Working together for the greater good

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

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.