News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[david]

Thanks to posters expressing support for my re-election. Every. vote is vital and can I remind those of you who are entitled to a vote to make sure you are on the Council roll. Rolls close on 8th August.

Comments about trees are interesting - I certainly take on board the importance of top-quality maintenance. It is a costly process and we are facing many trees reaching the end of their life and we are getting concerned about the long-term effect of changing climatically patterns on the species of trees that predominated our past plantings.

The other point that has been made about large street trees shielding the facades go heritage buildings is well made. A good case in point is the Plane Trees in front of Edmund Wright House in KW Street.

David Plumridge.

[how good is he]

Hi David, when will we get the actual policies of those running for election or can you let us know where to find them now?

[mshagg]

Hi David, when will we get the actual policies of those running for election or can you let us know where to find them now?

I dont think nominations are officially open until 2 Sept and close 2 weeks thereafter.

There should be a page on http://www.lgcandidates.sa.gov.au/ for each nominee once that process has finished.

[david]

That's right.

Nominations open on 2 September and close on 16 September after which candidates will begin to put out their policies.
SHowever, some have already begun - Lord Mayoral intenders including Mark Hamilton and Martin Haese are out there with web-sites , Facebook etc and I know that South Ward candidate to be , Graeme Gilbertson has produced a brochure and is busy door-knocking. Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood has also been busy door-knocking and I guess his policies are pretty well-known. The other Lord Mayoral contender Michael Henningsen is also actively out there on a door-knocking campaign I am told.

The next key date is 8th August which is the cut-off date for getting your name on the electoral roll if you are entitled to vote in the Adelaide City Council election. (see ad in today's Advertiser)

David

[Vee]

ACC Live Music Action Plan - via RipItUp magazine.
Interesting read.

Adelaide City launches Live Music Action Plan

In November 2013, Thinker in Residence and WOMAD co-founder Martin Elbourne (AKA MElbourne) compiled a report on the live music future of Adelaide. The report detailed 49 recommendations to improve and build the live music culture ...

Eight months on, the City of Adelaide has taken the 23 recommendations relevant to local government and created their Live Music Action Plan. The full plan can be accessed in the City Culture & Community Services Committee’s agenda.

Read the article in RipItUp:
http://www.ripitup.com.au/music/article ... ction-plan

[mshagg]

So a couple of bugbears re: traffic management in the city at the moment. Im not sure if the ACC is the right body to gripe to, given they're largely enforcement matters, but here goes (a penny for your thoughts, david?).

1. The taxi rank on grenfell street near KWS. What a mess. Day in, day out there are taxis waiting in the bus lane to enter the rank. This causes issues for buses (who dont hesitate to lay on the 100dB horn!) and clogs up a fairly busy pedestrian crossing. Perhaps most concerning is taxis frequently mounting the kerb in their efforts to squeeze in to the end of the rank... I've seen some close calls with pedestrians. Im guessing council is aware of the issue because a sign (the size of a playing card) was installed at some stage noting 'maximum 7 vehicles'. Surely there's a better spot for this?

2. Southbound turning right on light square (south east corner, either turning to head west along waymouth or continue around to the other side of the square). At some stage the white line and induction loop in the slip lane was moved forward several metres and is now almost at the end of the slip lane. I can only guess the idea was to fit more cars into the slip lane. Again, on a daily basis, I see drivers stopping well short of the sensor (pulling up where the line/sensor used to be), which fails to trigger the light sequence. By the time someone in a car behind them jumps out to tell them, traffic has banked up along light square to currie st (which leads to another problem... see next point!). Perhaps some signage or a rework of the senors could improve things here?

3. Intersection blocking. This seems to have reached epidemic status in the CBD! Obviously there's an enforcement role for SAPOL here, given it's purely a symptom of impatience and people not 'thinking ahead'... but more often than not a police presence at problem intersections is focused on a mobile phone 'blitz'. In NY recently I noticed lots of 'dont block the box' signs, which brought attention to the importance of not entering intersections until clear.

[monotonehell]

...
3. Intersection blocking. This seems to have reached epidemic status in the CBD! Obviously there's an enforcement role for SAPOL here, given it's purely a symptom of impatience and people not 'thinking ahead'... but more often than not a police presence at problem intersections is focused on a mobile phone 'blitz'. In NY recently I noticed lots of 'dont block the box' signs, which brought attention to the importance of not entering intersections until clear.

I was ready to add this as a point 4 if you hadn't already.

I've mentioned this before. It happens every rush period, at every intersection. Motorists (including sometimes buses) enter a blocked intersection and end up trapped in the box when the lights change. We need a driver education (shaming) programme about this, or something, as it causes a jam for a whole traffic cycle as well as being dangerous as pedestrians need to walk around the vehicles.

[Waewick]

I generally have no sympathy for people "stuck in the box".

Generally it is their own fault and just reflects a selfish driver.

[mshagg]

It's not the offending driver which deserves sympathy, it's the ripples of traffic chaos it causes and pedestrians filtering through 'stuck' cars which is of concern.

Under SA Regulation 128 of the Australian Road Rules it's a $209 expiation fee, but seemingly not a priority for SAPOL, hence my thought that perhaps the ACC could do something to raise awareness.

Oh and in the interests of full disclosure, Im not an aggreived motorist... im a resident who sees this stuff on his constitutional walks to and from work

[metro]

...
3. Intersection blocking. This seems to have reached epidemic status in the CBD! Obviously there's an enforcement role for SAPOL here, given it's purely a symptom of impatience and people not 'thinking ahead'... but more often than not a police presence at problem intersections is focused on a mobile phone 'blitz'. In NY recently I noticed lots of 'dont block the box' signs, which brought attention to the importance of not entering intersections until clear.

I was ready to add this as a point 4 if you hadn't already.

I've mentioned this before. It happens every rush period, at every intersection. Motorists (including sometimes buses) enter a blocked intersection and end up trapped in the box when the lights change. We need a driver education (shaming) programme about this, or something, as it causes a jam for a whole traffic cycle as well as being dangerous as pedestrians need to walk around the vehicles.

my favorite for this is North Tce, where council (a few years ago) put in a pedestrian crossing over the entry to the DJs carpark, and more recently they reduced the width of the pedestrian crossing over North Tce from 20m wide to just 5m wide. This intersection seems to be another hotspot for motorists, particularly those exiting the parking station, for blocking the intersection. I always make sure to death-stare the offending motorists

[Nathan]

I always make sure to death-stare the offending motorists

[monotonehell]

I always make sure to death-stare the offending motorists

Bloody Luigi is the worst offender!

[david]

Notes from Councillor David Plumridge AM

- The Future of Planning in Adelaide - Is there a Role for Local Government?

- Decisions of Council made at the 12 August Meeting

Notes from Councillor Issue 117.pdf

(107.03 KiB) Downloaded 154 times

Area Councillor,
David Plumridge AM
City of Adelaide

[jk1237]

Hi David, Can I ask if there has ever been any talk or proposals of banning cars from Peel Street. Personally I can't stand traffic continuously driving down this narrow street as a short-cut to get to Hindley Street, and it should only be for service vehicles only during the early mornings etc. This will allow outdoor alfresco/dining options and truly make the street more vibrant and enticing to people. The street is the right width for this type of laneway development, currently cars are driving within a few cm of pedestrians (completely forgetting that its a shared zone). Piss the cars off

[ml69]

Hi David, Can I ask if there has ever been any talk or proposals of banning cars from Peel Street. Personally I can't stand traffic continuously driving down this narrow street as a short-cut to get to Hindley Street, and it should only be for service vehicles only during the early mornings etc. This will allow outdoor alfresco/dining options and truly make the street more vibrant and enticing to people. The street is the right width for this type of laneway development, currently cars are driving within a few cm of pedestrians (completely forgetting that its a shared zone). Piss the cars off

Completely agree ... I posted a similar comment to David earlier this year. I think with Peel St really taking off now, a car-free Peel St will happen in the not too distant future.