News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[Matt]

It's time to make the whole city smoke free!! there is a city-wide dry zone, so why not make a city-wide smoke free zone?

I definitely agree about Rundle Mall but the rest of the city?... that's overkill, and this is from a non smoker. You're never going to eradicate smoking. It's always going to be around, just as the same as marijuana, speed, ecstasy etc.

Also smoking has no instant side affects that will cause harm to anyone, other than the smell ofcourse. While alcohol can cause some major issues when excessive drinking is involved, eg violence and crime.

Is that bold bit a joke? Smoking is the most selfish vice you can have. A single cigarette impacts those around you, whilst a single beer does not. Yes I know there are major issues with excessive alcohol use, but to say that the instant impact of smoking is nothing is ludicrous.

[Waewick]

I'll tell my non smoking Next door neighbour, who died of lung cancer brought on by having friends who smoked.

apparently, he only got cancer from the smell.....

[crawf]

It's time to make the whole city smoke free!! there is a city-wide dry zone, so why not make a city-wide smoke free zone?

I definitely agree about Rundle Mall but the rest of the city?... that's overkill, and this is from a non smoker. You're never going to eradicate smoking. It's always going to be around, just as the same as marijuana, speed, ecstasy etc.

Also smoking has no instant side affects that will cause harm to anyone, other than the smell ofcourse. While alcohol can cause some major issues when excessive drinking is involved, eg violence and crime.

Is that bold bit a joke? Smoking is the most selfish vice you can have. A single cigarette impacts those around you, whilst a single beer does not. Yes I know there are major issues with excessive alcohol use, but to say that the instant impact of smoking is nothing is ludicrous.

There is a reason why I said 'instant'. Do people get assaulted or abused from someone having 10, 20 or even 30+ smokes? No. Yet certain individuals drinking alcohol especially in public places tends to end up with them verbally abusing the general public, property damage or worse.

You're right, smoking is a very disgusting selfish act. But the idea to completely ban smoking in the city similar to alcohol dry zones is ludicrous. They don't compare and it would be impossible trying to enforce it. As I said before like or not, smoking is always going to be around. Even now it's estimated that three million people in Australia still smoke cigarettes, which is a huge number.

So it is great there has been a huge attempt by the Government and Councils to curb smoking by making restaurants, entertainment venues and major pedestrian zones etc smoke free. However turning the entire city area into a smoke free zone is going overboard IMO.

I'll tell my non smoking Next door neighbour, who died of lung cancer brought on by having friends who smoked.

apparently, he only got cancer from the smell.....

I'm not talking about the long term health issues related to smoking.

[Ben]

There is a thread on smoking already in the pub. This thread is for ACC related posts please.

[skyliner]

went into ACC bldg on Pirie St on 18th and met up with a guy involved with development. He said the new bldg heights were not yet formalised and that he preferred a city of no more than 6 floors - what century is he in!!!! Had the 3D map on screen and was disgusted with it. I was asking about the influence of the airport and stated that I've not seen planes anywhere near or low enough to the CBD to influence heights. Seemed a bit vague about this.

I now understand what many of you are referring to with ACC and bldg heights.

Comments about this by general population I talked to brought out derogatory comments about how small the city was.(A prevailing attitude not carrying good implications).

Also noticed how many bldgs have had awnings fitted where once there were none. Someone is reading S-A. Awnings make a city much more pedestrian friendly - a desire of the ACC I understand.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Mr Smith]

went into ACC bldg on Pirie St on 18th and met up with a guy involved with development. He said the new bldg heights were not yet formalised and that he preferred a city of no more than 6 floors - what century is he in!!!! Had the 3D map on screen and was disgusted with it. I was asking about the influence of the airport and stated that I've not seen planes anywhere near or low enough to the CBD to influence heights. Seemed a bit vague about this.

Maybe this guy should consider a career with the Mildura Council, or similar

[phenom]

Article in today's InDaily (http://www.indaily.com.au) about the ACC's apparent shift on support for the interim planning changes - looks like the outcry over New Mayfield has some people spooked.

ACC accused of having a bet each way
Monday, 24 September 2012


Melissa Mack

COMMUNITY groups and the property industry are baffled by the Adelaide City Council’s position on city development after an apparent backflip on its support for a new planning regime in the CBD.

The council voted nine to one to support the State Government’s ministerial Capital City Development Plan Amendment which was introduced on an interim capacity in March this year.

At the original announcement, Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood stood shoulder to shoulder with Premier Jay Weatherill and Planning Minister John Rau to praise the new world of city development, which includes a substantial freeing up of building heights in selected areas of the CBD.

Yarwood now says that the council’s key concerns about the DPA include higher buildings overshadowing neighbouring properties.

In two submissions to the DPA consultation, including a 50 page analysis, the council called for changes including increasing the size of “catalyst sites”, which are exempt from standard regulation, from 1500 sqm to 2500 sqm, and cutting building heights by half in some areas.

Community groups opposed to large-scale development in residential areas, particularly New Mayfield on Sturt Street, are increasingly frustrated with the council.

[rest of article elided; available online]

Is this where I write to the ACC expressing my support for the changes? Obviously I don't fully know the Lord Mayor's position but I think he can safely assume the New Mayfield protestors didn't vote for him in the first place so I doubt there's too many votes on the line there. Still sad really.

[Will]

This is why the ACC cannot be trusted to ever have their planning powers returned. They only represent the interests of minority resident groups, which is completely unnaceptable when deciding things for the CBD of the state capital.

[claybro]

Sad and frustrating at once-totally understand why they had some powers removed. Maybe all residents of metropolitan Adelaide should be able to vote for the city council at election time.

[monotonehell]

Here's a simple solution we can adopt - after all we already have a Lord Mayor:

[david]

Notes from Councillor Issue 83.pdf

(188.24 KiB) Downloaded 123 times

Councillor David Plumridge's Notes - Issue 83

- Decisions of Council Meeting 25 September
- Treasurer considers a New Tax
- Multiple Benefits of Green Buildings.
- The Longevity Revolution
- No Balls - No Nonsense
- Who is Pulling the Strings?

Notes from Councillor Issue 83.pdf

(188.24 KiB) Downloaded 123 times

Cllr David Plumridge
Deputy Lord Mayor.

Regarding Council regaining its planning assessment powers, perhaps I will try once again in the simplest possible terms to make the point that so many S-A posters cannot seem to grasp (it's really not rocket science)

- The making of the Development Plan is when EVERYONE has a say in developing policy.
- The MINISTER makes the final decision on the shape and form of the city development plan.
- The DAP assesses development (<$10m)against the provisions of the Development Plan.
- The DAP comprises 9 members, 5 of whom (including the Presiding Member) are completely independent of the Council.
(Will, how does that give 'minority resident groups all the power that you claim? - it is an absolute phurpy!)

And as for everyone having a vote in Adelaide City Council elections - that kind of democracy comes at a price - you pay the rates or the rent to live in the city AND YOU GET A VOTE. Its called democracy and it as simple as that!!

[Will]

Notes from Councillor Issue 83.pdf

Councillor David Plumridge's Notes - Issue 83

- Decisions of Council Meeting 25 September
- Treasurer considers a New Tax
- Multiple Benefits of Green Buildings.
- The Longevity Revolution
- No Balls - No Nonsense
- Who is Pulling the Strings?

Notes from Councillor Issue 83.pdf

Cllr David Plumridge
Deputy Lord Mayor.

Regarding Council regaining its planning assessment powers, perhaps I will try once again in the simplest possible terms to make the point that so many S-A posters cannot seem to grasp (it's really not rocket science)

- The making of the Development Plan is when EVERYONE has a say in developing policy.
- The MINISTER makes the final decision on the shape and form of the city development plan.
- The DAP assesses development (<$10m)against the provisions of the Development Plan.
- The DAP comprises 9 members, 5 of whom (including the Presiding Member) are completely independent of the Council.
(Will, how does that give 'minority resident groups all the power that you claim? - it is an absolute phurpy!)

And as for everyone having a vote in Adelaide City Council elections - that kind of democracy comes at a price - you pay the rates or the rent to live in the city AND YOU GET A VOTE. Its called democracy and it as simple as that!!

Councillor, then can you please explain why, despite using the same development plan to assess applications, why has the ACC rejected or deferred almost every multi storey development, yet the state government DAC has approved almost all?

You are both referring to the same development plan, yet why the difference in outcomes?

I cannot explain this, other than the ACC councillors, on the DAP making their decisions based on what is the best outcomes based on their re-election, rather than what is best for Adelaide as a whole (and when I refer to Adelaide, I mean the entire metropolitan area).

Furthermore, If I am wrong in stating that the ACC is beholden to resident interest groups, then why has the ACC backflipped in it support for the new development plan? Could the outcry over the Mayfields development from the residents of the 'Beirut Quarter' had any influence for this policy reversal?

[rev]

And as for everyone having a vote in Adelaide City Council elections - that kind of democracy comes at a price - you pay the rates or the rent to live in the city AND YOU GET A VOTE. Its called democracy and it as simple as that!!

What happens in the CBD/City, has knock on effects for the rest of Adelaide.
What happens in Glenelg, doesn't really have any effect on someone living in Munno Parra, for example.

So in that regard, the argument that every resident of metro Adelaide should get to vote in ACC elections, is valid.
The City it self is the economic and cultural hub of our state.
It is not just another suburb. I think it's time the Adelaide City Council came to this realization and changed it's attitudes accordingly.

[peas_and_corn]

And as for everyone having a vote in Adelaide City Council elections - that kind of democracy comes at a price - you pay the rates or the rent to live in the city AND YOU GET A VOTE. Its called democracy and it as simple as that!!

What happens in the CBD/City, has knock on effects for the rest of Adelaide.
What happens in Glenelg, doesn't really have any effect on someone living in Munno Parra, for example.

So in that regard, the argument that every resident of metro Adelaide should get to vote in ACC elections, is valid.
The City it self is the economic and cultural hub of our state.
It is not just another suburb. I think it's time the Adelaide City Council came to this realization and changed it's attitudes accordingly.

Indeed. Also, the concept that the right to vote is somehow attached to paying rates/taxes is bewildering.

[Splashmo]

It's not bewildering - it's how local government works. People who live in the city also need to have their garbage collected, their streets cleaned, their libraries run and their parks maintained. They deserve a say in how those services are managed or delivered. People outside the city can still influence the way it's managed by voting in state elections.