to revegetate. I soon found that they were an enthusiastic group determined to preserve this rare dune system, which is the last three-tiered dune system in the Adelaide metropolitan area. It is a rare example of what our coast used to look like before white settlement, and contains a habitat for remnant plants, native birds, reptiles and insects of local, regional and state significance.

Over the years, the dunes have come under significant pressure from housing developments, with visitor access, off-path activity and littering causing significant negative impacts. Feral animals (such as cats, foxes and rabbits) and off-lead dogs as well as pest plants, including garden escapes, have also been big problems.

In an effort to get the support of Charles Sturt Council and the state government to protect this rare jewel, I walked and talked to every environment minister in every government over the years with little success. A state government proposal to construct a walking/cycling path all along the coast was the catalyst for us to seek the support of other groups along the coast such as WACRA, as we were all concerned about the damage this might do to the coast. We had already observed that to create a three-metre-wide path, seven metres had to be bulldozed through fragile dune systems. All the groups got together and a year -long consultation was held in the City of Charles Sturt which I thought was one of the best consultations that I had ever attended, and we thought that we had arrived at a good decision. However, a change of council resulted in a different view which led to a lot of bad feeling all round between councillors and coastal groups, and various new ways of achieving the path were put forward.

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I had joined the WACRA Committee where I received great support and made many good friends. I joined them in their Save Our Beaches protest against the West Beach Boat Harbour project, as well as protests concerning jet skis and the Baju/H2O development at Henley Square and the subsequent ground water issues. However, in 2014 a change started happening and I realised that some members in WACRA were now supporting an amended cycle path. Things came to a head at a meeting in February 2015 where members voted to cease supporting other coastal groups such as ourselves in just wanting a natural surface narrow walking path. I felt that under the circumstances I had to reluctantly resign from the committee. That really hurt because I was proud to be a part of WACRA, a great organisation which has helped large numbers of people over the years. However, I have maintained friendships with many members and continue to support the association. That was a particularly difficult time for me because my son and daughter-in-law had been hit by a bus on their honeymoon in India, and my daughter-in-law was critically injured and in a coma in New Delhi.

Tennyson Dunes eventually got the type of path it wanted and the protection of being declared a coastal conservation reserve under the Crown Lands Act 2009. The present pathway design and location was supported by WACRA, and our group was pleased about that. In areas of the dunes to the north and south of the conservation reserve, the pathways are undecided and it looks like the state government will take over responsibility from Charles Sturt Council.

Val Wales in her beloved dunes

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The Coastal Pathway – unfinished business Richard Smith and Jim Douglas

The Hon Diana Laidlaw, Minister for Transport and Urban Planning (1997-2002) initiated the Coastal Linear Park project (as it is now called) on the edge of Gulf St Vincent. The plan was to construct a footpath and a recreational bicycle path along the Adelaide foreshore between Outer Harbor and ultimately Sellicks Beach. The funding and construction of this uninterrupted pathway is a shared responsibility of the SA State Government(s) and six coastal councils including the City of Charles Sturt. Between 2001 and 2013, the state government had provided over $21 million. In 2019, it continues to provide funding matched by local government councils towards the development of the project. It was anticipated that the full construction would take ten years; however, this timeline has been well exceeded. We are into the 18th year and the pathway has not been completed. It is interesting to revisit a statement by the Hon Ms Laidlaw that it was disappointing the infrastructure designed to benefit pedestrians and cyclists has taken so long to be completed.

As one of the six local coastal governments, the City of Charles Sturt commenced community consultation in 2013. The first section of the Coastal Linear Park was completed along Henley Beach shore. In subsequent years, the council completed construction from West Beach through to Grange as well as sections within Semaphore Park. The section of coastline between Grange and Semaphore is the area of concern. Nestled between this section of coast are the well-known and cared for Tennyson Dunes, said to be up to 6,000 years old and containing rare coastal plants with many bird and reptile species.

WACRA is recognised as a key stakeholder alongside five other community resident groups: Coastal Ecology Protection Group (CEPG), Sandpiper Place Group (SPG), Wild Endangered Dunes Group (WEDGE), Tennyson Heights Group (THG) and the Tennyson Dunes Group (TDG). Many of these groups were set up after 2013. Initially the well-established Bicycle Users Group (BUG) was a stakeholder. Council, in its attempt to find common ground between these groups, called for expressions of interest. A Coast Park Community Reference Group was to be managed by council with an independent facilitator. Terms of reference were agreed upon. We recall that: Various planning and coastal experts were brought in to provide guidance to this reference group. At times the meetings were dynamic and heated; consensus was not reached. In total, this reference group met for two years. There were strong deputations to council. Generally, your deputation was acknowledged with applause. Those presenting the deputation could leave their documented notes but had no right of reply to council. It was difficult to ascertain if our voice had been heard. The process and workings of council are not always clear.

Our involvement commenced on 26 March 2014. At the first meeting of the reference group, we were given an environmental report. It explored pathway design possibilities. We discussed the area from Terminus Street in Grange to Third Avenue in Semaphore. This section contains the Tennyson Dunes for which the Tennyson Dunes Group has a passionate concern. Ian Hunter, Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, SA Government, made it clear that this area was going to be declared as a reserve. However, for the coastal pathway to proceed, we needed to agree on the way in which Tennyson Dunes 38

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could be protected. Meetings were held with all groups in the following few months – April, May and July 2014. Within that period of time we heard about four options for the Coastal Linear Park.

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Option 1: The park was to be coastal – it would run somewhere close to the houses. The government decreed that ‘a coast park would be coastal’ Option 2: A path could be partly on a road Option 3: The path would be mostly on the western side of Military Road Option 4: The path would be on the eastern side of Military Road

Some people in the reference group did not want a concrete path in front of their houses, and one group in particular, Wild Endangered Dunes Group (WEDGE), staged an effective public protest. Well-informed people from the Bicycle Users Group (BUG) argued the whole idea of options 2-4 alongside or on the road were absurd as obviously these paths would not be along the coast. As a group we walked this section of the proposed Coastal Linear Park many times. The coastal pathway was the subject of many conversations within WACRA, and with other interested community organisations, council and state MPs. It was hard work being a WACRA member of the reference group. Some people voiced strong opposition against any pathway at all, and then there were others who would agree to a narrow natural sand/dirt walking track. Others wanted a three-metre solid constructed pathway, and yet others suggested a combination of a shared pathway and environmentally well-constructed boardwalks. WACRA’s position was for the path to be as close to the coast as feasible and as sensitive to the environment as possible. WACRA was in favour of council attempting to reach consensus though group discussion. However, there were some wild opinions (e.g. we could not have a coastal path because it was too windy!). We began to see that all sorts of ideas and objections were pulled out of pockets. It was not sur prising that people objected, particularly those who lived in this dune zone. Invasion of privacy and possibly a decline in property values were some of the reasons given. We heard about the lawn strip on common ground which had been carefully tended for years by local coastal dwelling residents and they wanted to keep this green strip intact. On several occasions WACRA’s delegation met with Stephen Mullighan who served as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Minister for Housing and Urban Development from 2014-18. He was in favour of the Coastal Linear Park pathway being two metres wide (instead of three) but claimed it would not work through the Tennyson Dunes as people on bikes would not be careful enough to protect rare coastal plants that thrive on its edges. Nevertheless, it was worth exploring if the path could be constructed in ways that would not damage the natural environment. Boardwalks were vehemently opposed by some groups.

There was a change in leadership of the elected members of Charles Sturt Council who, much to the concern of all the reference group members, closed the communication. On 23 February 2015, the reference group was disbanded. The ‘shut down’ came at a critical time.

It was just after council made a public call to include a wider group of residents. The ‘new’ group took a proactive support position for a continuous shared three-metre pathway. This position caused great concern to those objecting to a shared pathway and meetings thereafter became quite hostile.

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Eventually Charles Sturt Council presented its position. It consisted of a combination of two plans that had been discussed within the reference group. This fused plan was a threemetre-wide concrete pathway in two sections, from Third Street in Semaphore Park to Cormorant Court (the northern boundary of the Tennyson Dunes) and from Fort Street in Grange to Bournemouth Street (the southernmost boundary of the Tennyson Dunes). There were two options in relation to the location of the pathway and there were suggestions that in some sensitive areas there could be the possibility of a boardwalk crossing.

It was obvious to WACRA that this fused plan would not be acceptable to those resident groups who live on that section of the dunes. As members of WACRA, we had walked this disputed section of the Coastal Linear Park many times. WACRA sought alternative views, attending many meetings and participating in internal discussions. We communicated our plan to each of the groups involved, with an invitation to meet with us. We believed that a compromise was possible. Our position on this section of coastal land included a nonconcrete pathway measuring less than three metres using a 'Discovery Trail'. It was to be located mainly at the most eastern point of the existing dune. We had consulted and sought expert advice from an ecologist, a coastal engineer, a coastal planner, and a representative group of residents consisting of one from each stakeholder group. Only one group took up our invitation. The Bicycle Users Group (BUG) made some suggested changes but in the main agreed that our compromise was workable for their users.

The Tennyson Dunes Group eventually agreed that the existing pathway inside the dunes should be remodelled and the pathway fenced as much as possible. This was encouraging because at the same time the Tennyson Dunes Group were looking for support to make an application to State Government Minister Ian Hunter for the Tennyson Dunes to be declared a conservation reserve. If their application was successful, that meant that the management of the Tennyson Dunes would be taken over from council by the state government.

Whilst all this was happening, residents from the CEPG determined to take legal action against Charles Sturt Council in their endeavours to stop any work proceeding. The court ruled in favour of the CEPG and they were awarded all costs. In short, the court found that council had not followed the correct procedures set down within their Public Consultation Policy and all costs were carried by council. As a result, Charles Sturt Council was forced to review its consultation procedures. This meant that a new round of consultation had to take place. After many months of meetings and presentations council finally endorsed a new Public Consultation Policy.

Where are we in August 2019? It is our opinion that a new round of community consultation must take place again with stakeholders. This time we should seek greater community representation. One of the outcomes of the recent council elections is that the Coasta l Linear Park is high on its agenda. The road ahead will not be easy. However, various WACRA members have attended every meeting of the Community Reference Group and we have made significant contributions. We are aware of different group agendas and we wil l ensure that our membership continues to be fully engaged in resolving this issue. We will have to look for a compromise in line with WACRA’s revised position. It now seems possible that the state government will take control of the development away from council. This may be a good thing providing that a full consultation process takes place. …As of November 2019, discussions are ongoing.

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Ban shark fishing Jim Douglas

Shark fishing from Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches goes back almost 100 years. However, our story commences in the year 2000 when the community became concerned that a number of recreational fishers were throwing heavy lines, blood bait and burley off the end of Henley Beach Jetty, with the intention of catching a shark.

Members of our residents’ association raised their concerns with various authorities and the media without too much attention being taken, until a very graphic image appeared in the local Weekly Times Messenger newspaper with a story about a group of young men landing a two-metre bronze whaler shark from the Henley Beach Jetty. On screen, media images showed a large shark being dragged onshore. Later we witnessed the release of that same shark into shallow waters amongst swimmers. This incident prompted WACRA and local surf life saving club members to make a call to Ban all Shark Fishing from metropolitan jetties and beaches. Soon after this incident, we wrote to two ministers of the state government: Michael O'Brien (Agriculture) and Gail Gago (Environment). Then WACRA members arranged a meeting with the local member for Colton (Henley and Grange), the federal MP for Hindmarsh, and Charles Sturt local government personnel to outline our concerns and seek support for a shark fishing ban.

Levels of public administration and MPs were in agreeance that shark fishing was hazardous.

Promises were made to further investigate the dangers of shark fishing so close to our shores. Undertakings were made to change fishery regulations. Charles Sturt Council investigated the installation of shark nets around Henley Beach Jetty. This trial, not supported by WACRA, was abandoned after it was found that such nets could cause harm to other species.

Whilst WACRA members were calling for a shark fishing ban, a major incident happened off the Normanville Jetty during a junior life saving championship that caused community outcry and a direct call on the SA Government to ban jetty shark fishing. Recreational fishers fought back, arguing it was a ‘safe practice’ and the community was unnecessarily alarmed.

WACRA members sought evidence to show the dangers surrounding shark fishing near our shores. We contacted an internationally recognised expert who was a senior research fellow at the South Australian Research and Development Institute. Dr Scoresby Shepherd confirmed that there were significant dangers in shark fishing in metropolitan waters. He pointed out the need to ban jetty shark fishing not only because of the dangers but also to protect various shark species. The bronze whaler or copper shark is recognised as a threatened species by the international United Nations (UN). When Dr Shepherd’s scientific evidence was made available, we circulated it to the SA State Government, surf life saving clubs and the media.

Very soon after this information became public, a significant incident was reported in Adelaide’s Sunday Mail (January 2012). It was the story of a fisherman dragging a two-metre bronze whaler shark at Henley Beach from the end of the jetty onto the shore through a group of schoolchildren who were playing in the shallow waters. Fortunately, their teachers saw the shark being pulled through the water and immediately called for the children to

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leave the water. Once more, Recreational Fishing Council members claimed that 'beach users were not in danger'.

Straightaway WACRA, alongside the surf life saving clubs, wrote to the government calling for urgent action and legislation to ban all shark fishing from jetties. As usual, media attention assisted the community activist cause. On 14 February 2012, a front-page headline in The Advertiser read: 'SHARK OFF THE MENU – Metro fishing ban’ with a major graphic of a white pointer shark close to shore being attracted by meat bait. The white pointer shark is another protected species.

In 2012, following this incident, an announcement was made for all shark fishing to be banned during daylight hours. There was a trial period of 12 months. Size of fishing gear, hooks and traces were to be reduced and a ban on the use of specified blood, bone, animal skin and offal would be enacted immediately. Any breach of the conditions stipulated would result in an on-the-spot fine of $315 or a fine in Adelaide’s courts that could mount to $20,000. This was seen as a major breakthrough. More lobbying had to be done to enshrine the conditions under legislative regulations.

In April 2012, WACRA received official trial results from the state MP. The conditions were enshrined under Section 71 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 which resulted in banning all shark fishing in a defined South Australian coastal area – Outer Harbor to Yankalilla Bay. The ban on shark fishing was to be spread between the hours 0500 and 2100, seven days a week. Conditions were applied and significant fines for breaches were installed in the regulations. WACRA members are very pleased to have played a significant role in pursuing legislation to ban shark fishing from Adelaide’s metropolitan jetties.

Jet ski exclusion zone Jim Douglas

A jet ski is a personal watercraft (PWC) propelled by a motor and is operated by a person who stands, sits or kneels at the device, steering it by the use of handlebars. It is like a motorcycle on the water. Depending on its size, the PWC can carry 1-3 people. Registration of the jet ski is a requirement in South Australia. This registration number is affixed to the hull of the jet ski above the waterline and should be readable from a distance of 50 metres on a clear day. The driver must have a licence to operate a PWC. The SA Government published a boating and marine safety handbook. In these SA guidelines, there are rules specific to PWC. They indicate when, which coastlines and times a PWC can be used. In 2016, Charles Sturt Council, in collaboration with the state government, issued regulations that Henley Beach and Grange were to be jet ski-free environments over summer. And on 13 October 2016, the state government introduced the Harbors and Navigation (Restricted Area Henley Beach) Variation Regulations which permanently restrict all vessels fitted with an engine between sunrise and sunset on any day over the summer period, inclusive in any year.

Initially, complaints received by WACRA about jet skis were that they were often too fast, too close to swimmers and too noisy. Although these complaints were received from 2000, it was not until 2007 that a WACRA-driven media campaign began. In the Weekly Times

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Messenger newspaper 10 January 2007, Jim Douglas, then president of WACRA, said he received at least six complaints a month. A problem with jet skis was speeding too close to shore, making the water unsafe for swimmers. A few residents took video footage as evidence, to show the way in which swimmers were endangered. Counter protests were received from the jet-ski fraternity, who denied jet skis were a safety problem. Surf life savers claimed that they had not received any complaints. In the same Weekly Times Messenger article, readers were given regulations for the use of a jet ski on Australian beaches.

Jet skiers cannot exceed four knots within: 50m of swimmers or unpowered craft; 200m of the shoreline; and 30m of jetties, wharves and other vessels.

In this way, residents and other interested beach visitors received information and education about jet-ski regulations and how to register complaints. If complaining about a jet ski, the complainant should provide evidence of the jet ski’s registration number, the time, date and location. It was noticed that the PWC’s registration was often not affixed correctly; consequently, reporting to authorities was made difficult. Nevertheless, increased numbers of complaints were registered. In the Weekly Times Messenger 24 January 2007, the heading of an article devoted to policing by Water Operations Police was: ‘Henley a hotbed for hoon jet skiers’.

Jet ski close to the shore at Henley Beach

A common complaint was failure to wear a flotation device. Steve Lovegrove, a keen jet skier, was concerned about life jackets and other safety issues. In The Advertiser 5 February 2007, he argued that a special licence should be earned by jet ski users. He pointed out that a licence was already mandatory to drive a jet ski in Queensland. He said: ‘The use of jet skis is growing in popularity and a lot of people using them are not well educated about them.’

On the same page of The Advertiser, two jet skiers were under investigation for bad behaviour whilst on their PWCs. At a court hearing it was reported that these men could be the first to face charges under new anti-hoon laws that have penalties of up to two years jail

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and $2,500 fines. This message was sent to reckless operators. We learned that 2,500 jet skis were registered in South Australia.

It was not surprising to see the headlines of the Weekly Times Messenger 9 January 2008 read: ‘Jet skiers on notice in safety crackdown’. Police had also received a number of complaints after they had said that people who see jet skiers breaking the law should call them. Patrolling was given legitimacy when a Water Operations Unit was asked to focus on jet skiers, with particular attention at Henley Beach. In the same article, jet ski laws were emphasised; in addition, readers were reminded that: ‘Code of conduct information must appear on the jet ski; must not be operated at night; riders need a boat licence and the jet ski must be registered; and riders must wear an approved floating device.’ A spokesperson for Charles Sturt Council reported that it needed a bylaw that jet skis were not allowed to be launched at local beaches and that they could not issue fines until it became a bylaw.

In March 2008, it was reported that one fifth of the jet skiers ‘“pulled over” during a recent police crackdown at metropolitan beaches were breaking the law’ (Weekly Times Messenger 6 March 2008). Riders were fined for speeding, operating without a licence, and for not having code of conduct information displayed on their PWC. Charles Sturt Council had been successful in introducing a bylaw and fines had been issued.

During the summer months of 2009 and 2010, WACRA was in full campaign mode. A flyer written by WACRA member Paul Laris asked residents to ‘Reclaim the beach: Stop the jet ski menace’. This printed letter was letterboxed throughout the beach-lying suburbs. He wrote: There is a common pattern of users launching at the West Beach boat ramp and coming up to Henley and Grange to meet their mates, refuel and open the esky, and take turns to zoom out from the beach for a few aquatic burnouts.

WACRA, he said, had attempted to bring together the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, the police and the Charles Sturt Council to enforce the ‘existing mish-mash of inadequate laws and regulations’. He reported that WACRA had held meetings with state MP Paul Caica and with officers of the department. These bodies required more evidence of riders of jet skis breaking the law. He encouraged bystanders to note the registration number, date, time and place, details of the incident, a description of the operator – male/female, colour of clothing, life jacket and, if possible, registration number of vehicles or trailers. Names and contact details of any witnesses were requested. Those people registering their complaint were asked to contact any of the official state and council organisations mentioned above.

On 16 January 2013, a WACRA spokesperson told the Messenger Press that we would not give up fighting to ban jet skis from Henley Beach. The state government had ruled it out.

Earlier that month a WACRA spokesperson reported that seven riders were seen illegally parking their PWCs north of Henley Beach Jetty, flouting the law and putting swimmers at risk. Another flyer was letterboxed to 500 people who lived near Henley Beach and Grange asking them to contact their local MP, the Transport Department or Charles Sturt Council. It was reported that the results of an Adelaidenow survey that weekend indicated that 83 percent of readers had voted for jet skis to be banned from swimming beaches. The maximum fine for a jet ski user caught breaking the laws relating to safety had been set at $2,500. But few such fines had been served.

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The response from a representative of the Boating Industry Association of SA, Glen Jones, argued that bans on ski jets in a designated area would penalise ‘everybody for the very small minority…it’s more about policing’. We need ‘more regular patrols by compliance officers’ said a jet ski user from Woodville, ‘rather than ban whole sections of beach’.

In 2013, WACRA’s president said the group would push for greater policing of laws relating to safe jet ski use. But he claimed that WACRA members had rarely seen compliance officers on the beach. However, in a Weekly Times Messenger article published 23 January 2013 he pushed for bans of jet skis at Henley Beach, and said he would ask the government to consider designated areas for jet skis at Outer Harbor and Glenelg North, near the Barcoo Outlet. Government’s response was that the issue would be dealt with by the next Transport Minister, Tom Koutsantonis.

On 14 March 2013, Tom Koutsantonis met with WACRA members. In a letter dated 22 August 2013, the minister acknowledged WACRA’s position paper on jet skis and metropolitan coastal waters, and advised that he would bring officers from the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) together with WACRA to discuss this issue.

In October 2013, a ban on jet skis between the River Torrens and Grange Jetty was the subject of debate in Charles Sturt Council. If the council decided it wanted to go ahead with the ban, the state would need to ratify it first. WACRA members and those opposed to the ban were also in debate, each giving their position to local journalists. The owner of SA Jet Ski Tours, who ran jet ski tours between Semaphore and West Beach, predicted that if the area was banned, jet skiers would flock to the River Murray, already overcrowded at peak summer times.

In December 2013, The Advertiser reported that jet ski-free zones were set to expand along the coast. It was to be a trial, although MP Tom Koutsantonis had no hesitation in declaring that he would like the ban made permanent: ‘The last thing you want to see at the beach is jet skis interrupting or making children unsafe in the water’. The ban was trialled until March 2014 and commitment to instigate a permanent jet ski ban along the Henley and Grange coastline was still being debated in parliament.

Paul Laris and Keryn Stevens (press photographer)

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Meanwhile WACRA members sought an update on the proposed legislative changes to permanently restrict the use of jet skis in the exclusion zone between the River Torrens at Henley to Grange Road, noted in the Aquatic Activity Licence issued by Charles Sturt Council.

By September 2016, the SA Minister for Transport, Stephen Mullighan, had prepared a set of variation regulations for cabinet consideration. It went through. The formal document is noted under Harbors and Navigation (Restricted Area Henley Beach) Variation Regulations 2016 (no. 241 of 2014 published in the Gazette 13.10.2016, page 4009). The Weekly Times Messenger reported (26 October 2016): ‘Jet-ski ban finally sticks. State Government steps in to end yearly debate over zones’.

It took 16 years of constant WACRA activity to reach a satisfactory outcome. The community may now feel safer in the water – at least between 1 December and 31 March.

Saving Henley Dunes Bernadette Cranwell and Lisa Redman

We are local residents who live on the seafront. We were talking over the fence one day about the damage caused by the latest storm to hit our beach. We shared a concern about sand loss which had swept over Esplanade roads. Storms cause sand to move from south to north, carrying precious beach sand. Our dunes were being denuded. Other people in our neighbourhood had similar concerns. ‘What can we do?’, was the question asked by this local community.

We learned that our local council, the City of Charles Sturt, had sand replenishment and vegetation management plans in place for West Beach and Henley South. This included the area surrounding the Torrens Outlet where sand mining and erosion had been a longstanding problem. Saving the dunes at Henley Beach was another problem. We heard that the council had commissioned a report to explore ways to save Henley Dunes. When we approached council about the report, we heard that a decision had already been made; fences were to be built on existing sand dunes, parallel to the Esplanade, at a cost of $75,000.

Reading the commissioned report, we realised that other options to save the sand had not been considered. We discussed this report with Jim Douglas, president of WACRA at that time, and were advised by him. We carried out further research and discovered that there were other ways to reduce sand loss. Based on our research, we wrote a report supplying evidence that vegetating the dunes was a better and cheaper way to manage sand and protect Henley Dunes.

In the presence of WACRA members, we made a deputation to the full council in February 2018. There was a lot of dissent. One councillor argued that our plan would be a good thing because involving the community was considered to be a positive and the fact that we were volunteers was an extra bonus. This argument worked in our interest. Eventually, council approved our revegetation plan, subject to applying and gaining a grant for $5,000, an amount we had asked for originally to set up a working group. No doubt saving a large sum of money helped councillors to make this favourable decision.

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After months of negotiation, we were granted $2,500. It was agreed that native plants would be supplied by the council. We were offered the council’s gardening equipment. However, funding to buy additional tools was needed so we continued to explore sources for other grants.

Our strengths were organisational management, our experience in marketing, organising occupational health and safety requirements, communicating to our volunteers, and other administrative aspects of setting up a viable working group. We made use of our extensive networks, consulting and involving many other community groups.

Our research into other environmental groups brought us in touch with philosophies that were consistent with our values and strategies for energising group activity. Landcare had a good model to follow, stating its objective as a movement that is about ‘people wanting to make a difference’ in caring for their local environment. Similarly, we consulted the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board and realised we shared their aims in promoting community engagement and education. Clean Up Australia focused on community engagement, in this case to clean up the environment. Started in the early 1980s, Greening Australia was another organisation claiming to have established four million native plants.

We decided against becoming an incorporated not-for-profit association. Instead, WACRA was supportive and offered to manage the official finance side of this endeavour. At this stage we should confess that we knew very little about coastal native plants. We have been on a steep learning curve. People from the Tennyson Dunes Group have contributed their vast experience on coastal planting.

(L to R) Bernadette Cranwell, Lisa Redman and Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar promote Henley Dunes Care Group at Tennyson Dunes Open Day 2018

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This is a new age for setting up groups. We used social media extensively, with the essential Henley Dunes Care Group website (www.henleydunes.org) and Facebook site. We consulted with local politicians. On 24 June 2018, we organised a trial public walk around the site to be planted. At this first orientation walk of the beach there were about 20-25 people including the mayor and our local MP. The launch of the Henley Dunes vegetation project was 1 July 2018. Again, the group was large; about 40 keen supporters turned up in the middle of winter. We assured this group that working in the dunes was covered by insurance. In time, we had completed all the formal aspects of setting up.

Over 1,000 native coastal plants are now growing in the Henley Dunes. Shortcuts or ‘goat tracks’ were evident in the dunes and it was argued by those wanting fences that peopl e would continue to walk through the dunes regardless. Our plants would not have a chance.

We pointed out that four points of access to the beach had not been maintained. Once these repairs took place, people started to use designated paths, avoiding trampling through the dunes. Nevertheless, we protected plants with guards and temporary fencing. Also, we made signage ‘Keep off the Dunes’. Council printed and installed the signs. We have a contact at council, a staff member who has been very helpful.

In the last year, walking alongside council staff and councillors shaped the evaluation. A high percentage of our plants have survived. In February 2019, about 70 percent of our plants were still alive, whereas our research evidence cites a usual 30 percent success rate. We have not yet filled those goat paths completely with plants although we aim to do so in the near future. Hopefully it will silence our critics.

We involve other groups in the community. Linking with other environmental groups we held an Australia Day Clean Up. We have since tapped into another local clean-up group: Our Coast, Our Mission. We have already held one clean-up day with this group and there are plans for more working bees together. Facebook friends are told about a gathering on a particular day and then we wait to see who turns up. Fortunately, we have about 8-10 regular volunteers who help guide and assist newcomers. We have noticed people come and go. Local schools often send the students of an entire classroom to help plant and l earn about our dune environment. Local high school students occasionally help with watering the plants.

Other than social media, we do not really need to promote the working bees. It is a pleasure to see so many people on those days. Landcare program volunteers merge with our Henley Dunes Care Group regulars, sharing the work we do in the sand dunes. In addition, Landcare group members often share their knowledge and resources. WACRA members tend to be regulars at working bees. The Greens political party are keen to forge a link, and we have done so, but we want to stay apolitical. We share the values for caring about our environment. That keeps us working together. Recently a man from Brazil connected with our group. He was just settling into Adelaide as a newcomer and sought like-minded environmentally conscious people and community activity. French tourists were here for one of our working bees and loved being so close to the sea and doing something useful. Yes, we are building community here. Media coverage has been generous. We are linked to so many other groups. In June 2019, the plants are thriving and look wonderful.

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Environment Community relationships: WACRA and Friends of Gulf St Vincent Ian Kirkegaard

In 1976, I came to South Australia to be involved in the management of fisheries across the state. The Fisheries Act’s intention was to protect spawning and nursery areas, to protect specific habitats or simply to give refuge to fish humans wanted to catch. This was part of a broad program to make the fisheries sustainable by reducing unnecessary impacts of fishing.

Throughout the 1980s, we were learning about the contamination of the Upper Spencer Gulf with heavy metals, and the uptake of those metals in seafoods through research led by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Other studies were setting out details of the impacts of discharges of sewage effluent.

The state government, by agreement with other states and the commonwealth, had enacted ‘mirror’ legislation to give effect to the international convention on dumping at sea within the waters of South Australia. This was particularly significant in our case, because the topography of South Australia, with its extensive gulfs, meant that this state had appreciably more marine waters under state jurisdiction than all the other states combined. Australia had been a lead country in setting up the convention, and one of the first to sign and ratify it. The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act was passed for South Australia in 1984.

In 2002, there was a proposal to dredge Outer Harbor. The problem was not so much the dredging, for which there was technology that could minimise environmental impact, but the intention to dump the spoil into Gulf St Vincent. This was contrary to world practice, and to the international sea dumping convention. The project was approved in the terms sought

by Flinders Ports – against all technical advice to not dump the spoil at sea.

In late 2018, the government announced that the ports manager, Flinders Ports, had made an application to dredge 70,000 3 cubic metres from the Port River at Outer Harbor to provide adequate depth for very large container vessels to enter the Port. A number of organisations, including Friends of Gulf St Vincent, Port Adelaide Residents Environment Group, WACRA and the Fishing Industry, provided submissions to a government committee giving warnings that we would never tolerate another mismanaged dredging operation such as occurred in 2005, and called on the committee to ensure that strict conditions apply, controlled by the Environment Protection Authority. In addition, we advised that the dredged material be dumped on land in accordance with international law. We were partly successful in ensuring that all of the dredging would be monitored and made public; however, the spoil would be deposited out into Gulf St Vincent in the same location as the 2005 dredging operation. The controls applied and monitored have proven to be a far better environmental outcome.

Working alongside WACRA, Friends of Gulf St Vincent (FoGSV) used a unified community approach to the protection and wise use of Gulf St Vincent. Together with WACRA, we advocated for conservation of marine and coastal environments, protection of key habitats in the gulf, sustainable use of marine resources, promoting awareness of issues relating to

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the health of the gulf, and providing a means of conveying community concerns to government.

Friends of Gulf St Vincent flag

FoGSV’s priority was always to educate and inform. August 2004 saw the first edition of the newsletter Blue Swimmer. This was always intended to be a publication ‘of record’. Apart from the legal deposit of copies with the State and Parliamentary Libraries, the Friends worked to get copies to other council and school libraries, and to anyone who might benefit from its content.

Increasingly, Blue Swimmer gained content from workshops that the Friends held around Gulf St Vincent. The broad aim was to have at least two workshops each year, one day each, in different towns. The average attendance seemed to be around 60 local people, regardless of where the workshop was held. Those numbers were sufficient to attract high-quality speakers which, in turn, provided copy for local newspapers and news sheets.

The obvious interest in the natural history of the Gulf prompted the Friends to publish two other works. The Natural History of Gulf St Vincent was published through the Royal Society of South Australia in 2008. That is the definitive work, but it is expensive. From 2009, it was supported by the 23-page Gulf St Vincent: A precious asset, produced with financial support from the Australian Government’s Envirofund so it could be distributed free, particularly in bulk numbers to schools.

FoGSV found much in common with other community groups, which helped with workshops in the metropolitan area. Around the metropolitan area, the declining quality of the River Torrens and the steadily eroding beaches had many other people becoming active in environmental representations. Those people often had interesting new ways of getting the 50

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message out, and through them FoGSV became involved in school art and craft projects and public art in many forms. Concerns about sediment in the metropolitan rivers and off the beaches led FoGSV to develop the Secchi Disk Program for longterm citizen monitoring of basic water quality and turbidity in the gulf.

Members of WACRA help maintain the Secchi Disk Program. FoGSV and WACRA have worked closely and effectively on a wide range of activities. WACRA will continue to focus on the performance of coast protection along the metropolitan coast in the hope that, one day, the responsible board (Coast Protection Board) might really wonder why the methods that it has applied, with little change, for four decades, seem to have left quite deplorable conditions on several beaches.

River Torrens – Breakout Creek (Karrawirra Pari) Jim Douglas

The River Torrens has its source in the Mount Lofty Ranges. It is Adelaide's largest metropolitan waterway, fed by six creeks and flowing across the Adelaide Plains through the City of Adelaide to its outlet into Gulf St Vincent. Breakout Creek is the final 3.5 kilometres of the River Torrens upstream from the outlet into Gulf St Vincent. It is located within the local government boundaries of the City of Charles Sturt and the City of West Torrens.

In 1995, the Torrens Catchment Water Management Board (now Green Adelaide) set up a key stakeholders consultation group to develop a draft concept plan. Alison Harvey was the Henley and Grange representative (WACRA). The vision was to develop a continuous wetland in three stages that, according to the Torrens Catchment Water Management Plan, would: Revitalise the Torrens River Catchment, its rivers, lakes and streams to a state of clean water and healthy ecosystems, and to ensure a resource that is available for the sustainable use and enjoyment of all.

Specific issues to be addressed in the plan included the improvement of water quality, stormwater management, the upgrading of environmental quality, and flood controls.

Priority works included trash racks, silt traps, wetland/retention basins, established recreation places, and significant reduction of pollutants.

In 1999, the first stage of the Breakout Creek 'demonstration' wetland upstream of Henley Beach Road was completed. The project involved widening the existing waterway and deepening sections to form wetlands, access paths, viewing platforms and significant vegetation plantings. Horses were no longer agisted within the area.

In 2005, a social impact assessment was conducted of the waterway between Henley Beach Road and Tapleys Hill Road that involved considerable community consultation. Soon after, a concept plan was agreed upon and work commenced on the second stage.

In 2006, growing community concern about the state of the River Torrens Lake prompted the government to establish a Torrens Taskforce to review the situation. The taskforce

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consisted of national and international water experts, state and local government representatives, community and environmental organisations, and a number of universities.

WACRA played a significant role representing the community. Our collective role was to provide a report to the government minister on recommended actions, responsibilities and findings by March 2007 (Torrens Taskforce Final Report, May 2007).

The determination of WACRA to seek out funding and commitment from the federal, state and local governments to complete the third stage of the wetland has been a standing item on our agenda. In 2015, many meetings, submissions and presentations resulted in the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board working with key stakeholders to develop a concept plan for this section of the waterway. Although things went quiet due to changes in government, we were nevertheless relentless in pursuing funding commitments from the three levels of government.

Things started to move when the City of West Torrens closed off the horse facilities at Lockleys Oval and agreed on a plan to shift them to a new modern facility in Apex Park on the southern side of the Torrens riverbank. An additional funding commitment of $12 million was promised by the federal and state governments, City of Charles Sturt and City of West Torrens to complete the final stage of the wetland.

In November 2020, the concept plan is being finalised. It is promised that work will commence in spring 2021. Breakout Creek wetlands will be an environmental and ecological showpiece which will have met its vision and objectives.

Stage 1 Breakout Creek (east of Tapleys Hill Road)

Dredging Outer Harbor Peter Schultz

In May 2018, the state government granted the Flinders Ports corporation development approval to widen the Outer Harbor shipping channel. Larger ships are being used by international shipping companies and Post-Panamax vessels have a width of 49 metres.

Currently vessels 35 to 42.2 metres have restricted accessibility to the port at Outer Harbor.

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Widening involved increasing the width of the 7 kilometres channel from 130 to 170 metres, and dredged materials were to be dumped 29 kilometres offshore in Gulf St Vincent. WACRA opposed the application before the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP), arguing strongly for land-based disposal of the dredged material, and that stance has never changed.

There was a community and stakeholder engagement period for permit and licence applications and WACRA was one of the most active organisations involved in the discussions. Among the WACRA suggestions adopted in the final licence agreement were real-time monitoring of turbidity and GPS tracking of all vessels disposing of dredging spoil.

We also sought real-time access to this data. Land-based disposal was rejected, as was a monitoring location within the Port River.

WACRA acknowledged that the channel needs to be widened but is concerned about seagrass loss in Gulf St Vincent as well as biosecurity. South Australian oyster growers are currently free of Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS), but POMS occur within the Port River area in local bivalves, as does the feral algae species Caulerpa taxifolia that has not yet reached Gulf St Vincent.

In 2019, WACRA and many other interested bodies attempted to promote dredging methods that cause the least harm by ensuring that licence conditions are stringent, limits are set on turbidity, seagrass health is monitored, and that Flinders Ports have monitoring, recording and reporting systems in place. The final licence included two complex running median levels of turbidity with triggers to reduce turbidity implemented when they exceeded levels set by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

WACRA (and other community groups) undertook to watch and see how the monitoring systems were working. We understand that the EPA stopped dredging whenever the turbidity increased beyond trigger levels. The scientists in this organisation monitor seagrass health independently using satellite technology. In terms of monitoring data, public access in real time has only been partly delivered, with running medians upgraded hourly but no access to actual recent data. We await an update on monitoring for the deadly POMS, a role being undertaken by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). Flinders Ports was responsible for monitoring the seagrasses for at least three years after the dredging, not only for the three months during the dredging process.

The placement area of dredged materials is the same as the 2005 channel deepening project, and at that time significant seagrass was lost. The dredge plants arrived at Outer Harbor in June 2019, and channel widening will be completed for the 2019-20 cruise season, which commences in October 2019. A total of 79 cruise ships are expected to visit South Australia 2019-20. The new channel will allow the largest container vessels afloat unrestricted access to Outer Harbor in the future.

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Saving Menkens Reserve Jim Douglas

The story of the Henley and Grange Greening Group has its genesis from a campaign taken up by the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association to stop the sale of council land situated in Henley Beach surrounded by Badenoch, Jeanes and Menkens Streets. This was in 1992.

The land was a large vacant block with a few trees, more weeds than grass, non-irrigated, and rarely attended to by council. But as an open space, it was well used by neighbouring residents as a meeting place for families and a space for children to play or kick a football.

Delving deeper into the probability that the land was going to be sold, the residents’ association extracted information that discussions were taking place with St Michael’s College, the Catholic secondary school on its perimeter. We also heard that negotiations could result in an open tender to sell the block for development.

Some residents who live in streets surrounding the reserve were members of the residents’ association. We formed an action group to Save Menkens Reserve. This would have been in 1992-93. Residents’ association members circulated a letter. We letterboxed, doorknocked houses in the immediate vicinity to Menkens Reserve, informed residents about the possibilities of land use, and announced a date on a Saturday morning for a community meeting.

We expected that perhaps 12 or so residents would turn up but were surprised that over 40 attended on that Saturday morning. Residents voiced their concerns. There was strong support to retain Menkens Reserve and we agreed to make a presentation to Henley and Grange Council. On the actual night of the presentation, over 40 residents attended the meeting. We filled the Henley Council Chamber to overflowing!

A number of residents spoke about Menkens Reserve, what this land meant to them, and why they wanted council to retain and green this land.

Several months passed. This was before the internet and information was exchanged through letters. Further meetings were held and finally council announced that they would retain the reserve. The council offered contour landscaping with the proviso that residents would agree on a landscape design and plant trees that council provided.

There were some real characters among the Mary’s lemon-scented gum residents and that helped enormously to retain our sense of humour and solidarity. One woman who showed no fear when fighting for the reserve was Mary Magdalene Crawford (now deceased). As a greening group we spent at least four weekends planting the trees. Mary spoke with great passion at our final working bee. We wanted to honour Mary for her contribution so we organised to give Mary a mature lemon-scented gum to plant

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immediately opposite her home in Jeanes Street. We had already dug the hole that morning without Mary knowing. That tree still stands proudly on that corner of Menkens Reserve and is known as 'Mary’s Tree'.

One big problem we had with the reserve was that it did not have irrigation to keep the trees alive. Residents would carry out buckets of water and provide at least 20 litres a week to every tree. Further deputations to council resulted in an agreement that council would install irrigation, not only to the trees but to plant a lawn. After the amalgamation of Henley and Grange Council to become part of the City of Charles Sturt, additional work has taken place on the reserve to install a shade, seats and a playground.

John Behenna was a councillor in the Henley and Grange Council who supported our request, and soon after Menkens Reserve was planted and landscaped John volunteered to officially set up the Henley and Grange Greening Group. His story starts from here.

Greening Henley and Grange John Behenna

I attended meetings at the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association in 1990. In 1993 I ran for Henley and Grange Council and was successful. Later that year I formed a greening group. I have always had an interest in trees and bushes around the district. We had a series of productive meetings in the Henley and Grange Council with local people, including Jim Douglas who later became WACRA’s president. Tree supplies were organised and once a month the group planted. Steve Davey, the council’s gardener, supplied the plants and worked collaboratively with us. While we were in harness, we planted about 800 trees.

Menkens Reserve, William Atkin Reserve, Henley High School (several planting sessions), the banks of the River Torrens (several times), the park bicycle path running off Marlborough Street, John Mitchell Reserve and a couple of streets in Fulham Gardens, Sunset Crescent near the Grange Railway Station, all were planted between 1994 and 2000. Enthusiasm was infectious. Trees and bushes were mainly Australian natives; they were salt and sea air tolerant. By the time Henley and Grange Council had merged to form Charles Sturt Council, group size had dwindled and council was not as enthusiastic.

This is the way it happened. In 1994 the Weekly Times Messenger carried an article about tree planting in our local area. I contributed to that article, telling readers that I was planning a tree planting work group. I said: ‘Could all those interested come along, and we will have a cup of tea and a yarn about growing trees.’ The press was good because it supported my view that we needed to do more about some of the ugly streetscapes in the district, showing a photo of Seaview Road, Henley Beach, that was devoid of trees. Up to 16 people attended that meeting, and the same at subsequent gatherings. When I thought we had talked enough, I said: ‘Let’s get out there and plant’. It started at Menkens Reserve. Sixty plantings, every Saturday morning. We got things done. It was called direct action.

Our greening movement reflected the community spirit of that era. We knew the gardeners and the councillors; it was a different ethos. In the 1990s we did things. I attended Henley and Grange Residents’ Association meetings. I was never a member but I knew this

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community group very well. After so many years, it is such a pleasure to see these tall trees still standing.

Negotiating green issues in the Charles Sturt Council area Peter Schultz

I first became aware of WACRA and joined as a member when, prior to an election, WACRA organised a candidates’ forum in the Henley Town Hall. Then via email I became aware of the issue of the water from the Baju/H2O development on Seaview Road being discharged to the beach and attended a general meeting, where I raised the issues of a possible cone of depression forming around the building with possible changes to soils threatening local heritage buildings and lowering levels in local wells.

Much of my work with WACRA has been as part of a team liaising with local and state agencies on various ‘green’ issues. As one of the team that dealt with the Henley groundwater issues, we met with the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) staff and the local member on numerous occasions, and we continually advocated for regular monitoring of local bores to check on what was happening below ground. We also asked DEWNR to accurately measure the volume being discharged to the beach.

My long association with the River Torrens led to me being one of the WACRA representatives on a working group hosted by SA Water and the National Resources Management (NRM) Board to resolve issues and plan for the Stage 3 wetland from Tapleys Hill Road to the sea.

As a WACRA delegate, I have served on three of council’s community engagement panels: AdaptWest, Living Green to 2020 and the Heat Islands meetings. For two years I attended Conservation Council SA meetings as a proxy delegate. This is how WACRA members keep abreast of information.

AdaptWest David Schofield and Peter Schultz

In 2014, Charles Sturt Council invited WACRA to AdaptWest meetings. AdaptWest is an initiative of three western Adelaide councils (West Torrens, Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt), with support from the state and federal governments, to plan and advise on ways our region can adapt to climate change. AdaptWest had identified the vulnerability of western Adelaide across five themes: Planning and Development; Environment and Open Space; Coastal Management; Social and Community Health and Resilience; and Assets, Infrastructure and Economy. The degree of vulnerability of any area or system is determined by its exposure and sensitivity to climate change, along with its adaptive capacity. At subsequent meetings we discussed action on climate change. Climate change can be divided into two broad categories, mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is the things that can be done to reduce greenhouse gases and so limit global warming and rising sea levels.

Adaptation is the things that can be done to limit adverse effects caused by climate change.

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The name AdaptWest suggested our role would be exploring adaptation and these discussions were fed back to WACRA members.

When we attended AdaptWest in March 2015, we were asked to consider the impact of climate change on beaches, dunes, native vegetation and water quality from the expected influence of higher sea levels, higher temperatures, more frequent heatwaves, more frequent intense storm events and overall lower rainfall. All of these had been identified as expected climate change events and our group looked at mid-range predictions for the Adelaide region by 2070. Not surprisingly, the group believed that the most catastrophic changes were likely to be those caused by sea-level rise, then estimated at 0.5 metres by 2070.

Our position at AdaptWest was to ensure that community voices were heard. It struck us that amongst stakeholders at these meetings there were very few community representatives. We suggested that the vulnerability of domestic dwellings had not appeared on the AdaptWest agenda. Rather, the agenda was dominated by western region assets and infrastructure such as the Adelaide Airport, large development and corporations.

By way of addressing this omission, David Schofield wrote a letter to the AdaptWest coordinator; the response was that there has been insufficient focus on residential dwellings and their inhabitants. WACRA recognised that for the majority of stakeholders in our region their home is their most important asset, and that concerns about the vulnerability of their dwellings is amplified among those with limited means and/or living with physical or mental health challenges. It was agreed that WACRA’s suggestion of an education program advising residents on practical steps they could take to protect their dwellings from the effects of climate change would be incorporated into AdaptWest future plans.

This example shows the way in which WACRA can work alongside other organisations and keep our community activism role alive. Where once WACRA may have reacted to events, this time we are planning the future alongside Charles Sturt Council and the larger western region. Being on the working group of AdaptWest allows us to share the educational benefits. As WACRA representatives, we were part of developing an action plan for the western region in dealing with extreme weather events such as flooding, heatwaves and seawater level rises. Questions we asked that were discussed at WACRA meetings were: • • • • • • •

How do we improve the health, safety and wellbeing of vulnerable members of the community to better cope with extreme weather?

How do we provide, protect and manage public coastal and inland assets as sea level rises?

How do we provide, protect and manage open green spaces as we experience warmer and drier conditions?

How do we protect and enhance the condition of natural coast landscapes as the sea level rises?

How do we create better amenity and liveability in our urban area as our climate becomes warmer and drier?

How do we design, construct and maintain stormwater management infrastructure?

How do we build a strong and connected community as we experience more frequent and intense heatwaves and flooding?

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• • •

How do we enable business and industry to prosper as rainfall intensity increases, heatwaves increase in frequency and intensity, and sea levels rise?

How do we maintain the amenity and function of inland waters?

How do we maintain the function of estuarine waters?

AdaptWest was one of WACRA’s first collaborations with Charles Sturt Council. Possibly it signals a shift in our position from community reaction towards collaboration. Globally, climate scientists have recognised that the best decisions on adaptation are likely to be made when local communities are involved in the process.

Earth Hour Andrea Rankin

Earth Hour is a global movement but the concept originated in Australia, the first event taking place in 2007 in Sydney. In 2008, the movement went worldwide. View the website for more information: https://www.earthhour.org/. According to Wikipedia: The event is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on a specific day towards the end of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.

I first became interested in Earth Hour in 2009. In 2010 myself and Richard Smith, both members of WACRA and on the committee, organised the inaugural event in Grange. It was held at Kirkcaldy Park and was a tiny affair. About 20 friends got together with picnic rugs, food, wine and, of course, candles to celebrate this beautiful planet we call Earth.

We continued to hold Earth Hour events each year until COVID struck in 2020. However, the event changed in terms of participants and format over time. We recruited Angie Starr onto our team. Angie is an MC extraordinaire as well as a talented musician with a huge network of generous talented musicians and artists. The event grew by the sheer dint of her personality!

In 2014 (the event’s 5th year), we successfully applied for our first Discretionary Ward Allowance from Charles Sturt Council with WACRA as the auspicing body. We received a grant of approximately $1,500, using this money to pay the bands a nominal fee (they had played for nothing in previous years), buy solar lights and other sundries, and pay insurance.

Charles Sturt Council printed flyers for us, which I mostly letterboxed in the area surrounding Kirkcaldy Park. Some locals from the surrounding streets came which was great. The rest were friends (mostly local, but some from further away) and WACRA members. At the high point, there were over 100 people. I remember us dancing to a DJ at 10.30 pm (we would start at 7.30 pm). It was surreal – the park was festooned with solar lights, candles flickered everywhere, and the feeling of goodwill and love for our planet was felt by all. They clamoured for more. In 2015, we successfully applied for a second Discretionary Ward Allowance. Angie was fired up. What an organiser! We were a great triumvirate, each with a complementary skillset. Angie was an outrageous MC and the audience loved her!

A big thank you goes to the bands and individual performers: The Dudleys, the GovGlees Choir, the Weeping Angels, SaSamba (Brazilian beats drumming group), Willy Didgeridoo and

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DJ, the Memes, Just us, the Gypsy Junkies, Lord Stompy, and more! They played using a battery-operated amp, as we wanted to be as authentic to the principle of caring for the Earth as possible. Thanks also go to Vikki Ferguson for her ‘Light, Camera, Action’ interactive visual performance and to Fernando Gonçalves for his brilliant photography.

From 2017-19, we moved Earth Hour to my house in Grange. It was getting too difficult logistically to have it in Kirkcaldy Park. Too much red tape. It was just as much of a success.

The bands played (for free) on my little deck and the backyard was filled with lovers of the Earth. Our friends were growing. They donated generously to Earth Hour. The last year it was held (2019) we raised over $500. Donations went to both local and national environmentally focused organisations such as the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia and the Wilderness Society.

Earth Hour often falls on or near my birthday – 26 March – as it is nearly always the last Saturday in March. I have just discovered that it falls on my birthday in 2022. We are already planning a local revival of this symbolic initiative!

Andrea Rankin (left) at the raffle table with Vicki Hyde, laughing at something the MC said

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Public spaces Henley Beach Library’s history Jim Douglas

In the 1980s, a local library was located in Henley Square. It wasn’t an inviting place. It had only a few books at that time. Later Henley and Grange Council shifted the library into a renovated building on the corner of South Street and East Terrace, Henley Beach. It had more space and some quiet spots. It was a good, comfortable place for me, being just 50 metres down the road from home. There were office facilities for locals, and a fax and photocopy machine that could be used any time. This library space was operational until three councils, Hindmarsh, Woodville, and Henley and Grange, merged on 1 January 1997.

The business of the three councils shifted to a building at Woodville, and the newly merged council was named the City of Charles Sturt. Henley and Grange Council administrative office space then became vacant to be used for a library and other activities. From that point onward, the library’s use increased. Additional services were offered by librar y staff and space for community meetings was appreciated.

The state heritage Henley Town Hall was right next to the library. Unfortunately, the entrance to the library was at the back of the building. Driving on Seaview Road and passing Henley Town Hall you couldn't see the library at all. However, the new library attracted families. There were more kids in the library space with early childhood learning, babytime and storytime. A toy library was introduced. Adults were offered learning programs, events and social activities. The library staff were excellent at helping people. It became a community hub.

In 2005-6, led by City of Charles Sturt CEO Peter Lockett, it was proposed that community centres at Grange and Henley Beach co-locate alongside the library in the Henley Town Hall precinct. Members of the Returned and Services League (RSL), who already occupied a building nearby, were also approached to share the Henley Town Hall space. Regrettably, WACRA was not consulted about these proposed changes at the time. Eventually, WACRA gained access to the plans and called a public meeting. The development plans were presented to about 50 interested people attending this community meeting. We were shown that council intended to reduce the size of the library, build on the side of the state heritage building, house extra groups in the Henley Town Hall, demolish the RSL building for car parking, and that they had bought an adjoining property on the corner of North Street and Military Road for $900,000 on the open market, again for car parking. The quote for this development at the time was around $6 million. The RSL was to share the library space and its bathroom facilities.

WACRA objected. Another set of plans was drawn up by council, this time protecting the Henley Town Hall heritage building. We discovered that the cost had escalated to $16 million. In an effort to reduce the financial burden, a search was then undertaken by council to find another suitable venue. Fulham Gardens, near Target Shopping Centre and with plenty of parking, was considered. In 2007, however, a new council CEO, Mark Withers, was appointed before the library’s relocation. He reversed the decision, partly through inaction.

And in 2009, a new mayor, Kirsten Alexander, took office. Both leaders wanted to involve

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the community. A community engagement policy was put in place. The library remained under the roof of the Henley Town Hall, alongside the Henley and Grange Historical Society.

The community engagement process was successful. Through the council, WACRA had been kept abreast of community matters, concerns were heard, and members were invited to give voice.

A few years passed before WACRA’s attention again turned to Henley Beach Library. In 2014, with the election of new councillors, including the mayor, the community consultation process was shut down. Council’s divergence of approach meant that we had to rely on rumour. In 2017, we heard via the grapevine that the existing library was to be replaced by a ‘boutique’ library, reduced in size and with fewer services, to be relocated near Henley Square. After the aforementioned ‘no consultation’ approach, WACRA members wrote to the council CEO to substantiate the rumour. Plans were confirmed by council (minutes of council meeting 24 April 2017). WACRA’s argument for maintaining the library in its current location was succinctly put to council. Public opinion was solidly behind WACRA’s proposal.

The main opposition rested on 60 or so families that used the Henley Beach Library twice a week and the ten groups that had regular access to the space for community activities. As described earlier, the library was a community hub. The Advertiser 19 July 2017 featured a picture of a smiling toddler, surrounded by books, with the comment: ‘libraries are back on the list of cool places to be, with thousands of children signing up as members every week’.

Various activities for children and their families and internet access are the main attractions, together with traditional ‘bookish’ library facilities.

WACRA commenced an action campaign to stop the proposed relocation and/or development of Henley Beach Library after attempts to consult with council failed. Once again, WACRA needed to step in by raising awareness, organising public meetings, and having the issue reported in the local papers. In collaboration with the media, we highlighted all the services that were provided by the library. Local writer and educator Erica Jolley wrote an evidenced-based short paper on libraries as the hub for building inclusive informed communities. Her paper was printed in the Weekly Times Messenger’s Letter to the Editor in June 2017. WACRA’s basic message was that the library was not for sale. The library had created opportunities for people to meet and grow, and to quote Erica Jolley: ‘to increase the quality of human interaction’.

In the Weekly Times Messenger 13 September 2017, the headlines record: ‘Win for the people – Library to stay as boutique plans scrapped’. The Advertiser (13 September 2017) covered the campaign and event, its headlines reading: ‘Council bins library plan in book backflip’. The obvious lesson here is to listen to the voices of the community, preferably before expensive managerial planning processes take place. Excluding community participation is expensive.

Another version of the Save Our Library campaign (2017) is told by organisers of the Community Library Action Group (CLAG) in the story that follows, alongside WACRA members Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar and Peter Schultz.

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Lobbying to save Henley Beach Library Peter Schultz

A very strong campaign was needed to prevent the City of Charles Sturt from downsizing the current Henley Beach Library to a boutique service, reducing the children’s services as part of shifting. A subcommittee of WACRA and library users was formed. We successfully lobbied Charles Sturt Council for changes to the consultation process, set up an information table to complement council information in Henley Square, placed corflutes throughout the district, lobbied councillors, had supporters place their views on council’s Your Say website, made presentations at consecutive council meetings, and eventually achieved a majority vote in the chamber to retain and enhance the present library.

Driven to save Henley Beach Library Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar

In 2003, we fought to save Henley Beach Library, when council wanted to close it altogether.

We saved it then. However, in 2017 there was a proposal to close the Henley Beach Library and amalgamate it with another community library in a different location. Understa ndably, this proposal was vehemently opposed by the community. In collaboration with other community members, WACRA fought hard to retain Henley Beach Library. Although we realised that there needed to be repairs to the building, we emphasised that the library was at the heart of the community and a greatly valued resource which needed to stay exactly where it was. We held workshops and public meetings, contacted the media, and fought the closure strenuously. We were successful and the Henley Beach Library remains open. The fight for the library brought the community together, young and old. We still have to remain vigilant, as recently there was talk of moving the library to Henley Square. I am pleased to add that once again WACRA and ‘people power’ triumphed as we convinced the council on the value to the community of keeping the library open at its current location.

Community Library Action Group (CLAG) Marty Cielens and Becky Llewellyn

When Becky moved to Henley Beach in 1977, she discovered that there was no public library anywhere in Henley or Grange, only a commercial library. She joined a steering committee set up by the Henley and Grange Council that worked with community input to create a local public library in Henley Square around 1980. The State Library of South Australia provided the council with funding as they were looking to extend the network of local public libraries in all councils at that time. The Henley Beach Library has had three locations: the initial site of the now-Foodland grocery store, a site on the corner of East Terrace and South Street, and the current site at the back of the Henley Town Hall.

We have always been interested in public libraries and were startled to see the discussion paper issued by council on moving and downsizing the Henley Beach Library in 2017. The proposal we downloaded from the City of Charles Sturt’s website did not seem very community friendly to us. Our library was to be replaced with a ‘boutique’ version. One lever for this change, apparently, was that car parking space was identified as a problem. The

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proposal suggested that the library space be given to the Returned and Services League (RSL) for their use. On further reading of this document, it seemed obvious that a decision had already been made to move the library into a smaller space closer to Henley Square.

Concerned at the implications, we contacted Jim Douglas, president of WACRA at that time.

Becky asked Jim if she could speak at the next WACRA meeting about the proposed library downsizing. We really cared about maintaining our local library in its current building and were willing to fight for it. As busy grandparents, we see especially how vital the large children’s library and its programs at Henley are to community connection, learning and belonging.

We were part of a group that mobilised our community in a campaign called Save Our Library. About five of us formed a small group named the Community Library Action Group (CLAG) to steer an activist process to influence the council’s decision making. We had only three weeks, as the council’s consultation period was to end 14 June 2017. Marty built a website (Community Library Action Group) to alert people about potentially losing the library and give options on how to register their opinion to council. We advertised the site in many ways, including at the Henley Beach Library. The creation of a CLAG website was a key to reaching people. A CLAG blog was also created to give up-to-date information on how the Save Our Library campaign was progressing.

CLAG information leaflet

Our approach used a successful technique of placing signs on visible Henley Beach fences and posts (also used back in 1998 for the Save Our Beaches/No Boat Harbour campaign). We designed and printed posters for about $5 each, bought by members. Using this technique in our area, which still retains a village feel, provided local residents and people driving through Henley with information on getting their voices heard to Save Our Library. These posters and further leaflets that we left in the library argued that Henley Beach Library was a valuable asset that was accessible, was owned by the community, had good spaces which allowed for 63

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flexibility, had a bus stop/public transport at its front door, offered a wide range of services, provided a community hub, and was prepared to meet every age and need through its services.

CLAG held several planning and strategy meetings in the coming weeks. We contacted our local Charles Sturt councillor, wrote to the local historical society seeking further information, and suggested that local artist Meredith Russell be recruited. We prepared WACRA’s presentation to council and organised people to speak at that council meeting. We worked with social media and newspapers to promote Save Our Library messages and we briefed local schools. It was a hectic time and along the way we consulted with our local member of parliament, Paul Caica. We asked him for assistance in accessing the SA State Records for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that might assist our cause.

On Sunday 10 June 2017, our CLAG campaign group worked alongside council who were having an information day at Henley Square about the library’s proposed change. CLAG members organised a stall near the council stall with a table, chairs, gazebo, vox pop camera setup, leaflets and the CLAG banner. We took turns at the stall over six hours. We asked interested people to submit a question or story to Your Say, the community consultation mechanism on the City of Charles Sturt website, and provided instructions for registering on Your Say. CLAG kept a record of people’s responses to Your Say and reported progress on the CLAG blog.

We had a petition to sign and we filmed testimonials of parents whose children had been involved in library programs over the years to use on the website. Marty also established an independent petition using change.org. This mobilised many more people as it was easy to use and submit. As well as accumulating a total number of signatures, all comments were sent directly to Mayor Angela Evans.

Press, radio and even television were interested in our cause. We were interviewed on the ABC (Radio 891). We had positive coverage in the Weekly Times Messenger followed by a series of stories and letters. So many people who cared about the library at Henley Beach voiced their concerns.

The CLAG group met with senior policy officers at council to dialogue about issues in their proposed change. We also held a meeting with the Henley Beach librarians as part of our strategy. We were able to give some constructive feedback to the librarians about improving their services even if there were no funds to improve the facility. The new West Lakes Hub library service was the priority for council, and we suspected that if they could take away the running costs of Henley Beach Library, they could funnel this into the hub. CLAG argued that people would shop elsewhere if the library was moved, our local economies would suffer, and it would very much disadvantage local people who walked or biked to the library.

We gave our PowerPoint presentation to the Charles Sturt Council in mid-June 2019. Our submission outlined our questions on the Henley Beach Library consultation based on the City of Charles Sturt documents May/June 2017. CLAG members questioned the contradictions in council’s statement People Come First and its apparent disregard for people as first when it was closing their library.

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This was one of forty questions we asked. Transport issues were raised. We resisted the idea of replacing Henley Beach Library with a boutique library elsewhere, positioning ourselves against this faddish concept with evidence that it was unlikely to work. Basically, we wanted to highlight that libraries bring people together and offer huge benefits socially, emotionally and intellectually in local residents’ lives. We had a huge groundswell of community backing this campaign to not change the current Henley Beach Library.

Council then extended the time period as it was clear more people wanted to add their voice against the proposed change. Over the next few months, it became obvious that the elected members were listening to their residents and this campaign’s message. They overturned the proposed policy of moving and downsizing the library. It was a good news story for our community; we retained the Henley Beach Library in its current location, but we have to continue to keep a watching brief to ensure this rich community resource is retained for its many valuable community-building purposes in the future.

Supporters of the Save Our Library campaign

Paid parking meters in Henley Square Jim Douglas

It was springtime 2017 when the community received word that the Charles Sturt Council had decided, without community consultation, to install paid parking meters in the north and south car parks at Henley Square.

All hell broke loose, with strong opposition from the community and traders. A petition of over 10,000 signatures calling for their removal was presented to council and the media was hot on the story when the first meter was fixed to the ground.

A community rally of over 500 gathered on the beach to hear from a number of speakers calling on council to 'pull out the meters'. The media ran the story in The Advertiser, local Weekly Times Messenger newspaper, most TV stations and on social media. Within days of

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the expressed anger and determination of the community, the council did a 'back flip'.

Council trucks and a large work gang arrived and pulled out the meters, loading them on the back of a very large truck, not to be seen again.

Let us all hope that it is a lesson well learned by council so that they will never make a blunder like this again. It’s a great example of the community raising their voices for democratic processes and meaningful consultation.

Part of the campaign against Paid Parking @ Henley

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Community engagement Establishing a community engagement policy Jim Douglas

In 2011, driven by community leaders, staff and councillors from the City of Charles Sturt, a much-welcomed community engagement policy was given birth. This policy was the genesis for WACRA to explore ways to engage with residents and communities. We sought a skilled person to provide WACRA members with further education and training about community participation. A professional from the International Association for Public Participation, well versed in local government matters, communication and community participation, was engaged by WACRA. WACRA invited other organisations from the western Adelaide region to be part of the training sessions. Participating organisations were Residents of Inner North-West Adelaide, the St Clair Reserve Residents Association, Hindmarsh Greening, the Coastal Ecology Protection Group and the Cheltenham Park Residents Association. There were six groups, including WACRA, each sending representatives to attend the training sessions, and all within the boundary of the City of Charles Sturt. Held at the Henley and Grange Community Centre, these educational sessions ran for four weeks. Those attending did not miss one week. Collaboratively, we developed a community engagement process. Our aim was to engage communities in the western areas of Adelaide.

Communities in Action event Jim Douglas

This group of six organisations consulted with the mayor, Kirsten Alexander, and the CEO, Mark Withers, of the City of Charles Sturt. They were very supportive of our ideas on ways we could increase community participation. They offered to set the community engagement process in place. This was a significant outcome. To celebrate, the six organisations and Charles Sturt Council decided to run an event named Communities in Action.

The Communities in Action event was held Sunday 7 August 2011. At the same time, the 2011 South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival was happening. Led by WACRA, a full day of activities was organised with our collective organisations and held at Charles Sturt Counci l headquarters and its Civic Centre. Organisations set up stalls with information about their community role and how residents could participate or become members. Given that it was also festival time for living artists, we invited local people to exhibit their SALA artwork using the sites where the event took place.

Deb Tribe, a well-known presenter on ABC Radio Adelaide 891, opened and conducted the event. A wonderful Aboriginal Elder woman welcomed country. Her opening remarks were about the strength of community, about respect for land, about the need to recognise First Nations peoples, what country means to First Nations peoples, and the significance of joining community. It was very emotional, striking right at the heart.

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We had organised a photographic exhibition with awards and prizes. Community participation was boosted by inviting local people to exhibit their photographs as part of the competition. One of WACRA’s members, Fernando Gonçalves, produced his own work in a photographic exhibition.

We had sponsored professional artist John Whitney. He is a well-known and highly regarded visual artist. John, who lives in the western suburbs, agreed to visit local schools, encouraging students to draw and/or paint how they saw community.

Students produced a big mural called ‘Reflections of Communities’ which was on display that day. Families were attracted to the event precisely because their children had participated. Accordingly, we engaged many children and their families.

John Whitney (L) and Fernando Gonçalves

Free guided bus and walking tours to Henley and Grange, Semaphore, Hindmarsh, Bowden and Brompton regions were organised. People were invited to hop on a bus. Then they were taken on a sightseeing tour of local attractions and places of interest. Tour information brochures had been developed with funding from council. An advertising company named Soup Creative had designed flyers and the brochures ahead of time. These brochures contained discovery maps pointing to significant places and local landmarks. As a community participation project, we believed that showing locals around their own environment would increase their sense of belonging. WACRA had also extended invitations to directors of community centres within the City of Charles Sturt who encouraged their participants and members to attend the event.

At this Communities in Action event we had foods from different cultures. I think there are over 60 different ethnic groups within the City of Charles Sturt. Alongside council, WACRA contacted a lot of those communities, ethnic and cultural organisations and invited their members to come along to the celebration. Certainly, it felt like a multicultural event. Many people showed appreciation for the thought and attention paid to welcome them to communities within the City of Charles Sturt.

It would be accurate to say it was a broad cultural event. We estimated that about 1,000 people attended. In the main, the committee arm of WACRA did the legwork. It was a huge effort, but it paid off. I believe that, as a result, WACRA developed much stronger connections with those community organisations and it improved the way we communicate with each other. We developed friendships, exchanged information, and achieved a better understanding of each other’s organisations. More importantly, we connected and engaged the community.

The Communities in Action event received good media reviews. Deb Tribe raised the significance of community engagement on ABC Radio. We believe a stronger relationship

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developed between council and the six organisations. We had acted on the community engagement policy which then led to this remarkable event, introducing and welcoming many people from the western suburbs of Adelaide to South Australian Living Artists (SALA), the Charles Sturt Council and our six organisations.

Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society in action

Mayor Kirsten Alexander (centre) and event participants

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Harnessing community energy to create change Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar

I first became involved with the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association in the late 1990s when our family moved to Henley Beach South. I joined the residents’ association because I love Henley Beach and I wanted to make a difference; I had a passion to preserve what makes this area so unique and special.

Over the years it became clear that the community was facing a number of issues and I was asked to join the WACRA Committee. Being a WACRA member is important to me. I am a person who would rather act than sit back and complain about a situation, and I strongly believe that a group of community-minded people can do things and make a positive change.

Often, we become involved in residents’ matters when a particular issue is close to home and important to us. That was the case with the narrow laneway at the back of our house. In the days prior to deep drainage, Henley and Grange’s narrow lanes provided access for the night cart operators who emptied the night soil from the adjacent outhouses (or ‘dunnies’, the Aussie term for toilets) that lined the rear fences of the houses. These laneways were muddy and dangerous for driving on in winter and dust bowls in summer.

A number of residents got together and along with WACRA approached Charles Sturt Council to request that the laneways throughout Henley and Grange be sealed for safety and environmental reasons. To raise further support and community awareness, we contacted the local media who published a story about our quest. As a final step, I made a deputation to council to further highlight to elected members the need to fund the laneways proposal.

As part of WACRA’s initiative and subsequent council action, these lanes have been converted into fully sealed and functional roadways.

The success of this project highlighted to me the value of how WACRA, a small community activist group, can make a positive change for the greater benefit of residents. This process was also a valuable learning tool for me.

Living under a flight path Lynn Walsh

I have lived in Henley Beach South since 1991. My home is directly under the flight path of the short course (east-west) runway for the Adelaide Airport. While I appreciate the convenience of a metropolitan airport, there are also drawbacks to this proximity. Over the years, I have noticed increasing traffic and noise over my home. I have queried the use of this flight passage and have come to understand that this path can be used for small private, commercial and passenger aircraft on a regular basis. However, this runway is also used as a training runway for larger passenger aircraft for pilots who need experience on short runways, and is used for larger aircraft when there are unusual and particular weather conditions. Our navigation system is determined in Melbourne, not in Adelaide. Decisions about our weather are made in Melbourne and I am concerned that traffic control is being done from a distance.

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When the airport was government-owned, the curfew was strictly controlled. Now that the airport is a private enterprise, the freight flights and smaller jet aircraft have gradually gained permission to fly outside of curfew time. This can mean that sleep patterns are disturbed for residents. Late at night and early in the morning, when there is no other competing noise, the planes are quite loud. While there are sound economic reasons for goods from Port Lincoln and other fresh food destinations to use these small commercial flights to reach markets, peoples’ lifestyles and the disruption and inconvenience to residents living under these flight paths need to be taken into consideration.

Due to my concerns and interest in the Adelaide Airport, WACRA identified me as a contact person. As a result, I have been interviewed a few times by ABC Radio. When I learned that the airport’s consultative committee had representatives from the Adelaide and West Torrens Council areas on the committee, I spoke to the WACRA group to ask why Charles Sturt Council was not represented. WACRA raised the matter with council, and last year councillor Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar was elected as a representative to the airport committee, and I became the WACRA representative on the committee.

As part of the reports presented to the committee, I learned that air pollution surveys have been conducted in the North Adelaide area in response to agitation by residents there. I believe that similar monitoring should be done on the western side of Adelaide. While the bulk of flights over the eastern suburbs are large passenger flights and those over the western suburbs are smaller aircraft, a similar level of contamination can occur. When the airplanes fly over the western suburbs, fuel residue drifts down. This greasy black scum settles on roofs, lawns and outdoor furniture. This is not silt from the beach. I believe some testing should be done in the west to ensure a safe level of pollution. For this reason, I will continue to ask questions.

An additional environmental issue is monitored at the Adelaide Airport by the South Australian Environment Protection Agency. This is a pollution problem associated with groundwater contamination from PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) which are found in airplane hydraulic fluid. Water testing and investigations into registered bores in the West Beach area indicated negative readings. In most cases the bores were used to water gardens and not used for drinking.

The consultative committee also receives a report on curfew detailing the type of aircraft and reasons why regulations have been broken. Good reasons are given – mechanical problems, Flying Doctor and so on – but the number of so-called low-noise small aircraft that have been given permission to fly outside the curfew do not appear in these reports so there is no clear indication of how much out-of-curfew use has grown.

The Adelaide Airport Master Plan for the next 10 years has been released for public consultation. While the report predicts increased passenger influx into the Adelaide area, no issues of particular concern are identified. Expansion of airport facilities is highlighted with additional traffic access roads predicted. These appear to be well managed BUT we will be watching ...

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Planning, development and heritage Development planning and sustainability in Greater Adelaide Jim Douglas

In 2010, the South Australian Government prepared the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.

The plan described how this city, stretching from Victor Harbor in the south to Kapunda in the north, could grow in terms of liveability and sustainability. This plan is continually updated in consultation with local councils, key industries, other government agencies and community stakeholders.

WACRA takes its stakeholder role seriously. When we met to discuss the plan, we saw significant problems. Instead of WACRA acting alone to protest, we saw strength in talking with community stakeholders from other council areas. One of WACRA’s overarching themes is that many voices merged into a collective voice are more likely to be heard. Using our networking skills, ten organisations were vetted, and they showed interest in becoming what was later coined as Community Alliance SA. We had our first meeting in 2011 at the Burnside Town Hall. Initially we met as 10 community organisations from north, south, east and west Adelaide. It now comprises 30 community resident organisations. WACRA was a key initiator and is still an active community organisation in that group. One of the strategies in community activism is to use the media pragmatically.

WACRA on the steps of Parliament House (Anne Wheaton and the late Luke Heffernan)

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Major development at Henley Beach Jim Douglas

In 2011, when we were setting up the Community Alliance SA, WACRA was alerted to a major development in Henley Beach. The development application to the Charles Sturt Council was for retail and apartments in two sections, the Baju and H20 developments. The developer was Bayspring Pty Ltd. When we researched, the first application for these developments was submitted to council in 2007. The original application was retail at the ground level and apartments at a second level. In 2009, the development plan had grown from two to four levels and it was much larger when presented to the Development Assessment Panel (DAP), City of Charles Sturt. This plan was initially rejected because it did not meet council development plan requirements. It was higher than the maximum height of 10.2 metres. That height is measured against the height of the chimney on the adjacent Ramsgate Hotel, a heritage-listed building. The development application also sat within the Historic Conservation Zone. The applicant then took the matter to the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court where WACRA opposed it.

I represented WACRA at the court hearing, mainly because WACRA did not have the money to pay for a legal planner. I had represented workers for a number of years in the industrial court. I could read an act of parliament and I knew what we were up against. We first had to prove that we had a significant interest in the matter and apply to be joined as a party. I knew what we had to present. However, the judge in the ERD Court knocked back our representation and removed us from the process. Legally removing us from the process meant the City of Charles Sturt, as the only opponent, continued the court hearing without us. WACRA was shut out. Nevertheless, we continue to pay attention to all matters relating to this high-rise development.

When we researched further, we came across another application showing us the developer’s plans for 200 carparking spaces in an underground car park. We had serious concerns that excavation would break into the ground water. Our concerns were well founded. Later on, when the development started, we discovered that ground water was exposed as a result of digging down nearly four metres. The developer had not ensured that the ground water would be held back. Later we found evidence that a private certifier had recommended that excavation should be ‘tanked’. When ground water is tanked, a membrane is placed around the outer surface of the deep hole. Such a preventative measure holds the ground water back. The developer and the builder failed to put in the membrane. Instead, the ground water seeped down the side of the building. However, some tanks were positioned below the floor level of the basement to capture the ground water.

And this precious ground water is pumped out onto our pristine beach. Unlicensed water extraction is illegal under the SA Water Corporation Act. An article in The Advertiser 7 May 2014 read: Developers of the controversial Baju Apartments at Henley Beach could be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix their handling of ground water at the site.

According to a Charles Sturt Council report, developer Bayspring Pty Ltd has been removing ground water from the Seaview Road site without approval from the Environment Department and is in breach of the Natural Resources Management Act.

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When the aforementioned Henley Beach development first started in 2012, damage was reported to nearby properties, apparently caused by pile drivers. Deep foundations are required to support heavy loads, and these are achieved by underground piles. We explored methods that could be used for pile driving: the first was knocking the piles into the ground, often causing immense vibration, and the second was screw piling. Screw piles are a type of deep foundation that can be installed quickly with minimal noise and vibration. Alas, the builders used the first method. It is not surprising that this heavy equipment used to drive huge steel pylons into the cavity was shaking and damaging the foundations and walls of houses in the vicinity.

As more residents voiced concerns with the Henley Beach development site, we decided to hold a public meeting to further gauge public opinion and gather facts. WACRA organised a Forum for Better Henley, held in May 2011 at the Henley Town Hall. We subtitled our forum No More High Rise for Henley and Planning a Sustainable Future for Henley. Speakers provided a resident’s viewpoint, a planning consultant’s understanding, and Charles Sturt Council’s position. A person from the National Trust talked about heritage implications and a Local Government Association representative spoke about the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. The moderator was Henley Beach resident Professor Fran Baum. We filled the Henley Town Hall to overflowing, estimating 400 to 450 people. It was a great meeting because the people we had invited were able to speak quite openly about their concerns with the 30-Year Plan and also about the effects that high rise could have on the community. Two resolutions were carried Flyer advertising the Forum for Better Henley unanimously. We confirmed widespread community opposition to the development, and made a clear call on council for greater community engagement and stronger community representation in the development process. We set up a website named Henley Voice. We had thousands of visits to that site and it certainly had an effect. The developer did not like being exposed. As a result, we were able to change the insertion of the pylons from pile driving to the much quieter screw piling method. We were also successful in making the developer and builder responsible for repairing a number of homes that were damaged as a result of the vibrations. Collaboratively, we were better able to assess the impact of building work and work towards an improved outcome.

Henley Voice and the Forum for Better Henley had raised community awareness of the development. But meanwhile, the developer put in a further application to increase the height of the building to five levels. The five-storey building was to face the sea, directly opposite the state heritage-listed Ramsgate Hotel. So it was back to council and the ERD 74

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Court where we made another presentation, arguing that conditions of the City of Charles Sturt development plan had not been met. We again raised the issue of the pile driving and how the developer failed to take notice of the independent assessor. We pointed out that the ground water which was being extracted at 82,000 litres per day was spewing relentlessly onto the sand at Henley Beach. We argued that this development application was putting the community at risk. We used the ‘at risk’ argument and council’s own development plan in our effort to stop the building’s height reaching five levels. The day after we made the presentation, the developer withdrew the application.

However, in 2018 the Baju/H2O residential and retail development at Henley Beach is still located directly opposite Henley Square. Today the development consists of two huge apartment blocks four levels high with two levels of undercroft car parking providing over 60 apartments and 40 speciality shops. These developments have been done ‘through the back door’, using the ambiguity of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act (2016) and ERD Court to obtain decisions that, we argue, destroy the character, streetscape, culture and social fabric of Henley Beach.

It is catastrophic when you realise that currently 82,000 litres of ground water are illegally pumped out to sea, creating stained rivulets on the beach sand, and that this has happened every day for the past seven years. WACRA is in touch with the recently elected Liberal Government’s Environment Minister, with Charles Sturt Council, with our local member of parliament, and also the head of the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), awaiting a resolution of the problem. That struggle continues.

Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar also talks about high-rise construction of the Baju/H2O developments near Henley Square.

High-rise construction of the Baju/H2O developments Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar

On a personal level, the most stressful event and fight for me was the high-rise construction of the Baju/H2O developments near Henley Square. This development dominated WACRA’s agenda in 2011.

We sought to amend the development based on a number of issues, including the sheer bulk and scale of the project and the fact it would change the amenity of the area forever.

Despite council’s refusal of the development, it was approved in the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court. This was incredibly disappointing and frustrating for all those involved in the fight, and to make matters worse we had to suffer through months and months of construction. The cost of this was high, with noise, dust and traffic congestion just a few of the effects which dominated our lives throughout the construction phase. For me the worst was the use of pile driving, where the construction company elected to sink the giant pylons into the ground by hammering them in from a great height. This meant that we were subject to constant banging day in, day out, but worse, our houses shook with each hammering and after three months, cracks started to appear in a number of houses surrounding the site. I never thought I would ever want to leave my home or Henley Beach,

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but at this stage I was ready to move. However, with the support of WACRA, my family and the community, we once again elected to fight for what was right and just.

During the long construction phase, WACRA organised a Forum for Better Henley at the Henley Town Hall in May 2011. Our forum was themed No More High Rise for Henley and Planning a Sustainable Future for Henley. We filled the town hall to overflowing. The media presence was overwhelming. The mayor and Henley Ward councillors were present along with a formidable list of speakers. Professor Fran Baum, a local resident, chaired the meeting. I was a guest speaker and cheered on by the large crowd spoke openly about my experiences, emphasising that we as a community were not anti-development but that we need development which complements our beautiful, historic seaside community. WACRA President Jim Douglas reminded the public that we had all fought hard against the development and represented the community as best we could. We lost the fight – we also lost our voice and the right to request amendments, as the ERD Court approved the development and conditions, which meant our only course of action was to go to the Supreme Court, so in the end we were silenced.

Forum for Better Henley, Henley Town Hall (2011)

In frustration and an attempt to get the developers to listen, we set up the website Henley Voice which had thousands of hits. Sharing information on this website appeared to have some influence on the development’s construction plans and in a major victory the hammer piling method was changed to the screw piling method, which was much less invasive.

Ultimately, a number of residents were able to secure compensation from the builder for damage to their homes. I have no doubt this was due to the pressure applied by WACRA, the affected residents, and the greater community.

Within a few months, it became evident that there were even bigger environmental issues involved with this development. The lower levels (car park) weren’t sealed correctly. As a result, ground water was diverted under Seaview Road and pumped via a beach channel out to sea. It has been calculated that approximately 82,000 litres of precious ground water

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continue to flow daily out to sea. This of course has dramatic implications for sa ltwater intrusion, and once again the potential for damage to surrounding houses and the building itself. We are still waiting for this to be resolved.

Community Alliance SA Theo Ellenbroek

My main interests are the natural environment and heritage. Together with a friend from the Henley and Grange Historical Society, we walk the streets of Henley and Grange, noting properties that may be of historical interest. After our walk, we research the property and if it is historically significant or interesting, we write its story and transmit our findings to the wider community, including WACRA members. Often, we alert authorities about heritage issues and nominate properties that should be protected. The City of Charles Sturt has a heritage officer and we regularly communicate with them. As well, the City of Charles Sturt has a heritage information section on their website.

In terms of local heritage, a place or object needs to meet certain criteria such as displaying historical, economic or social themes that are of importance to the local area; representing customs or ways of life that are characteristic of the local area; displaying artistic merit; being associated with a notable local personality; being a notable landmark in the area, a tree of special historical or social significance; and/or finally, representing customs or ways of life that are characteristic of the local area. Contributory items are occasionally contained in development plans as historic conservation areas, zones or policy areas.

I represent WACRA on the Community Alliance SA and also served as WACRA’s treasurer.

Community Alliance SA is an umbrella organisation representing residents and community groups dedicated to community engagement and facilitating ‘People back into planning and development in SA’. In 2018, a source had confirmed to WACRA that a new SA planning act was to be passed in parliament. That year a couple of attempts were made by WACRA and Community Alliance SA to bring attention to the unfairness of this new planning act, and in protest we held a ‘silent demonstration’ on the steps of Parliament House. However, planning’s power base appears to be developers, investors and banks and it would have taken a larger grassroots well-organised campaign to draw attention to perceived oppression in the act. On that occasion, WACRA fell short in numbers of people and we ran out of protest energy.

As recently as June 2019, Community Alliance SA’s Tom Matthews alerted its members to have a say on planning reform consultation. Tom Matthews points out that DIT is only evaluating the consultation process for ‘statutory consultations’ in the new Planning and Design Code (SA): ‘we want to be involved in the contributory items in our historic conservation zone’.

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Paul Laris, WACRA’s president, stated in May 2019: State Planning Commissioner Michael Lennon and Planning Minister Stephan Knoll need to be concerned about negative public reaction to the proposed changes in the planning system. We face the potential demolition of Charles Sturt Council’s 3655 Contributory Items. Contributory Items are features, including buildings, that have heritage aspects that contribute to the historic quality of a place. Many of these in Charles Sturt that have been previously assessed and recommended for protection may not be protected under this new system.

The amenity, value and sense of place of our older historic inner suburban homes and treelined streets which residents, visitors and tourists appreciate must be protected. The new planning rules are allowing unscrupulous developers to build inappropriate, uncharacteristic high-rise ‘infill’ and smaller, split townhouses.

These recent changes remove local communities and residents from the planning decisions that affect us all. We must find new ways for individuals and communities to be involved in planning to maximise the social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits of recognising and caring for our heritage.

The development industry has had it all its own way in shaping the new planning system. It is time the balance was reset. We need an orderly planning process, separate from state government bureaucrats, under a properly funded and independent Heritage Council, that includes the voices of local councils, residents’ associations and the National Trust of South Australia. Our heritage places and the historic character of our suburbs and towns should be retained, protected and enhanced.

Theo Ellenbroek, Community Alliance SA member, protesting outside Parliament House

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My activist role is better described as a watchdog, providing WACRA with information about developments that may threaten our local built environment heritage. As suggested earlier, local people do not appear to have much say in planning laws nowadays; they are very complicated and hard to engage with. My view is that the state government, with the new act, has all the cards in their hands. Local government has been systematically disempowered to such a degree that the community has little democratic input into planning and heritage.

Saving Estcourt House Theo Ellenbroek

Late in 2016 we heard that the historic mansion, Estcourt House, situated in the Tennyson Dunes, was to be demolished to make way for a retirement village. Arguing for protection of heritage, I alerted the authorities on behalf of WACRA. Frederick Estcourt Bucknall came to South Australia in 1860. In 1869 he built a boathouse and hotel which local people at Port Adelaide called ‘The Kerosine Tin’. He soon owned other hotels in the area and was involved in the Marine Terraces (‘The Marines’) at Grange, using the same architects, Bayer and Withall. Bucknall built Estcourt House, a 17-room Military Road mansion, in 1882, anticipating a proposed inland harbour on the Port River (now West Lakes). The Bucknall family, including 11 children, moved into Estcourt House in 1883.

Financial problems were looming. The Commercial Bank of Australia, in which Bucknall held most of his money, collapsed in 1886. He was declared bankrupt and was forced to sell Estcourt House.

Since the house sale by Bucknall in 1886, the site and building have served as an abode for people with disabilities, catering for ‘crippled children and aged blind’, the language used in 1894. Over the years many organisations used this space as a facility, providing services to those in need of care. The government stepped in and bought the property in 1978. It became a branch of the Adelaide Children’s Hospital in 1981. In 1982 it was known as Ru Rua, housing children with intellectual disabilities. In 1995, the government sold Estcourt House to a private company.

In an effort to save Estcourt House, WACRA went into campaign mode and we mobilised our local networks. Developing an argument to save Estcourt House became a priority. We organised a public forum at Henley Town Hall. At the same time, we gathered information, researched Estcourt House heritage, and alerted our membership and other community organisations. The timing aspects of the campaign were crucial. When we were ready, we contacted the local newspapers and made written representations to the City of Charles Sturt (Development Act 1993), including one in January 2018.

Charles Sturt Council’s Planning Officer Anthony Zollo said that ‘34 people made submissions against the proposal for the January 2019 meeting’. It is recorded that both sides of government (Minister Stephen Mullighan for the ALP and Opposition leader Steven Marshall for the Liberals) were against the proposed demolition: ‘MPs join community fight to save historic home’ was the line run by the Weekly Times Messenger 17 January 2018. The Westside Weekly Times Messenger (page 4, 24 January 2018) reported (in anticipation):

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‘Heritage home set to be spared from demolition’. The official report before Charles Sturt Council at that January 2019 meeting recommended that a bid to demolish the 135-year-old Tennyson mansion be rejected. It turned out to be a positive outcome for WACRA and other community groups campaigning to save the house.

Jim Douglas outside Estcourt House (courtesy of Weekly Times Messenger, News Ltd)

Saving old Grange Primary School Jim Douglas and Richard Smith

The old Grange Primary School, which developed from very modest beginnings in 1880 with 25 pupils in rented accommodation, is located on the northern side of Jetty Street and was constructed in 1885, with teaching beginning the following year. Over the years, the school was expanded on a number of occasions and temporary buildings were also added.

Old Grange Primary School (State Library of South Australia archive)

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A Soldiers’ Memorial Hall (School Hall) was constructed in 1957 in honour of returned services people. A community fundraising effort to raise funds to build the hall commenced in 1945 and was completed when over £4,000 pounds ($8,000) was raised, sufficient to build the hall. The School Hall was used as a school assembly space and for numerous sport and craft activities. The floor of the School Hall was made of timber and was specially sprung to allow for gymnastic activities.

The old school, immediately across the road in Jetty Street from the present Grange Primary School, remained open until 1971 when the new school was built. However, the new school continued to use the School Hall for assemblies and a school/community sporting hub with emphasis on gymnastics, mainly managed by the Grange Youth Club.

Between the 1970s and 1990s, the old school site was occupied by Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and named the Grange TAFE. It closed in the early 1990s, all classes being moved to the new Port Adelaide TAFE. The old school was said by the state government to be ‘surplus to use’.

Statements emerged from the state government that the old school site was going up for auction to the highest bidder without any community consultation on what was going to happen to the heritage-listed school rooms or the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. This was the trigger that angered the community; an action committee, formed to stop the sale and to enter into meaningful negotiations with the state government, consisted of members of the local community, the parents of the kids who were members of the Grange Youth Club, two councillors of the then Henley and Grange Council, and the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association.

A very well-attended public meeting, with significant TV, radio and print media present, was held, at which the community called on the state government to: • • • • •

stop any sale immediately respect the heritage value of the school buildings and the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall investigate an alternative site for the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall replace the 50 car parking spaces used by Grange Primary School staff obtain a ‘Special condition of sale’ for the Grange TAFE site to ensure that any purchaser of the site would be obliged to enter into a ‘land management agreement' with Henley and Grange Council to ensure that the old school buildings would be maintained and protected from demolition.

In addition, a petition placed in almost every retail business in Henley and Grange collected over 1,000 signatures to save the old school. The petition was presented to parliament by the then member for Colton, Steve Condous. On this day the community filled the public and speaker’s galleries! Presentations were made to, and meetings held with, Henley and Grange Council which supported the community’s call.

Letters from the action committee were sent to the Premier Dean Brown, the Prime Minister Paul Keating and the Federal Minister for Defence, Kim Beazley. Because things were moving slowly, the action committee wrote to the state ombudsman, asking him to call on the state government to save the school in the interests of the community; it included a memorial hall

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built with community money, much of it by volunteers – many of whom were returned services people.

The ombudsman supported the community call and 'delayed any sale', pending a response from the federal government. We made sure that the federal government would live up to its verbal assurance that it would have a ‘very long look’ at the circumstances surrounding the future of the old school and the memorial hall. With community and political pressure mounting and a state election looming, the action committee wrote and spoke to sitting members and candidates asking them to support our call to save the old Grange Primary School.

Steve Condous, recognising that if he was going to get the community support he needed to be out the front leading the call, organised a number of meetings with the premier and the ministers for education and further education. Offers started to fall on the table, including relocation of the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall to a space on the Captain Charles Sturt land nearby; $205,000 from the state government to extend the after-school care room in the new Grange Primary School; and an independent building inspection of the memorial hall to check its structural strength and building materials. To our extreme disappointment, the building inspection was not favourable as the roof and gutters were made of asbestos, and some of the structure was compromised and too dangerous to move.

The action committee took many deep breaths and decided that there needed to be a replacement gymnasium; we went back to council to negotiate the availability of land on the Henley Oval. We were grateful that council produced a Sports Complex Plan for the Henley Oval; however, the costs were well out of their reach and the state government was not supportive.

Returning to 'good old Steve' and turning the thumb screws, we told him that support for his return to parliament would improve ten-fold if he could find another space and the necessary funds. To his credit, Steve came back to the community and council, announcing that the state government via the Education Department had given land inside Henley High School to build a new multi-purpose sports centre.

We met Steve in his electoral office, sure he was expecting us to give him plenty of back slaps and bear hugs. BUT we didn't – because we wanted a water-tight guarantee that the new sports centre would be open to the public, and we insisted on a sprung wooden floor for gymnastics. It was a great moment to look at Steve's face when we put our position; he jumped out of his chair, came around from his table, shook our hands and gave us a hug – and did what we asked for!

The community can look back and be proud that, as a result of almost ten years of campaigning, the old school building is still there, looking splendid and occupied and heritage protected, the existing Grange Primary School has a modern after-school day-care and vacation centre and assembly hall, the teachers have a car park, and the multi-purpose gymnasium, run by Gym West and several Grange youth clubs, is open to the community.

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Campaigns against telecommunications towers Association of Citizens Against Telecommunications Towers (ACATT) Kate Barrett

I moved to Henley Beach in 1988 when I was a single mum working full-time, with two teenagers at Henley High School. As community involvement has been a value and passion for me all my life it was not surprising that I would gravitate to the local residents’ group before too long.

For the first few years, I went along to the meetings of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association very much as an observer. Then after I started working part time, I joined the ‘Resist’ committee where I soon realised that the leadership team of Bridget Bannear and Jim Douglas knew what they were doing – recognising issues, running meetings, lobbying, campaigning, networking. The lot.

Then in 1993 fate plunged me right into the scene of community activism first-hand, ready or not. Starting with a single phone call from a local councillor, I ended up spending the next three and a half years campaigning against mobile phone towers, during which time I was instrumental in setting up the Association of Citizens Against Telecommunications Towers (ACATT) with Henley residents. ACATT somehow grew from local residents meeting at the home of Heather and Kelvin Brown in East Terrace to an information and support group that helped similar groups across South Australia and then interstate and even, in a small way, overseas!

It all started in June with the local campaign against the proposal for a mobile phone tower on the Henley Oval. The fateful phone call was from a councillor (who had voted against the proposal) to tell me that council had just approved the Telecom (now Telstra) plan, a plan that had been kept very quiet after Telecom had offered the football club $60,000. After I put down the phone, I immediately got to work typing out my first newsletter (on my trusty Brother LW1 word processor).

Next day I paid for 90 photocopies of the newsletter, dated 9 June 1993, and letterboxed the streets near the oval. My phone started ringing within hours, with Heather Brown the first caller. Two days later there were four of us doorknocking the neighbourhood with a petition.

From this start, a tightly knit little group of locals formed a committee that met regularly at the Browns’ for more than a year. Within weeks we had lobbied the council and councillors, gathered more signatures, contacted the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association, and written to Telecom. By the end of the month, I had written and widely circulated two more newsletters. At its next meeting council retracted its approval and put the process on hold!

The committee was only just getting up to speed and we kept on meeting, keeping up the pressure for a widely advertised public meeting. We brainstormed a name for ourselves and particularly liked the acronym as we all liked cats (hence ACATT). We researched and collected information about the whole topic of telecommunications towers, the legislation excluding Telecom from normal planning regulations and radio frequency electromagnetic radiation safety standards. Our ACATT committee pushed for a new, widely publicised public

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meeting about the Henley Oval proposal. We widened our activities to researching and collecting information on the bigger issues involved in the mobile phone roll-out. We came up with the brilliant idea of collating all this information, and produced a most impressive information handbook. Over the next few years, we sold copies all across the state and then Australia-wide.

Council did organise a widely publicised public meeting to discuss the oval proposal and around 70 people filled the Over Fifties Community Centre, a mix of football club members and local residents. Speakers included the Telecom representative (who offered free videos on the safety of phone towers), Jim Douglas presenting the objections of the residents’ association, and a very nervous me. At the end of the meeting Jim Douglas spoke up clearly from the back of the hall to request a vote on the issue. It was a win for the residents! In due course, council took another vote and this time voted against the oval proposal.

Luckily, the ACATT group were a suspicious and cynical bunch and we just kept going in anticipation of Telecom’s next site proposal for the area. Following the failure of the Henley Oval plan, The ACATT committee kept up its work, waiting for Telecom’s next move. Sure enough, two months later Telecom reappeared, this time with a plan for a shorter tower on the roof of the Western Community Hospital, offering the usual generous rental payments.

Following the first campaign, there was now a high level of awareness in the district about the issue. After I letterboxed the area with a new ACATT newsletter, there was soon a new committee of energetic residents meeting regularly to plan and lobby. Key targets were the members of the hospital board and management as well as Telecom, council, local MPs and the federal minister for communications. I delivered the petition personally to Telecom and a copy to the hospital secretary. By this time phone towers had become a high-profile issue across Australia. Bridget Bannear appeared on the ABC’s 7.30 Report and I was interviewed by the research team from Four Corners.

The Henley and Grange Residents’ Association played a strong role and immediately posted a letter to council, produced a form letter for residents to send, and held a special meeting on the issue. Members of the original committee were also supportive. Council discussed the tower in detail and were against the proposal, but felt limited by the fact that the plan was for private land.

The campaign ramped up over the summer holidays. On 25 January 1994 hospital board members arriving for their 7.30am meeting were surprised to find a group of us at the entrance with banners and comments. That evening a senior Telecom representative had agreed to meet a few residents under the trees on the hospital lawn. They were joined by Bridget Bannear and Jim Douglas from ‘Resist’, and also outspoken councillor Arthur Jeeves.

It was not long before the Telecom representative beat a hasty retreat to his car. Next day he spent a very hot Australia Day public holiday doorknocking homes around the area.

The hospital board met 22 February 1994 to make their final decision and we were told the announcement would not be made that day. The decision was announced on ABC Radio the next day – No! So that was another win for local residents (and ACATT). Or was it?

Within a week, Telecom was back with yet another suggested site that was their own building, the telephone exchange on East Terrace, nearer to the original committee 84

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members than the Henley Oval! The group immediately ramped up to full lobbying mode, again. MPs Chris Gallus (federal) and Steve Condous (state) came along to the 13 March committee meeting and then met Telecom officials. These MPs continued to support anti tower groups in the area for the next four years. The residents’ association also continued its support. By now the issue ‘Telecommunications towers’ was a permanent item on the agenda, following ‘Correspondence arising‘.

The residents’ committee dispatched another petition and round of letters to Henley and Grange Council and the familiar topic was again debated and opposed. No details or concrete proposal for East Terrace emerged from Telecom and the issue appeared to stall.

Instead, Telecom quietly negotiated with council to try to persuade them to conduct a community process to nominate a specific site. After further debate council also rejected this plan.

There was no further news until rumours circulated about another possible local site – a tower in Henley Square! It was confirmed in the press in January 1995 that Telecom and council had been quietly working on a concept whereby Telecom would finance upgrades to the square to include two smaller scale towers. ‘Outrageous‘ – as I was quoted in the Weekly Times Messenger. ACATT and the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association submitted immediate protests, but no campaign emerged as the proposal went quiet.

As it turned out, the plans for East Terrace and Henley Square were put aside as a new proposal emerged later in the year from Vodaphone to construct a 30-metre tower with a set of antennae for each of the three phone companies. The site would be the ETSA substation on Grange Road, Fulham Gardens, a short distance over the council boundary with Hindmarsh Woodville. Locally, the new plan for the tower at Fulham Gardens had met with resistance.

Seemingly out of nowhere, in August 1995 State Education Minister Rob Lucas announced that discussions had been held about the possibility of locating phone towers on school sites. This news was immediately condemned by the South Australian Institute of Teachers. I sent off a similar response on behalf of the ACATT network and kept up regular reminders to the minister. Local MP Steve Condous joined the campaign with a letter of opposition to his own minister and all local schools.

In a chance encounter with Minister Lucas in Parliament House (where I was attending a hearing on another matter), I challenged him to accept the ‘precautionary principle’ on this issue, particularly as it involved children, but he was unconvinced. He was likewise unmoved by the news that the New Zealand government had reversed its previous decision to permit towers on school property.

The concerted campaign by the South Australian Institute of Teachers, the Public Service Association, opposition MPs including Democrat Mike Elliott and community groups continued into 1997 with strong print media coverage (mostly from ACATT press releases).

Then, with no specific announcement, the issue faded away without a single school tower being built. I consider this to be one of the few real wins for ACATT and the Adelaide antitower movement. In almost all other cases, a win for one location led to a loss for another.

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This new plan was met with a wave of protest from nearby residents as well as the well-oiled machine of participants from the previous two years of the Henley campaigns – ‘Resist’, ACATT, Henley and Grange Council, Henley residents and the local MPs. In November the proposal was rejected by Hindmarsh Woodville Council but referred to the federal environment department for a final decision. By now phone tower protests were emerging across the state and as ACATT coordinator I worked with some of these, such as Croydon Park, Brighton, Mitcham and Naracoorte. Luckily by now I was only working part time.

With the project temporarily stalled, the phone companies even returned to Henley and Grange Council in 1996 in an attempt to revive the plan for the Henley Oval or Henley Square. The new proposal for the square was for the tower to be incorporated into a war memorial clock tower.

No more was heard of these plans and in May 1997 the token federal department process ignored all opposition and rubber-stamped the Vodaphone proposal. From then on the Fulham Gardens Action Group met for two years and kept up a tenacious battle, including a year-long picket of the site that gained headlines across Australia.

Vodaphone and its contractors were forced to ‘break into’ the site with a police escort to work on construction. I was on the picket line on the first occasion and later wrote this account: I did not witness the later pre-dawn ‘break-in’ which had a larger police escort including police horses. Extraordinarily, residents kept up the picket even after the tower was completed and the battle lost.

By this time, the Adelaide ACATT network included 11 protest groups, many interstate groups, and a major protest group in my old hometown of Christchurch. I was invited and sponsored to speak at meetings in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, present submissions to two Senate enquiries in Canberra, and attend a hearing in Christchurch where international scientists presented research on radio frequency radiation safety standards.

In 2020, residents are still campaigning against telecommunications towers in their backyard.

Telstra tower, Henley Beach 2016-17 Heather Flanagan

In 2016, the local community fought against the planning proposal and construction of a Telstra tower in the heart of old Henley Beach. Having such a tall structure located in a Residential Character Zone within an Historic Conservation Zone conflicted with local council restrictions. Building height and fencing design was tightly restricted and controlled by heritage and the Charles Sturt Council Development Plan. There are restrictions on the type of house you can build in this area. A Residential Character Zone is made up of areas of character housing from the Victorian, pre-World War I and inter-war eras. To retain the character of these areas, there are specific controls on design applications. For example, you cannot build a two-storey dwelling or extension.

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The Telstra tower was classified as a Category 3 development. A Category 3 must notify: All owners/occupiers of and adjacent to where the development is proposed, in writing; all owners/occupiers of and which the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) believes would be significantly affected by the application, in writing; the general public by newspaper advertisement.

Telstra owned the land on which this 37.5 metre structure was to be built. However, it seemed that there was one development rule for those Henley Beach residents living in this zone and another for corporate bodies such as Telstra. Some residents had been alerted by letter and quickly spread the word in the wider community. Neighbours talked with each other and decided to form a community group.

With help from WACRA, a campaign was organised to signal a community protest about the location of the proposed tower. We argued that this development was inappropriate and infringed current planning restrictions in this zone. The community group strongly wanted to protect the character of the zone and viewed a tower, the equivalent of a 10-storey residential building, as visual pollution in this Residential Character Zone.

In collaboration with WACRA, the media coverage raised ensured this issue was widely exposed. We set up our communication network effectively and considered setting an example that could assist other organisations in future campaigns. One of our objectives was to ensure that no other community would be put in the same position as our community.

We undertook to lodge an application to the Charles Sturt Council. Residents attended a council meeting where 48 residents had given written objections, 16 of whom spoke in front of the council’s Development Assessment Panel (DAP), now known as the Council Assessment Panel (CAP). They expressed their opinion about the Telstra tower being in conflict with the council’s development plan and had pertinent questions answered.

Community presentations included a Photoshop visual that illustrated what this tower would look like in an area that was heritage listed. Much research had been undertaken by the residents and matched to relevant sections of the development plan. The results were incorporated into the presentations to council.

In December 2016, the council’s DAP refused Telstra’s development application. However, this decision was reversed. Telstra’s proposed development was a Category 3, which meant that Telstra had the right to appeal in the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court. In February 2017, people who had lodged written objections were advised that Telstra had appealed and that they were invited to the court hearing. There was little time to respond.

Our group sought guidance to understand the legal process. This was an intense time.

Pamphlets were distributed throughout the community and those who had lodged written objections were emailed, asking for donations to help pay legal representation to protect our heritage area from this visual pollution. Over $3,500 was raised in a couple of days. We hired an urban planner to assess the community’s case, but his report indicated our case was beyond his expertise and we needed to find a heritage architect.

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WACRA kickstarted the campaign with $500 (making a total of $1,000 contributed by this community organisation) and a heritage architect was engaged. Unfortunately, council pulled out of the appeal, basing their decision on lack of alternative sites in the area and case law (other similar cases). We were astounded.

Next was a hearing in the Supreme Court. But legal services at this level are complex, expensive, and carry the risk of paying Telstra’s costs if we lose the case. We could not afford to engage an expert to provide additional advice. It is difficult for a community to have equal representation, in particular when it is up against a huge corporate body such as Telstra.

Based on financial concerns, the group withdrew from the appeals process. At the end of the day it came down to who had the money to fight in court.

The community, who fought so hard, was gutted and wrecked emotionally from the experience. In particular, it is distressing to those residents who live nearby or have a direct view of this huge tower looming over them. There are still doubts in the minds of many people about the safety of radio frequency emitting towers in relation to human health.

In response to this bad news, a mock funeral procession was held in the local Henley streets and in proximity to the proposed site of this telecommunications tower. Dressed in black, our mourning community walked together through Henley’s much-loved heritage area. This is a good example of community engagement.

Today, in 2019, our skyline is dominated by this tower. On a positive note, the community group did persuade Telstra to paint its tower blue in an effort to blend it with the skyline.

Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar’s account follows.

Protesters outside of houses at the site in Henley Beach (Heather Flanagan is third from right)

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The Wake following Telstra tower being built Kenzie van den Nieuwelaar

In 2016, the community received notice that Telstra was planning to erect a 35-metre monopole in the heart of Henley’s Historic Conservation Zone – an area celebrated for its beautiful older homes (many built in the early 1900s) and iconic Norfolk Island pines. This was a totally inappropriate area for such a construction and contradicted every development guideline. We fought hard against this proposal, but unfortunately Telstra’s might and money won the day. The residents are left with the ugly aftermath – a structure which dominates the skyline.

As Heather Flanagan mentioned, to highlight and mourn the loss of Henley’s historic identity we staged a Wake. Led by local artist Andrew Baines, members of WACRA and the community solemnly marched from the historic Uniting Church down the local streets to the site of the tower, dressed in black. This event received a lot of media attention and once again brought the community together – although we lost this fight, we are all united in our quest to protect the beautiful area we are lucky enough to live in and call home.

There have been numerous WACRA initiatives over the years, and I have only briefly covered a few of these. A few of our efforts have been successful; however, the other issues involved fighting to be heard by big, monied companies. We may have lost the war in several instances, but I believe that community activism enabled us to win a few battles along the way. I believe we must never sit back and accept ‘change and progress’ without questioning it and asking how this change will benefit our community. We are custodians of this beautiful area and must remain vigilant to protect it for future generations. I am proud to have been actively involved in these issues.

People (and dogs) attending the Wake

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Public art and community gardens Community public art movement Jim Douglas Festival of the Coast

Over the years WACRA has made connections with other organisations within our local community. Together we created a community public art movement. The period I want to discuss spans the last twenty years. I will try to explain what it has actually meant when WACRA includes those outside its organisation, and incorporates the knowledge and experience of others. Public art installations and creating events surrounding them have been successful. A greater level of involvement with the community within these projects has resulted in having these joint arrangements.

In 2000, WACRA, in its effort to deliver community-driven outcomes, saw the need for the Charles Sturt Council to employ a full-time arts officer to manage a public art program. We lobbied hard for council to employ a person who could work with the community, and who could arrange various local and festival events. As a result of our lobbying , a full-time arts officer, Anne Thoday, was employed. With her experience and skills, and in conjunction with council, we initiated and ran the incredibly successful Festival of the Coast.

The main festival in 2000 was held at Grange Beach. The organising committee’s statement of aims and principles highlighted: People creating, developing, linking, exhibiting, parading, promoting, exchanging, enhancing and advancing all forms of artistic, environmental, cultural, spiritual and culinary stuff.

A number of schools in the area were involved in the festival. Local, professional and Indigenous dance groups performed. The main venue was the Grange Jetty Kiosk.

Surrounding venues included the Grange Hotel. The manager of the Grange Jetty Kiosk encouraged us to set up several stalls for food and drinks. We started at 11am in the morning and finished at 11pm in the evening.

That was our first festival. Subsequent festivals in 2001 and 2002 introduced a diverse range of attractions. Just looking at the 2002 program, in addition to an Indigenous artist from the Port Adelaide Community Centre, we had Cirkidz, local bands, Dya Singh, Diwali Dance House and Knee High Puppets. In summary, it was socially inclusive and there was something to please everyone.

Further, the council set aside a large amount of money for this festival, about $100,000 (two parcels of $50,000 for the next two festivals). However, before we held the 2002 festival, council withdrew its funding. We went to council several times with the message that something big had been going on at these festival events, and we argued that people’s expectations had been raised. We learned that educators and entertainers would not be paid due to withdrawing the funding. As a result, the goodwill of all organisations involved in the production of three very successful Festival of the Coast programs, including the festival committee, community artists and various partners, was challenged. We had made some 90

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very good connections. We were concerned about what would happen to the program. The arts officer left the program somewhat involuntarily. No one has filled that position since. In 2018, we are one of the few local councils that does not have a full-time arts officer.

Fire story performance at the Festival of the Coast, Grange Beach Henley Summer Sundays

We negotiated funding for Summer Sundays on Henley Square to be held in January and February each year from 2003-7. Council selected a dedicated arts person, Councillor Tim Dodds, to collaborate with our organisation and traders to make it happen. As we did not have the money to employ artists, we relied on volunteers and good weather conditions to make it successful. We had to cancel some events when weather was against us and some of the art shown was ordinary. Community connections were severed. I would say we lost the social inclusivity that had channelled previous festival events. It was sad. But it went for four years, 2003-7, and many people enjoyed it.

SALA in the west

In 2006, WACRA met with Connie Wilson, the director of South Australian Living Artists (SALA). Our mission was how to increase SALA’s involvement in the western suburbs. She was delighted to work with us because it was believed that the western suburbs had been neglected. A SALA western suburbs committee was set up. In 2006 we had our first big SALA event. Contacting traders in Henley and Grange and asking if they would show local art on their walls was our first quest. We requested that the Henley Town Hall be opened for SALA, and engaged local hotels to open their doors to art. It was a slow beginning but as the years passed interest increased. It meant a lot of work for WACRA members and the western suburbs SALA committee group. Then SALA events took on a life of their own. Artists and venues were connected, and locations established. Nearly all of the local traders and some hotels have opened their doors to SALA events. Henley Traders Association played a big role

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in this as well, headed by Helen Lewis. From humble beginnings we now have a process that works really well. As you walk around Henley Square today you will notice that nearly every trader displays SALA art.

Sea eagle 2006

WACRA worked alongside the Friends of Gulf St Vincent, a conservation organisation of volunteers consisting of ex-government employees, community, environmentalists and scientists. This body’s principal objective is to raise awareness of our precious asset – Gulf St Vincent.

Collectively, Friends of Gulf St Vincent and WACRA appealed to the council for funding for public art on the coastline. We proposed a sea eagle to be situated on a post at the very end of Grange Road. It would be something grand you can see as you drive west towards the coast. One reason for the selection of the white-bellied sea eagle is that this area was once its natural habitat. Although they nest in the Mount Lofty Ranges, they foraged and fished on our coast. They are a magnificent sight soaring through the air. Unfortunately, they are not seen very often nowadays. On our advice, council commissioned Indiana James, an artist from Kangaroo Island, and in August 2006 the sculpture was completed and launched as part of SALA. This installation, a large sea eagle with open wings, is set on top of one of three tall posts. A plaque with information about the bird accompanies the installation.

Fishing boxes for SALA 2007

In 2007, again we worked with the Friends of Gulf St Vincent, this time involving local schools with a SALA event. We approached the director at the Supported Learning Centre at Henley High School and the Henley Woodworking Shed. About 40 students and quite a few men worked together to make fishing boxes and painted them in readiness for display as a SALA event at the Henley Community Centre. Students’ attention span was often short; there were some testing moments. The woodworking guys were very patient. They were just marvellous. It was a great event. Three or four of the kids talked about their experience making the boxes. They had obviously rehearsed it. And they were funny. They appeared to have no inhibitions and said it just the way it was for them.

Sea Creature Trail 2007

WACRA again approached the Charles Sturt Council and proposed another public art project for which we were funded. This time it was to install a mosaic sea creature trail on the rock wall between Henley Square and Marlborough Street. WACRA engaged two artists from Sea House at Glenelg. Consultation with the Henley and Grange community brought forth some excellent ideas for seafaring creatures, which live or had lived in the waters of Gulf St Vincent. These ideas were workshopped with about 80 local residents who were often in family groups. We were blown away by the level of interest. Family groups were asked to make their own mosaic. To grasp what was at stake making sea creature mosaics, we invited the Marine Discovery Centre at Henley Beach to provide educational resources. As part of the SALA program, 30 mosaic sea creatures are now attached to the Esplanade rock wall.

Almost every mosaic has a story. One story which really strikes my heart was that of a single parent with two kids who produced a giant squid. Almost every day they worked on that squid and still take photos of it for family and friends. We made sure entire families were

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involved in the creations and attaching mosaics to the rocks. View the Sea Creature Mosaics video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdNOpO19IRg The Stella Restaurant owners on Henley Square had two children involved in the project.

When we launched the Sea Creature Trail, dignitaries were invited to walk the coast, followed by a reception for 200 people at Stella Restaurant, which opened its doors for the event.

Four mosaic examples (Sea Creature Trail) Worm farms for SALA 2008

In 2008, WACRA and the Friends of Gulf St Vincent invited Henley High School students from the Supported Learning Centre to make worm farms, using timber and paint. Again, we launched these boxes for SALA at the Henley Community Centre. Later these worm farms were put to work in Molly’s Garden. Learning how worm droppings fed the vegetable gardens was part of the children’s educational process. Besides the benefits to the woodworkers, community and community gardeners, the parents were absolutely delighted to see their children having so much fun and being creative. Freshly harvested food from the garden provided lunch eaten by the children in sandwiches or soups.

June and Bernie: pelican sculptures on the River Torrens 2008

Another of our public art proposals to council was funding for the installation of two pelicans at the mouth of the River Torrens. We suggested two pelicans, sitting on posts, one on each side of the outlet, with the intention that they could watch over the protection of the 93

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environment. For a long time, our activities had been directed towards seeing a wetland built between Tapleys Hill Road and the sea, so that clean water could enter Gulf St Vincent.

We suggested that artist Indiana James create these sculptures.

After several informal chats with the major stakeholders, WACRA submitted a formal submission to council and secured $20,000 for the project. A competition, driven by council, was held to decide names for the two pelicans. It transpired that everybody knew June and Bernie Phillips from West Beach, a couple no longer with us but in their day they were local beachcombers and coastal custodians. Bernie had been a local councillor. Larger than life size, Bernie and June, our two pelicans, were installed on tall posts, facing each other on opposite banks of the Torrens’ Outlet. You could speculate that they are having a conversation as they were known to do, hoping perhaps that clean water might flow from the river’s mouth one day. The pelicans are often visited by their feathered friends on top of the vacant poles.

Spot the real pelicans (Bernie in the left photo, June on left pole in photo on right) Mosaic Stepping Stones 2009

If you venture down the banks of the River Torrens near the Kidman Bridge on Henley Beach Road, you will see a pathway of mosaics representing various species of life found in the River Torrens valley. It is named the Biodiversity Pathway. This was another WACRA and Charles Sturt Council initiative, although we also joined with West Torrens Council. We used the same process, applying for funding, advertising, recruiting interested people, gaining access to land and waterways, workshopping with artists from the Sea House at Glenelg, and providing educational resources.

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Again, over 100 community members selected items from the specialist River Torrens flora and fauna chart. It could be a fish, a cockatoo or a tortoise. At this point in the River Torrens, the platypus once thrived. It is not surprising then that we chose a central mosaic platypus as an iconic totem for the Torrens, hoping of course that this creature will return to the river one day, when waters are cleaner and wetlands are recreated.

The launch of the Mosaic Stepping Stones was accompanied by music and an environmental history and mystery tour as people walked along the banks of the Torrens. Community participation was the most important aspect of the launch. For this public art project, the mayors of the two councils, local MP Paul Caica, federal MP Steve Georganos, and employees from the Department for Environment and Water, including natural resources management, were invited. We also wanted a picnic area at this site but that did not eventuate; however, we have not given up on this happening one day. View the Torrens River Mosaic Biodiversity Pathway video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdWP-HV6EO0

Mosaic Stepping Stones – view from the river Poles Apart 2016-17

WACRA approached Charles Sturt Council for a Discretionary Ward Allowance to decorate the Stobie poles in Main Street near Henley Square, from Seaview Road to East Terrace. The project was called Poles Apart. Instead of painting on the poles, we had boards made the width of the poles, and these were painted and attached to the poles. On the side facing west towards the sea we painted ocean scenes and sea creatures, and facing east we displayed flora and fauna of the Adelaide Hills, relative to the Mount Lofty Ranges. We used the old council depot on Military Road as a workshop. About 60 community members were involved, four of those from Main Street. Full credit goes to the director of the community 95

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centre and council’s social inclusion officer who were involved in this project. They assisted us in making it happen and they also did some panels themselves. We also involved the Henley and Grange Arts Society for the first time. As a result, the work of this group is now being exhibited and they have increased links to SALA. Blue Groper sculpture 2013

WACRA initiated a public art project named the Blue Groper sculpture. The Western Blue Groper is a rare species of fish believed to be almost lost from our gulf as seagrass has been destroyed and our gulf muddied. Spearfishing has also claimed many. WACRA was not able to secure funding for this work, but it has since been taken up by the Friends of Gulf St Vincent, the Port Noarlunga traders and the City of Onkaparinga. The two metres square artwork, ‘The Goggles’, is a sensational installation standing at the entrance to the sea at Port Noarlunga. It is a remarkable educational resource, inviting people to look through the goggles to see what lurks under the water. This piece of public art has increased Port Noarlunga’s visibility to the world. It is a great example of communities and organisations working together.

Blue Groper (centre), Tim Hoile, Angela Gackle, Jim Douglas and Anne Wheaton (L to R) Planned public art projects

There are several other projects in the pipeline. The first is a piece of public art that acknowledges Indigenous people: the Kaurna Meyunna. Another project being considered is a sculpture to be called Neptune’s Table in Henley Square.

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Henley and Grange Arts Society (HAGAS) Alison Harvey

I joined the Henley and Grange Arts Society Incorporated (HAGAS) in 1989. This group, formed in 1966 by a group of amateur artists, had only recently moved to their purpose-built facility in Atkin Street at Henley Beach. The City of Henley and Grange had provided various accommodation previously, but the desire for a permanent base prompted a concerted fundraising effort by members during the 1970s. By 1987, with the help of a Bicentennial Grant from the state government and a donation of land from the City of Henley and Grange, the group commenced building a facility with an art studio, potting studio, gallery, office and kitchen. The building was opened by Premier John Bannon in January 1988.

I have been a member, student painter, committee member, children’s art tutor, adults’ art tutor, art director and president over the years. This not-for-profit community group is totally self-funded and only functions due to the incredibly generous volunteers on our committee and in the general membership. We celebrated our 50 th anniversary in 2016 and have recently refurbished and relaunched our gallery as the Fraser Hay Gallery. This is in honour of Fraser Hay, a well-known Adelaide artist and a founding member-tutor, who was instrumental in leading the campaign to establish a permanent home for us.

We provide tutored sessions in painting, pottery and children’s art, and open studio time for members each week. HAGAS is, and has been, an incredibly important social connection for many in the community over the last 54 years. Members, including myself, have formed lifelong friendships and have benefited greatly from access to this dedicated space to connect with like-minded individuals and share ideas and creative pursuits.

Molly's Garden Jim Douglas

A chance meeting on the Henley High School Oval back in 2003 between two dog lovers, Helen and Jim, started a conversation about creating a school/community garden. A discussion took place with Henley High School’s principal and we created the first two plots on an old tennis court on the western side of the school oval. To obtain a water supply, we borrowed a long hose from the school’s cricket club shed and hooked it onto a tap connection. The garden beds were created from bricks from old demolition sites, and bits and pieces from hard rubbish left on footpaths. We needed good soil and mulch, so we contacted Bob, the engineer at Charles Sturt Council, and soon after a few loads were delivered. Our first plantings were sunflowers, silverbeet, sweetcorn and pumpkin.

We harvested the produce and increased community interest. Soon our group numbered ten. Then locals came over to meet us and chat. Along came some real gardeners who were able to provide greater expertise, and within a short time the garden was flourishing.

The director of the Supported Learning Centre, Deb, asked our garden group to join forces.

She wanted to bring classes of students to learn gardening. These young people were welcomed with open arms. At one stage we had four lessons a week and the students loved digging in the dirt, planting and tasting the produce.

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We had to find a name for the garden, so we named it Molly's Garden after Deb’s dog. The garden thrived. We organised an Open Day when the orchard was planted. Later we celebrated with soup and veggies cooked in the learning centre and shared by all.

The garden became a great meeting place for anyone from the community until an unfortunate incident when one of the dogs strayed onto the oval and bit the school gardener on the leg. This brought about a reaction from the school to keep all dogs out, fences and padlocks on all the gates, and restrictions on water use. It felt like a complete lock out. We had to find another place for the garden. With a huge amount of hard work by Deslie Goudie and Councillor Jim Fitzpatrick working with the City of Charles Sturt, a space was found at the northern end on the Henley Oval, its present location where it is looking splendid and is enjoyed by many.

Molly’s Garden

Henley Community Garden Deslie Goudie

Originally, as discussed in the piece on Molly’s Garden, we occupied land on the Henley High School grounds, a garden which was started in 2003. This garden was set up for community members to garden alongside young people living with a disability. We cooperated with this younger cohort on garden tasks, aiming to encourage community activity and for all of us to learn about seasonal fruit and vegetables. However, the space in this garden was limited and we looked for a larger plot. WACRA’s president at that time, Jim Douglas, was also a member of the Henley High School Community Garden.

A small group of four people who had been involved with the Henley High School Community Garden approached the City of Charles Sturt, who helped us find suitable land and write grant applications. By 2011 we had been allocated land, a large slice near the 98

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Henley Oval. We communicated with a council staff member, Janet Willoughby, Strategic Planner for Open Space and Recreation. Charles Sturt Council have been very supportive. We have been fortunate to have Janet as a contact. She has made it easy to navigate council processes and it is important to say that this relationship is ongoing for all gardening matters.

The new garden is located at Chambers Street, near the Henley Oval, at Henley Beach. In September 2012, the shift from the Henley High School site to our current location was full of mirth, goodwill and hard work. Fortunately, one of the members had a trailer which made it easier to shift the dirt and bricks from the Henley High School site. Some infrastructure such as large concrete pipes were physically rolled down the road for about one kilometre, from one site to the other. Rolling the pipes down the street was accompanied by much laughter, thus raising our community spirit. Fruit trees were transported to the new site.

Three citrus trees were replanted.

In 2012, Henley Community Garden (HCG) became an incorporated not-for-profit association. HCG held its first annual general meeting (AGM) 12 November 2012. A steering committee was elected, comprising garden members. The steering committee continues to meet once a month. An Open Day was held in 2013 with coverage from Sophie Thomson from ABC’s Gardening Australia. We have since produced an orientation guidebook to HCG. The guidebook outlines practices embracing organic and sustainable gardening principles. As an incorporated body, we complied by creating codes of conduct and safety guidelines whilst in the garden, and producing an overall environmental plan, closely supervised by Charles Sturt Council.

Financially supported by membership fees, grants and fundraising, we have been able grow our garden from strength to strength. One regular fundraising activity takes place at a stall in front of Bunnings Warehouse at Mile End. The sausage sizzle provides regular income.

Inside the HCG plot, a tool shed was constructed in 2014 and a veranda has recently been built to provide shade in summer and create additional space for social activities. Today we have three beehives, which incidentally survived the intense heat of the summer when those in the neighbourhood did not survive. Occasional infrastructure demands have been met by council grants; however, a chicken pen was funded by a grant from Bendigo Bank and built by job seekers under the Work for the Dole program. A mural on the shed wall is an example of public art, painted by Meredith Russell. We have worm farms and composting containers.

Fences have been built and maintained by council.

Each year we attempt to respond to our community members’ needs. As a result, a children’s play area has been constructed, used by young folk when their parents are working in the garden. Children often help water plants.

We currently have 80 HCG members, connecting a diverse local population in terms of gender, age and income. Sixty garden beds are owner occupied, and a few larger sections are allocated for community members who do not mind sharing a plot. It is expected that HCG members attend a minimum of six activity days each year, usually held on the first Sunday of each month. Sitting around a table in the garden, gardening basics are discussed.

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Mulch, how we can save water, organic pest control and worm farming are often topics of conversation, amidst who made the cake and guessing its ingredients.

A group of men meet once a week. It is a bit like a Men’s Shed really. Together the men manage the irrigation and deal with structural issues such as building shadecloth supports, necessary for protecting plants in the summer heat. One source of water is from the rain collected in a storage tank, the other is bore water. Bore water for the garden is pumped to the other tank via a bore connected to Henley Oval. My partner John worked on the irrigation system. In a section of the garden where wicking beds are built, the irrigation system is innovative. It relies on evaporation sensors and the delivery of predefined volumes of bore water to plant beds using a solar-powered low dripper hose delivery mechanism. However, in the last few years most brick plots have been converted to wicking beds. A wicking bed holds up to 200 litres of water and can sustain a garden plot for at least a week, even in hot weather. There are numerous advantages in a wicking bed garden, apart from reducing the need to water plants. It makes weed control very easy, there is reduced evaporation, and it appears to maintain nutrient levels at the roots without leaching away.

Our location is good. It is next to the Henley Oval, which has a separate building with a sport hall, toilet facilities and carparking spaces. The council has built another recreation area next to HCG, which includes stone benches set around a fireplace and speaks to the heritage of First Nation Australians.

Henley Community Garden

We are on Facebook. A bimonthly newsletter is sent to all members. We have received positive press comments in the local newspapers, on radio and TV. Our networks are strong.

And we create social events, bringing people together. A Solstice gathering was held 22 June 2019. Over 60 people covering all ages attended. We shared soup, baked pizza in our new oven, and sat around an open fire.

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It is really great to get to know local people; you feel a good sense of community support.

You get to know so many people. That's the most beautiful part. It's a really great connection. You can see that the community garden offers its workers a wide variety of fresh produce. There is always something to do in the garden, providing many opportunities for recreation and exercise. Local people stroll past and stop to talk with us while we are in the garden. I think the garden gives us a real sense of satisfaction and purpose. Possibly, access to a garden has many impacts on a person’s physical and emotional wellbeing. It is a wonderful way to connect with people.

(L to R): Angela Evans (Mayor), John Klopp, Chris Fountain, Deslie Goudie (HCG) and Sophie Thomson (Gardening Australia) with the Community Garden Award 2017

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Connecting community A president’s perspective Bridget Bannear

I started with the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association in 1989. Prior to this I stood for council. I had been working at Henley and Grange Council as a records clerk and when I left this position people said: ‘Now that you are not working for council, why don’t you stand?’

Jim Douglas offered to be my campaign manager. I did not understand what was involved at that time and went on holiday visiting my parents in Sydney instead of letterboxing. Of course, I did not get in. I then became involved with the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association and found myself elected as president at an annual general meeting in the early 1990s.

The Bicycle Users Group (BUG) was one of my interests. Having safe bicycle paths was a priority. We were quite active. Next, we dealt with telecommunications towers that were to be positioned on top of the local community hospital, children’s athletics grounds, or the Henley Surf Life Saving Club. We argued against these installations. At that time there was no evidence that they were safe. Residents’ associations in other parts of Adelaide were trying to halt mobile towers in their area, at least until independent research evidence was provided. We had been successful in stopping the towers being built in Henley and we became the ‘go to’ or ‘how to protest’ organisation for advice: ‘Ask Henley and Grange Residents’ Association – they know how to stop mobile phone towers.’

In the 1990s, a restaurant wanted to use the end of Henley Beach Jetty as a fine dining spot.

We did a lot of work keeping Henley Square for the people. We wanted somewhere people could go for fish and chips and ice cream. A restaurant at the end of the jetty would mean lack of access to public space and the exclusion of people who could not afford dining. We were successful in stopping this proposal from going ahead.

There is an ongoing campaign against Adelaide Airport noise. Adelaide Airport is located adjacent to West Beach, about six kilometres from the centre of the city. We were all part of an anti-noise protest in the 1990s. We also fostered research that indicated that the space allocated to the airport was totally inadequate. There are landing lights in people’s backyards in Thebarton. We questioned whether Adelaide Airport was in the right place and commissioned a proposal for an alternative site outside of Adelaide. Meanwhile another residents’ group in North Adelaide had been successful in gaining a curfew on aircraft operations between the hours of 2300 and 0600.

Torrens Outlet Breakout Creek has been used as a horse agistment area for many years. We started a debate in our community about this agistment, questioning what horses were doing to the environment on the banks of the River Torrens. This debate is ongoing.

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WACRA’s history in images Fernando Gonçalves

At a major community activist protest Save Our Beaches/No Boat Harbour in 1998, I was behind the camera. People were incensed that a stone wall was to be built out to sea despite ecological evidence declaring that this structure would permanently damage our coast.

About 400 people had signed a pledge to be part of a campaign to Save Our Beaches. After several months of protest, we agreed to blockade the development at Barcoo. We wanted to stop developers from gaining access to the site. At the crack of dawn, we were on the beach with cameras. In the blockade, and at its most dramatic stage, people had locked arms and refused to budge when heavy machinery threatened to roll over their bodies. I was very disappointed with the result. The stone groyne was built. However, I filmed protest sessions for months and I can share my photographic record of this event.

Prior to the Save Our Beaches campaign, I had been filming with a focus on community development in the western area of Adelaide. In collaboration with Virginia Paterson, another WACRA member, we coordinated groups, mostly unemployed young people, to achieve growth and development. I filmed many of those groups, with the aim of showing the way in which these groups thrived when an effort was made to engage with them. We have maintained an archive of those videos.

I have always been interested in recording the struggles of populations who would otherwise not have a voice. For instance, I covered the struggle of Indigenous people opposed to the building of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge in 1997. I filmed the walk of the Ngarrindjeri people with Doreen Kartinyeri, an Indigenous Elder woman, who led the walk on Hindmarsh Island in protest against building a bridge to join the mainland with the island.

The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival was established in 1998. Many visual artists are able to present their work in their own communities. In 2007, our group of residents (WACRA) promoted artists specifically from the western area of Adelaide to show their work. The first local exhibition was called Henley Variety, held near Henley Square.

Alongside other WACRA members, I have held several photographic exhibitions under the SALA umbrella.

Since 2002, Charles Sturt Council no longer has a dedicated arts officer on its staff. It is not unusual for me to be contracted by the council for various jobs. I worked on the 2010 council’s calendar, showing one photograph for each month. I am often consulted about preparing and launching an exhibition.

In 2007, Jim Douglas as the project coordinator, together with a team of dedicated interviewers and writers, produced a book published by SA Unions called Movers and Shakers. It was based on interviews of 55 South Australian activists. In an effort to educate and empower the next generations, its narrators explore the history of the working class struggle. I produced all the photographs to accompany each story, including the book cover.

About 600 people attended the launch of this book at Adelaide’s Festival Centre.

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Being part of the WACRA community is fantastic. To be part of its diverse community activist programs is exciting but also very meaningful at a personal level. I feel connected to our community through WACRA.

Professional photographer Fernando Gonçalves in action

Being part of the community Alan Goldsmith

My partner and I joined the local residents’ association around the same time as the Save Our Beaches protest began, as we were alarmed by the news that a rock groyne was to be built out to sea at West Beach. We had been shocked and dismayed by the new development that had been built at the bottom of Anzac Highway, blocking the glorious view of the sea that had previously been enjoyed by the thousands driving towards Glenelg each day. So in 1997 we attended several public meetings at the Henley Town Hall and were impressed by the passion and intelligence of the speakers. In an audience of about 500 people we learned more about the ecological damage a stone wall construction could trigger on our shores. It struck us that the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association was well able to mobilise a community protest. We were among 400 others who signed up to Save Our Beaches/No Boat Harbour and we were rostered to maintain a vigil around the clock at the Barcoo Outlet site. While it was difficult as we were both working, we tried to help whenever we could. It went on for months. An amazing tree phone system was set up for contacting each member using landlines. At that time the use of mobile phones was limited.

All generations took part in the protest, including children who came with their parents before and after school. In 1998 a blockade was organised. All else had failed. This part of

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the protest was a spectacle shared by Australians around the country. They could see our physical protest on the evening TV news, rows of people locking arms, with some of us lying in front of trucks as they were attempting to enter the construction site. I remember being dragged away by the police. I always felt a bit sorry for the police having to do this. However, we did not stop the boat harbour being built.

Locking arms in protest possibly enhanced friendships back then. And we have been members of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association (now WACRA) ever since.

Connecting with other like-minded people is a key part of our community life in Henley Beach.

Jim Douglas became the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association president after this major event in 1998. He is a powerhouse – determined but always showing compassion and empathy. He has a strong sense of social justice but welcomes a diversity of views. Not all of our protest activities result in the outcomes wanted and that is always disappointing. It is all very well to say ‘We told you so’ when you see what has happened to West Beach and its sand erosion, but that does not help really. Learning to move on is part of the challenge of being an activist – it is important to be robust. We also have to be mindful of our friends, especially when we lose.

What constitutes the community activist agenda is decided democratically at WACRA committee meetings. Each issue deserves its own strategy and action plan, and we are constantly monitoring new development plans from the council. Indeed, some of our members attend local council meetings specifically to receive first-hand news of developments that may cause concern. One such alert in 2011 was the high-rise building construction of the Baju and H20 developments near Henley Square, and this construction has remained high on WACRA’s agenda for many years. We held a community forum at Henley Town Hall to discuss the original building proposal and, once again, the Henley Town Hall was overflowing with residents very concerned by the possible impact. And again, we were unsuccessful in stopping the development. These ‘big guy’ developers are just too powerful.

We have numerous ways to keep in touch with community activity. Nowadays it is much easier with Facebook and WACRA’s website (wacra.org.au) but previously the free Weekly Times Messenger played a huge role, as it was thrown into our backyard every week.

WACRA has been involved in many community projects over the years, from helping produce mosaics along the path between Henley and Grange through to having curry nights with guest speakers like Professor Chris Daniels and Colin Pitman, the genius behind the Salisbury wetlands. We also were partly responsible for the brilliant Energy Friends idea which amazingly is still evolving, but WACRA was a trailblazer for South Australia. Just briefly, in 2002 our state government set up an Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA). And later that year, Henley and Grange Residents’ Association (now WACRA) invited its members to take training in home energy efficiency and take our knowledge into the wider community. This was one of our first climate awareness strategies. Becoming energy usage aware was seen as a way to save money, conserve the environment, and contribute to one’s local community. Being engaged and active in our community has been a very important part of our lives.

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Social networks Anne Wheaton

As a long-time resident of Henley Beach and keen amateur photographer, I went to the local beach foreshore on Anzac Day 2009 and snapped away, capturing a huge king -tide storm event. Two years later, when exhibiting my photos at the Henley Beach Library during the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) exhibition, I met a few members of the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA). Encouraged by members to join, I saw this as an opportunity to get more involved in my local community and utilise my administrative and technology skills.

Prior to becoming a member, I had spent ten years of my life caring for a child living with Crohn’s Disease. Like so many parents, I was desperate for support in dealing with our situation, and initially formed an informal support group bringing parents and children together. Later on, I coordinated a formal Adelaide support group for families dealing with this disease, and this group successfully convinced SA Health of the need to retain a position for an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Specialist Nurse at Flinders Medical Centre. These nurses are important as they are able to cut through red tape and fast track treatments without having to wait to see a specialist doctor, thereby causing less stress for those living with this chronic condition and their families.

As a member of WACRA, I received valuable advice on ways to deal with both the media and bureaucrats and felt that this advice contributed to the IBD support group’s success. It also gave me an insight into the power of community activism and the expertise and support available in my community.

After attending a few meetings and gaining confidence, I was approached to join the committee in 2012, taking on the role of membership officer and joint administrator of the WACRA Facebook page. This was a great platform to communicate with community about local issues as they arose. I helped to write newsletters informing members and supporters of important WACRA activities, issues and outcomes.

I have helped to frame and write submissions, produced PowerPoint presentations, attended the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court and Charles Sturt Council meetings, spoken publicly against a proposed telecommunications tower, assisted with production of the WACRA newsletter, and helped plan and run annual fundraisers and social events. These activities have increased my skills while broadening my understanding of the power of community and of social inclusion.

I have a sense of pride in being part of this unique longstanding community group with members from diverse social and political backgrounds who are able to work together for common causes and social cohesion.

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Bonding Chrissie Schultz

For many years, my partner Peter and I have been community activists in the north-eastern suburbs. We moved back to the western suburbs in 2000 and joined the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA) in 2011. WACRA tackles federal, state and local issues and provides opportunities for community inclusion and interaction.

I have held the positions of treasurer and coordinator of the fundraising committee, both being essential roles within WACRA. Our most popular fundraising events are quiz, film and curry nights. A lot of work goes into organising prizes for raffles, silent auctions, finding a quiz master, and selecting appropriate films and cinemas. Committee members and partners enjoy the end of year get-together and Christmas in July, and lunches or dinners at various local restaurants that are all great bonding activities.

In 2015, WACRA coordinated a public art pole painting activity in Main Street, involving over 50 members of the community. I was part of a small group asked to decorate the exterior of a dragon boat depicting South Australian scenes for the International Dragon Boat Championships held at West Lakes in 2016. The interior of the boat was used for the signatures of the winners of all the events.

An issue dear to my heart was as a member of the Community Library Action Group (CLAG) to Save Our Library and I am pleased to say that we kept the Henley Beach Library open. This was a significant victory for the community, as the library is used by early childhood learners, schoolchildren, and local and visiting adults. It would have been a disaster to see it closed.

WACRA set up the Defibrillator Action Group (DAG) who lobbied council for the installation of a defibrillator in Henley Square. I feel proud to have been a part of that team and it is our next objective to have others installed in public places along the coast.

One of the best campaigns I’ve been involved in was the introduction of the jet ski exclusion zone banning jet skis between the River Torrens and Grange Jetty. It has made the beaches so much safer for all users and much quieter too.

WACRA has become a part of my life. I have made great friendships and feel proud of my contribution to our community.

Hearty Henley Rick Whitehead

I am a member of the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA). I had a simple idea that turned into a winner in more ways than one. In 2017, my wife and I had the opportunity to travel to the UK to visit our daughter who was living in London at the time. In England we hired a car and did a bit of touring around Cornwall and Devon, ending up in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to attend the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain. Whilst driving around we noticed defibrillators, or more correctly automated external defibrillators (AEDs), located outdoors in public places including town squares, sea rescue stations and hotels.

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Shortly after returning home, I explored if AEDs were installed anywhere in Adelaide, with a focus on outside areas. Adelaide City Council had installed defibrillators in several public places, including Rundle Mall and Victoria Square. These were the only defibrillators located outdoor in Adelaide’s Central Business District (CBD). There were no other public access AEDs installed anywhere in Adelaide.

We are local Henley residents and often visit Henley Square. This square is a popular venue for gatherings, with numerous cafés, ice-cream parlours, restaurants, water displays, plentiful outdoor play areas for children, and public seating for those seeking a view of the beach. The crowd typically comprises people of all ages, gender, locals, interstate and overseas visitors. This location seemed an obvious place for an AED, one that could be accessed by the public around the clock if there was ever a need.

Three weeks after our return from overseas my brother had his third and fatal heart attack.

A defibrillator would not have saved his life. Sadly, he died alone. The shock of my brother’s sudden death made me even more determined to explore ways we could install an AED in Henley Square.

I emailed individuals and organisations about the need for a defibrillator to be located in the public arena of Henley Square. I received an invitation to address a general meeting of WACRA. It was a striking win when WACRA members offered their support. The local Henley Ward councillor suggested that we apply for a Discretionary Ward Allowance (DWA) from the Charles Sturt Council. An application was submitted for a DWA, followed by a request from council to make a deputation at a council meeting. At the deputation, the councillors unanimously supported the DWA application and awarded an amount of $2,500 to WACRA for the purchase of an AED and a protective cabinet.

But that is only half the story. There was no point in having a public access defibrillator in Henley Square if no-one knew that it was there or how to use it. This is how the idea of the Hearty Henley Day came about. A committee was established by WACRA to organise a manageable but nonetheless significant event. We devised a strategy to let people know that Henley Square had a defibrillator that was accessible to the public 24/7. What started out as an official mayoral unveiling turned into a mini health expo consisting of familyoriented activities which were fun but also carried important heart health messages.

Early in the morning of Sunday 7 October 2018, Henley Square came alive with various activities including public fitness and yoga sessions, and line dancing demonstrations.

Alongside was an interactive display provided by St John Ambulance SA demonstrating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and safe usage of the AED. The Henley Surf Life Saving Club cooked up a hearty barbecue and provided information about their club. At 10am invited guests and members of the public gathered on the southern side of Henley Square where an ensemble of ukulele players led everyone in community singing of ‘The Beat Goes On’, ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ and ‘Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat’. At 10.15am the mayor of the City of Charles Sturt, Angela Evans, congratulated WACRA, the staff at Charles Sturt Council and everyone involved in the project for helping to make our community a safer place in which to live, before unveiling the defibrillator to a hearty cheer from everyone. After the unveiling, the community activities continued until midday.

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In January 2019, WACRA was informed that the Hearty Henley Day had been nominated as a finalist in the annual City of Charles Sturt awards which were to be announced at the Australia Day Citizen and Community Awards night. To our delight, WACRA received the 2018 City of Charles Sturt Community Event of the Year award.

I am very proud of what WACRA has been able to achieve through the Henley Square defibrillator project in making Henley Beach safer. I am also very appreciative of the support of WACRA, the City of Charles Sturt and local residents in installing the defibrillator and in conducting a highly successful event to unveil the AED. We hope that the defibrillator will never be used but if ever the need arises it is good to know that the Henley Square AED could save someone’s life. I now hope that others will be encouraged to do the same in their communities.

Mayor Angela Evans with Rick Whitehead and the defibrillator

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The pool table men Jim Douglas

For almost 20 years a gang of fellas aged 75-92 years have met twice a week at the Henley and Grange Community Centre to play pool, share their stories, have fun and sociali se. In mid-2018, this community centre closed for three months for renovations. That meant no pool playing for a while. But the men had understood that the pool table would be returned, and the game would resume the following year. When they were told that the pool table would not be returned and that council was looking at an alternative place in which they could play pool, these men were not happy. In fact, they were quite distressed.

If you listened to their stories, their experiences referred to years of working in industry, some of the men had lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s, and a few had served their country in World War II. Overcoming these events had given them the resilience to fight back. They were not to be messed with. They decided to take action. First, they managed a petition and served it to Charles Sturt Council. They called for the reinstatement of the pool table where it had been for twenty plus years, that is, in the community centre.

The men gathered friends and family to support them, and together they approached WACRA to assist them to put their case to a full council meeting. They also lobbied their Henley Ward councillors and sought their support. They reminded WACRA what their days at the community centre playing pool meant to them. A sense of ownership and wellbeing was being taken away. For them, not having been consulted was insulting.

It was a memorable council meeting in March 2019 when six of the pool table men arrived well before the start of the meeting, assisted by their walkers and helping each other through the doors of the Council Chambers to take their place around the table. They were ready to speak. The men were well prepared, and the chamber was hushed as they made their case, citing what entertainment and friendships meant to them, how they looked forward to the social interaction. They also pointed out that they helped each other, that this was a viable social group who met regularly and had their transport worked out. It was already obvious that this group was cohesive. The men explained that not being mobile and/or having failing sight was not an impediment to their social engagement. They told council how they helped each other around the table to line up the cue ball and identify the colour and number.

The pool table men were applauded for their presentation. It was obvious that the elected members and those in the gallery were quite emotional and supportive of their call. A few weeks went by in negotiations before the pool table was returned to its rightful place in the community centre. These tough older men are back playing pool, showing their great skills, poking a bit of fun at each other, and looking forward to their two sessions each week for as long as they can keep holding the cue and potting the number 8 ball.

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Energy Friends: ‘From little things big things grow’ Jim Douglas

The story of Energy Friends begins in early 2002. As a new initiative, an SA government department, the Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA), had been set up. Its role was to regulate prices, perform licensing, and monitor and enforce compliance with standards and conditions of service and supply under relevant industry acts. WACRA’s chosen role was to assist ESCOSA’s focus on sustainable homes and, in particular, reduce energy costs.

WACRA had shown a keen interest in the sustainability scheme, so in early 2002 we invited a senior technical engineer from ESCOSA and an independent engineer from a company named Sustainable Focus to speak at a WACRA general meeting. After we had received more information about the scheme, we discussed ways in which we could design a local program to reduce community energy costs. Armed with evidence and ideas from engineers, we invited all WACRA members to express an interest, with a view to setting up a home energy audit scheme under our own name.

In June 2002, Henley and Grange Residents’ Association (now WACRA) invited its members to take training in home energy efficiency. Another organisation, Cool Communities (a joint initiative of the Conservation Council SA and the Australian Greenhouse Office), was involved at the start and were supportive of our initiative. Reducing energy consumption was seen as a very good reason to bring local community together as one of its first climate awareness strategies. Becoming energy usage aware was seen as a way to save money, conserve the environment, and contribute to one’s local community.

WACRA consulted further with the technicians and engineers from ESCOSA and Sustainable Focus and it was agreed that they would run training programs for interested volunteers.

Twelve WACRA members became Energy Friends and undertook the training program. The four weekend courses explored house design, building materials, construction and geographical location. Taking advantage of natural lighting, cross-flow ventilation, and heating and cooling possibilities can save energy costs. Once members were ready to conduct home energy audits, we made our availability known to all association members.

ESCOSA provided us with the testing kits. Those kits contained things such as low energy globes, different types of doorframe seals, thermometers and shading materials. Members were well ‘kitted out’ to go into a home and to be able to work through each room with the owner or occupant of the home to point out the things that could be done to reduce energy usage. Kits were free of charge. We were able to test for sun shadow directions, taking account of the time of year and the way in which windows could be shaded inside and out.

Fridge door seals were popular, as too were the free low-energy globes that we fitted.

Audit visits were made to about 20 homes in the following months. We had receptive households and were able to offer suggestions about waste disposal alongside energy efficient activities that they could embrace. We evaluated the program. Often, we made multiple visits to check whether energy bills had reduced. People who took up the suggestions had reduced their energy bills quite substantially so we were able to report this to our members and ESCOSA. The program was so successful that we had more people requesting an audit for their home than we had auditors. We discussed what could be done.

We held media conferences to provide information about the scheme and spoke on radio

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and TV several times. Interest in an energy audit escalated as it was also being pushed by the state government and church organisations.

In an effort to meet the demand for home energy audits, we joined forces with several other bodies and thereafter called ourselves the Western Region Energy Group. These bodies were Anglicare SA, Lutheran Community Care, the Salvation Army, UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide, UnitingCare Wesley Bowden and UnitingCare Wesley Port Pirie. This widened program included audits and retrofits, a scheme to buy back inefficient fridges and freezers, interestfree loans to purchase energy efficient appliances, and energy saving products. The retrofit kit consisted of two energy efficient light globes, an AAA-rated shower head, and a draught excluder.

WACRA initiated a community-led household audit program in 2002 and the SA Government’s Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme took hold. So, ‘from little things big things grow’. We were approached by the SA Government to ask if they could use the Energy Friends name and of course we agreed. The SA Government still offers a free home energy assessment and energy saving products, now called the Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS), advertised in local papers (Weekly Times Messenger 15 August 2018).

The song ‘From little things big things grow’ is attributed to Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly and The Messengers, 1991.

Power to the people Jim Douglas and Paul Laris

The Energy Friends campaign put us in touch with a large number of social justice and welfare organisations. These links and shared concerns about the privatisation and deregulation of the electricity pricing market led to the formation of the Western Region Energy Action Group (WREAG) in February 2002. WREAG members were very worried about the hardship that vulnerable households were experiencing following energy price increases.

The Henley and Grange Residents’ Association (now WACRA) determined that there was a need to raise public awareness and to put the government and retailers on notice. A public forum was held in a packed Henley Town Hall on 22 June 2003, moderated by the late Professor Eleanor Ramsay, to hear from these keynote speakers: • • • • •

Professor Sue Richardson, Director, Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University Ms Roslyn Williams, Coordinator, Salvation Army Western Region Mr Lou Owens, Commissioner, Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA) Hon Jay Weatherill, Minister for Local Government, Government Enterprise, Urban Development and Planning, and Administrative Services SA Mr Andrew Nance, Conservation Council SA

The meeting was unanimous in calling on retailers and state government to urgently address the hardship experienced by low income, concessional and carer families; to commit to ‘buy back' an environmentally friendly electricity retail market to create true competition; to provide substantial cost reduction incentives to purchase low energy use appliances; and to support an independent advocacy organisation to represent the economic, social and 112

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environmental interests of consumers. All this with the principal aim of giving ‘purchasing power to the people’.

This public forum attracted a lot of media attention and even more from government and social justice and welfare organisations. While the community had put a lot of faith in the Essential Services Commissioner, Lou Owens, it soon became obvious that he was restricted by his terms of reference from making significant changes to the pricing structure.

(L to R) Lou Owen, Jay Weatherill and Paul Laris addressing the public forum

WACRA wrote to and spoke with many community groups, encouraging them to become part of a larger and stronger coalition. In October 2004, ESCOSA released AGL retailer disconnection figures showing that over 13,500 households had been disconnected from the electricity supply, almost twice the number of the previous 12 months. Electricity prices in the same time had risen by 27 percent on the previous year.

This information jolted the WREAG who were successful in gaining a grant from ESCOSA to conduct a study of 12 low-income households in South Australia. Paul Laris and Associates were engaged to conduct the study that found substantial increases in electricity prices, significant energy household debt, households borrowing money at exorbitant interest rates and pawning belongings, very low uptake of power-saving devices, unaffordable electricity usage to heat or cool homes, missed family meals due to a shortage of daily living income

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and increased household family health problems, with acute difficulty for those coping with illnesses involving special needs for heating or cooling.

This information also jolted a number of community social justice/welfare organisations who called on WACRA to convene a meeting to determine how we could collectively influence the retailers and government. That meeting was held in April 2005. The organisations involved included Carers SA, South Australian Council of Social Services (SACOSS), UnitingCare Wesley, Anglicare SA, Lutheran Care, Council on the Ageing (COTA), Salvation Army, Office of Youth, St Vincent de Paul, Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Churches of Christ, South Australian Federation of Residents and Ratepayers, Athol Park Energy Friends, Paul Laris and Associates, City of Marion, City of Charles Sturt, and Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association. From this meeting, the Statewide Energy Coalition (SWEC) was formed with one clear aim: To become a powerful, coherent and united voice to advocate changes for an Electricity Supply and Pricing Policy by representing and protecting the most vulnerable people in the community.

Soon after the formation of SWEC, Lou Owens announced his resignation as ESCOSA Commissioner to take up a position with SA Power Networks (a private electricity provider).

Changes were made inside ESCOSA that we felt would make things even more difficult for consumers to be heard due to its bureaucratic structure.

As a result, SWEC called a public meeting of electricity consumers at the Trades Hall in Adelaide in June 2005. It was a full house chaired by Professor Fran Baum, Head of Public Health at Flinders University, with keynote speakers Janet Giles (Secretary SA Unions), Andrew Nance (Consumers Advisory Council), Julia Parr (Salvation Army), Migrant Welfare Centre, Anna Tree (Youth Affairs), Whyalla Community Power SA and Phil Saunders (Carers SA).

The meeting was unanimous in calling on the SA State Government to take greater control of the distribution and pricing of electricity; work with other state governments to remove the GST component; legislate for a fairer pricing index for all SA Housing Trust rentals; reduce pricing for households with serious health issues; introduce substantial rebates for energy efficient appliances and retro fitting for vulnerable households; stop the practice of disconnecting vulnerable households; and invite the government to work with SWEC to explore ways to increase reliability and affordability of basic supply of household energy.

In August 2005, we received a response from the state government that said in part that the SA Government Premier had been working on reducing the hardship facing ordinary people from the effects of privatisation. It had encouraged retail suppliers to introduce mechanisms such as a Hardship Policy to assist consumers in extreme hardship, introduced a $150 bonus payment for 225,000 pensioners and self-funded retirees, extended an Energy Provide concession to an additional 30,000 consumers, and created a Best Practice Framework Hardship Policy to assist vulnerable customers to better manage their electricity accounts to prevent disconnections. In addition, SWEC was invited to attend a select forum that took the form of a panel with the aim of reaching agreement on future actions.

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In 2006, WACRA decided that it would take a step back from being the principal organiser of SWEC and in doing so we agreed that we would put a questionnaire to all members of the SA State Parliament leading up to the state election.

WACRA felt that the state government and energy retailers had made some improvements after extensive lobbying, and we were confident that SWEC had become the main voice of consumers. Richard Smith and Jim Douglas from WACRA and spokespersons for SWEC gained agreement on the questionnaire and also circulated the results widely through the SWEC. They reported that: It was reassuring that most parties and independents are committed to ongoing support for non-disconnections of energy to people with chronic health needs and that an urgent review of the present payment methods would be supported. In addition, there was support for the Energy Friends home energy audit scheme. However, the issue of withdrawing the GST component was the least supported.

Leaders in renewable energy development

The privatisation of the Electricity Trust of SA (ETSA) by the Olsen Liberal Government created far greater hardship for vulnerable households. ESCOSA, in our view, have failed to protect vulnerable and in-hardship households. Energy prices continue to rise and there is scant respect for the voices of social justice and welfare organisations who continue to represent those most in need of support. On a positive note, we are pleased to say that SWEC did make some gains and that the Rann/Weatherill governments have placed this state in a leadership position on renewable energy development and a greater awareness of the need to urgently address the effects of climate change.

Working together for the greater good Paul Sutton, CEO, City of Charles Sturt

My comments will be general in terms of community groups, but I’ll make them specific to WACRA when I can. I have been CEO at Charles Sturt Council for 11 years; prior to this I spent 13 years at two other councils: the City of Salisbury and City of Unley. It has been interesting to work at different councils, mostly because of their diversity in socioeconomic terms. I have always valued working with community groups in a constructive way.

Most of my involvement with WACRA has been through Jim Douglas in his time as president, and more recently with Paul Laris. Jim and I have got to know each other well over the last decade or so and that relationship has reflected WACRA’s interests in a variety of things that have been happening in our city. This includes development and heritage in our area, community and public art, traffic management and car parking, particularly around the Henley Beach area, and coastal issues.

WACRA has been a supporter of council playing a role in managing the late-night economy and once again, we find ourselves together in discussions about the business activity around Henley Square. Sometimes there is a contentious issue. There has been a growth in eating venues surrounding Henley Square. Seating places at restaurants and their increase has resulted in disagreement at times between WACRA and the restaurant and café trades. Here we need to consult with all stakeholders, considering the planning act, the number of 115

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carparking spaces and changes in legislation, to come to a position that best balances the range of needs and is consistent with the relevant legislation.

Council and WACRA collaborated on the jet ski exclusion zone along our coast. This is a good example of where council worked quite closely with WACRA to achieve the result the community generally wanted. And then there is the Coastal Linear Park project, which is to say that at times we have been on exactly the same page and other times WACRA has been a bit cranky with us. Once again council, having listened to our community, is endeavouring to strike what we believe is the appropriate balance across a range of views or issues. Some will require a little compromise to get to the overall best outcome, but that’s usually what public policy is about.

The Henley Square redevelopment involved many community groups, including WACRA. Also, at Henley the protest against the construction of a Telstra tower in the heritage area was another project where we, as council, attempted to bring the concerns of WACRA and community members to the table with Telstra.

WACRA often brings matters to council that may have been missed otherwise. The most recent was asking for a defibrillator to be installed externally on a pylon in Henley Square, thus making this device accessible for people on the beach or in the square. We celebrated its installation in late 2018. This was not an issue that council would have been aware of without WACRA drawing attention to the need. It is always wise to listen to community groups, even when it is a single-issue group, but as a council administrator we must explore the broader community interest.

WACRA have shown a strong interest in the coastline, particularly in Charles Sturt but also in Semaphore, Port Adelaide and along the wider coastline. WACRA’s president and I often talk about West Beach sand depletion and its rock wall, presenting another opportunity to work together. This is a good example of where a council and a community group can really advocate and coordinate with other levels of governments. Our relationship has been productive.

Collaboratively we have argued for a better plan for the management of coastal sands, not only at West Beach but along the Adelaide coastline. For a number of years, WACRA and another social media group on Facebook, Save West Beach Sand, have alerted council about sand depletion. The groups’ observations and research evidence have been constructive and useful when we have presented the sand depletion issue to successive governments. Finally, in 2019, the SA State Government, which is accountable for sand management, was urged to develop a strategy for Adelaide’s living beaches up and down the coast. Recently we have been able to pressure a response from government to sea level change and nutrient outflow from urban areas into Gulf St Vincent, and to the natural processes of sand drift which have contributed to the problem of sand depletion at West Beach.

An informed and educated group like WACRA has been successful in engaging with the community in a way that supports awareness about this and many other issues. WACRA spreads a level of understanding within the community. It is WACRA’s educative role that I value and see as important.

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In terms of climate change, Charles Sturt Council shares interest with WACRA on AdaptWest – a body exploring climate change initiatives. AdaptWest is an initiative of West Torrens, Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield Councils in conjunction with the state and federal governments to set up ways for businesses, communities and the environment to respond to the challenges of climate change. Since 2015, our joint membership allows us to explore mitigation strategies (things that can be done to reduce greenhouse gases) and adaptation techniques (to address what can be done to limit the adverse effect caused by climate change). Globally, climate scientists have recognised that the best decisions on adaptation are likely to be made when local communities are involved in the process. Here WACRA plays an important role.

The council has just completed a trial of a product named CoolSeal. It involves painting the road with a heat reflective substance/coating that changes the road’s colour from dark grey to light grey to reduce the rise in temperature. With the lighter paint’s reflective properties it is possible to reduce road temperatures by up to 15 degrees. That means the surrounding area is not affected as much by heat generated from roads, and research shows the immediate environment can be reduced by eight degrees. We have started a streetscape renewal project where we aim to create cool corridors in the road space through widening the verge and growing more trees. In terms of the built environment, people are increasingly selecting to live in dwellings with little garden space, so it is important to create public green areas. It becomes critical in our contribution to heating or cooling our environment.

This council aims to engage with the community in an equitable way. Our website and Facebook page detailing community plans are up to date. The council’s organisational and management plans are given on our website (www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au). The process of having a voice on Your Say Charles Sturt or making a deputation to council are clear. We welcome community collaboration.

Power of the community Paul Laris

Why did I become involved with WACRA? There are things happening in the world that I am not very happy about. However, while there is little I can do at a global level, I can possibly make a difference at a local level. Actually, engaging at a local level has a lot of advantages for me. For a start, the convenience of being able to engage without having to travel long distances. There is the added bonus of social interaction and social engagement with local people, which is a fine thing for identity and security within your community. It enables you to feel that you are actually doing something. Notwithstanding the fact that mostly we lose.

Even when you lose there is a sense of empowerment because you are linked up with people who share your concerns. Even if you didn’t win the immediate battle, you are involved in a wider socioeconomic matrix that is evolving all the time. That is the motivation.

When did I start with the residents’ association? It would have been in the early 1990s.

Possibly 1993. The most significant event was the Save Our Beaches campaign in 1997-98.

That was a glorious defeat. And I was around at the time of council amalgamations. We were concerned about losing our voice and about not being able to get our foot in the door in a much larger council. I also recall mobile telephone towers were a big issue then (and now).

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Relationships with local government are important. It is not primarily about protesting about things we don’t like. It is about having a voice. It is about being involved in processes that impact on our communities. Council decisions affect us. Being labelled as protesters is an ongoing challenge. We are often seen as being the opposition. And it has been very difficult to try and change Charles Sturt Council’s perception of us towards seeing us as a partner. We have always struggled with that. We would like council to be receptive to working with us, and in recent years we have managed to build a more collaborative relationship.

I talked about being a voice for the local community, so how do we decide on what will be a WACRA issue? It depends on the issue. The more passion that is raised by the community, the more likely it will gather momentum and deliver desirable outcomes. But pragmatic decisions need to be made. We ask whether our actions can make a difference. Making alliances with other groups is often a consideration. Joining with other community groups tends to increase the impact. However, we must give priority to local issues.

Sometimes issues that are not specifically related to our geographic community are placed on WACRA’s agenda. It was our decision to be part of the Anti-Poverty Network South Australia. We were also part of the campaign to raise unemployment benefits through Newstart allowance. Taking the initiative to inform council, we hoped for support for these campaigns. We were unsuccessful, although along the way, we fostered alliances with other organisations. Organising speakers to talk to council about issues of concern is regularly part of WACRA’s role.

The other question is how thin do we want to spread ourselves? What resources are required? Do we have the energy, capacity, skills and knowledge to take on this issue in an effective way? Sometimes we must acknowledge that we do not have the wherewithal to take it on. We question how narrow and deep – or broad and shallow – we go, and it comes back to the human resources in the association. How many people do we have and how do we share the load? We have a list of issues but how well it is maintained is another question.

We don’t take on climate change or environment topics as an association unless they impact on us locally. Water resource management has been on the agenda: the Murray River and the whole question of water resources in South Australia. Tackling a broader environmental issue is taken on when we can see that something can be achieved at a local level. Several of our members were involved in the AdaptWest Climate Change Adaptation Plan, developed collaboratively by the cities of Charles Sturt, Port Adelaide Enfield and West Torrens. Its aim was to identify: the real and specific implications of climate change; and provide realistic strategies for residents, businesses, organisations and agencies of our western community to get ready, to respond and build resilience to the present and future challenges of climate change’ (www.adaptwest.com.au/).

A good example of a WACRA initiative was the Energy Friends movement. In an effort to improve energy use efficiency and reduce household bills, in June 2002 we invited and trained our members to do home energy audits. Once trained, volunteers undertook home energy audits in our local areas. Many households were audited, and outcomes indicated that our objectives to reduce cost and usage had been met. Later WACRA joined forces with several other community bodies and local churches and ‘we’ became the Western Region 118

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Energy Action Group (WREAG). With our permission, the SA Government’s Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme took over this program several years later. In 2019, the SA Government still offers a free home energy assessment and energy saving products.

We have applied for small grants and received community project funding for at least four public artworks. One public art project completed was a mosaic Sea Creature Trail along the Esplanade. With funding secured, two artists from Sea House at Glenelg were paid to work with interested community members. Alongside 80 local families, we collaboratively installed 30 mosaics on the rock wall between Henley Square and Marlborough Street at Henley Beach. At the Esplanade at the top of Grange Road you will find a sea eagle. On the banks of the River Torrens near the bridge on Henley Beach Road a pathway has been created using mosaics on stepping stones. In addition to its public art relevance, these mosaics introduce educative elements showing birds, plants, animals and creatures which once thrived in these habitats. The feature piece is the platypus. Our aim was to make the water in the River Torrens clean enough for the platypus to return to its natural environment. At the Torrens Outlet, you will find Bernie and June, two life-sized pelicans.

Bernie and June were two local beachmongers well known in our local community.

Working with other organisations is recognised as a strength in community development.

Engagement with the Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Region worked for both organisations. We drew attention to the Torrens Outlet to the sea (Breakout Creek wetlands). Our initiative increased support for their agenda for managing, protecting and restoring, if possible, the river’s natural resources.

Another cooperative venture was WACRA and Charles Sturt Council supporting Rick Whitehead’s Hearty Henley project (he was awarded an Australia Day recognition 26 January 2019). Rick Whitehead lobbied both organisations to secure a defibrillator – the lifesaving device now permanently located at Henley Square. If used correctly and within the first three to five minutes, it can more than double the chance of survival of a person having a cardiac arrest.

We regularly have representation on decision-making bodies. One recent venture was the redevelopment of Henley Square (2014-15). During the planning process we made sure that people with a disability would be able to reach and enjoy the beach. We argued for a ramp and eventually one was provided.

History of WACRA aside, one of the current issues is dredging. With the oversight of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the South Australian Government approved a plan in May 2018 to widen the Port Adelaide shipping channel and dump the dredged waste in Gulf St Vincent. Port Adelaide is a tidal port, South Australia’s main seaport and a gateway for trade, when nearly 95% of South Australia’s exports and imports are carried by large container ships. Port Adelaide also includes the Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal. It is estimated that approximately 60 cruise ships will visit South Australia in 2019. The current Outer Harbor shipping channel size suits the ‘Panamax class’ of vessel which measures 294 metres in length and 32 metres at its widest point. Flinders Ports, the company who operates all South Australian ports, wants to receive wider vessels, known as ‘PostPanamax’. The commercial imperative is great.

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As Peter Schultz explains, there is an historical component to this. In 2005 the shipping channel was deepened, a construction for the movement of shipping, and now extends approximately 12 kilometres into Gulf St Vincent. The existing channel was deepened from a depth of 12.2 metres at low tide to the current depth of 14.2 metres. The dredging technology used in 2005 produced a lot of silt and sediment. The water was turbid for quite a long time. Monitoring of the water quality was done by groups that included WACRA. We produced evidence that dredged materials had polluted Gulf St Vincent, killing seagrasses.

There continues to be significant environmental/ecological concern with dredging. For instance, the Port Adelaide River extends from West Lakes to the old (1836) maritime town of Port Adelaide and through to Outer Harbor. Within this 10,000-year-old mangrove forest area lies the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, home to about 30 wild bottlenose dolphins. The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Action Group comprises people who will actively monitor the situation. We have provided submissions to the EPA and Flinders Ports arguing for a lower impact approach. We have had some success, but still have major concerns.

In 2019, WACRA’s role, alongside many other interested bodies such as the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Action Group, fishing and recreational industries and Friends of Gulf St Vincent, is to ensure that dredging methods cause the least harm. Our various interest groups are talking with the EPA and Flinders Ports. We want to ensure that licence conditions are stringent, that limits are set on turbidity, seagrass health is examined, and that Flinders Ports has monitoring, recording and reporting systems in place. When levels of pollution increase, we want plans to reduce turbidity implemented and evaluated. The EPA is currently receiving submissions from us and other stakeholders. The widening of the canal and dredging will occur. Our role is to scrutinise the licence when it is released by the EPA. How do we communicate? The media tends to come to us. We are reactive in that sense.

We rarely seek them out. In a 24/7 news cycle, media organisations have staff; we don’t have those resources. Besides, the media likes adversarial stories. When I am approached by the media it is usually about something Charles Sturt Council wants to initiate. And when I say I agree with council, there is not a story in it for them. Using Twitter occasionally might be useful. One of our WACRA members, Anne Wheaton, deals brilliantly with Facebook.

What pleases me most is the network of people in and around WACRA. This group shares my concerns, interests and values. In terms of changes and impacts on the wider world, I was really happy about saving Henley Beach Library. And related to that achievement is gaining a more cooperative relationship with Charles Sturt Council. I believe our relationship with council should be as a critical friend. I see real value in that, and I hope council does as well.

We now have a more productive relationship with council than we did in the past. The network of people is the drawcard for living at Henley Beach, even with sea levels rising and increased noise pollution.

Understanding the sociopolitical context is obviously crucial in guiding WACRA decisions.

WACRA has wide community networks and our membership combines a variety of skills, backgrounds and interests. We are intelligent people who observe the pursuit – and sometimes the abuse – of power around us. For instance, people appointed to council may aspire to further roles in state government and so on. Their decisions on issues may not be evidence based or led by community interests but politically expedient in terms of their own

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career interests. Those agendas distort what should be a community-based process. WACRA has a role to counter such tendencies.

As discussed in the introductory pages of this book, I’d like WACRA to be seen by people in our geographic community as a resource for them. It’s about being a tool of influence, enabling people to be engaged in the process of decisions that are made about their lives at the local and state levels of government. At the moment we are a small group of motivated people who enjoy being involved and sharing values and so forth, but we are not a broadbased group. While we have over 300 members and supporters, we need to expand our base. We need to engage with younger people. If there is an issue, people could talk to government and consider talking to us as well. It happens at WACRA general meetings.

People stand up and talk about an issue that is bothering them. It would be good if we could broaden that so that people can approach us not only about a multi-storey development in their backyard but also about an idea they might have to improve life in our community, such as creating a safer play area for kids, or whatever it might be. We could be part of the solution or play a catalyst or brokerage role.

WACRA taking it to the streets – David Schofield (L) and Paul Laris (R) holding the banner

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Organisations, department names and acronyms Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement AdaptWest (West Torrens, Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt Councils) Anglicare SA Anti-Poverty Network South Australia Association of Citizens Against Telecommunications Towers (ACATT) Athol Park Energy Friends Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) Automated external defibrillator (AED) Baju/H2O – development near Henley Square Bicycle Users Group (BUG) Carers SA Charles Sturt Council Churches of Christ City of Charles Sturt City of Marion Coastal Ecology Protection Group (CEPG) Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Community Alliance SA Community Library Action Group (CLAG) Conservation Council SA Council Assessment Panel (CAP), City of Charles Sturt Council on the Ageing (now known simply as COTA) Defibrillator Action Group (DAG) Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) (previously DPTI, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure) Development Assessment Panel (DAP), City of Charles Sturt Discretionary Ward Allowance (DWA) DOME (Don’t Overlook Mature Expertise) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) Friends of Gulf St Vincent (FoGSV) Henley and Grange Arts Society Incorporated (HAGAS) Henley and Grange Council Henley Community Garden (HCG) Henley Unemployment Group (HUG)

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International Association for Public Participation (IAPP) Jet ski/personal watercraft (PWC) Lutheran Care Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board Office of Youth Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act (SA) Port Adelaide Unemployed Action Primary Industries and Regions SA Public Health, Flinders University Residential Conservation Zone (RCZ) Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) Salvation Army Sandpiper Place Group (SPG) South South South South

Australian Council of Social Services (SACOSS) Australian Federation of Residents and Ratepayers Associations Australian Government (SA Government) Australian Living Artists (SALA)

St Vincent de Paul State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) Statewide Energy Coalition (SWEC) Technical and Further Education (TAFE) South Australia (SA) Tennyson Dunes Group (TDG) Tennyson Heights Group (THG) United Nations (UN) UnitingCare Wesley Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association Incorporated (WACRA) Western Region Energy Action Group (WREAG) Wild Endangered Dunes Group (WEDGE)

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A residents’ association that has not only endured but also thrived for 50 years is an impressive feat. How has the Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association (WACRA) achieved it? This compilation of stories reveals the passion behind ‘building healthy communities’ through commitment and generosity, skills and actions, advocacy and friendship. It’s about ensuring that the people who live in this place – Adelaide’s western suburbs – have a voice. The spirit of this community is unbeatable. May this book inspire you to make connections in your own community and beyond.