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Celebrating In
TWO WELLS
AUSTRALIA DAY: ALL THE PICTURES
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Two Wells & Districts
Est 1978
FEBRUARY 2013
THE SAND
NORMAN Trestrail shows an area of the levee where pegs and tape display proposed changes.
BELOW: Residents carrying protest signs pack the chamber. Seated are councillors (from left) Tom Summerton, Steve Jones, Karen McColl and Jan Heley.
Thompson Beach residents fight for their foreshore REPORT: Bec O’Brien Emotion was raw and nerves tight as a large contingent of Thompson Beach residents crowded into District Council of Mallala council chambers on Tuesday, January 29, as councillors prepared to discuss proposed works on the community’s beachfront levee. About 30 residents, some bearing placards and posters in protest of the works, gathered in a show of support for the shoreline of their town, citing its unique migratory birdlife and fragile native vegetation ecosystems as too important to rush into any major works. DCM was planning to begin an initial $150,000 worth of works to improve the levee to protect the Thompson Beach township from rising sea levels in the future in February or March this year. A number of residents, including Norman Trestrail – who organised a community meeting in the town on January 13 – gave impassioned deputations to councillors. Many were frustrated they had not been adequately consulted about the proposed works, despite council sending out 130 letters informing
residents of their intent. They asked council to consider the long-term impacts disturbing the natural environment and sand dune area of the levee would have on the flora and fauna for future generations. “Does everything have to come down to dollars?” Mr Trestrail
asked councillors. “The destruction of this coastal vegetation will really devastate us.” After more than an hour of discussion and deputations to the council, including that of Adelaide resident and avid bird watcher, Kate Buckley, who was “speaking for the birds”,
councillor Steve Jones put forward the following motion: “That no on-ground works be commenced at the proposed Thompson Beach levee site until Council has received a detailed report concerning the likely environmental impacts, alternative strategies, and
their associated costs and benefits, and including a vegetation survey of the proposed areas likely to be affected and, if possible, an update on the Mallala Coastal Adaptation Options Study previously budgeted by Council.” n Continued page 2
CONTACT US www.twowellsecho.com.au Phone 8862 1977 Fax 8862 1997 news@twowellsecho.com.au
St columba college congratulateS all of our SucceSSful 2012 Year 12 StudentS We are pleased to present the College’s 2012 Dux award to Simone Askew (ATAR-95.70). Shaun Barker, Rebecca Armitt, Nancy Tolhurst and Kelsey Lissner are also congratulated with their results putting them amongst the top achievers at the College. We are delighted to acknowledge the following 2012 merit award recipients Simone Askew, Laura Bacuriski, Shaun Barker, Haroula Manolas, Melissa Thai & Nancy Tolhurst. 2012 college duX SiMoNe ASKeW
limited Year 11 and 12 vacancies are still available for 2013. for further information contact our college registrar on 8254 0605.