#Just Stop Bagging Adelaide
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:19 pm
Just stop bagging Adelaide
CRAIG BILDSTIEN
September 19, 2006 10:25am
OUTGOING Adelaide City Council chief executive Mal Hemmerling says the city is thriving and has urged critics to stop being so "negative and destructive".
In his first interview since announcing his decision to leave the council in November, Mr Hemmerling says criticisms of the city's performance are "clearly wrong".
"I don't see people in Melbourne talking Melbourne down . . . I don't see people in Sydney talking Sydney down . . . but for some reason here in Adelaide, we're bloody good at it – and we shouldn't be," he told AdelaideNow.
Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan this month labelled the current council as an "abject failure" and called on Capital City Minister Jane Lomax-Smith to intervene to kick-start activity.
However, Mr Hemmerling, 60, says Adelaide has experienced "incredible growth and some outstanding results" during his three years at the helm.
"It worries me that people of influence are talking Adelaide down – it is not doing us any good," he said.
"These people should be talking up Adelaide and be really pushing the fact that we are a city worth investing in and we are a city that is on the move and going forward," he said.
Mr Hemmerling claimed that business had demonstrated an "amazing confidence" in investing in the city, particularly commercial developers from interstate.
"We have had the most rapid growth in construction in the city since the second world war," he said.
"We are attracting more overseas students than any other city in the Commonwealth.
"SA Water, Transport SA and the Film Corporation are relocating their head offices back into the city bringing with them a critical mass of workers.
"We are five times the average of metropolitan Adelaide in terms of residential growth.
"All of the indicators are showing that Adelaide is going ahead in leaps and bounds.
"It is recognised by The Economist as the fourth best city in the world to do business in."
Mr Hemmerling said this year's council budget included "an incredible" $63 million for capital works and $16 million for asset maintenance.
"Light poles are now painted – not rusty relics – streets are cleaner, the trees are trimmed, we're putting gardens back into the city," he said.
"But we also run carparking stations, we run an aquatic centre, a golf course, we run a whole lot of land banking developments.
"We take an active role in assisting development in the city and all of these things are happening in an environment of incredible financial pressure where we have not had to burden ratepayers."
Mr Hemmerling said that under his leadership, council had changed financial controls to measure outcomes, changed reporting systems to measure deliverables and focussed on outputs, rather than process.
Describing himself as "a passionate South Australian", he will finish at the council on November 2, but return the next day for a "staff farewell".
"I came back here with some things that I really wanted to do, and I think the journey has been amazing," he said.
Mr Hemmerling says he has "stabilised" relationships between the council and its administration and created an environment of "co-operation" between the council and the State Government.
He also believes he has established "a can do mentality" within the city, which he says is focussed on outcomes and delivery of service with pride.
Asked how he would leave the council, he replied: "I think we're in really good shape.
"I think we have been really fortunate to have the Capital City Committee.
"It is fundamental and recognition of the fact the city is a key economic driver in the state.
"We have aligned their strategic objectives and the city's strategic objectives together and are working co-operatively to drive the whole state economic base forward."
Describing his management style as "engaging", Mr Hemmerling says council under his stewardship has been "open".
He says his relationship with Lord Mayor Michael Harbison and councillors has been "pretty good".
"Sometimes there are differences of opinion about things, but at end of the day, that's what delivers good results," he said.
Mr Hemmerling is reluctant to comment on his likely successor, other than to say the fundamental criteria for the top job is "a passion for Adelaide".
He said it was up to councillors on whether or not to appoint from within or advertise for a replacement externally.
Asked about the highlight of his three years, he responds: "I think the real success of the growth of Adelaide. That is something I can justly sit back and say I am really proud of."
On what image he thought South Australians have of the city: "We see it is as the prime shopping precinct, with 800 stores in Rundle Mall; the fashion centre of SA; the market, with its fresh fruit produce...
"We see it as commercial district, with lawyers, accountants, medical and service industries; also more than that, as an entertainment precinct."
And are people more positive now than they have been in the past: "I think we are . . . I clearly think that we are.
"I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't say we are not better today than we were three years ago or five years ago."
What about niggling issues, like Hindley St, homelessness, and alcohol consumption in public areas?
"These are issues that are social . . . if you want to look at the triple bottom line of the city, we have had an incredible success rate, and ticks on all things," Mr Hemmerling said.
"We need to look at in the perspective of the big picture".
While he admits he has "no plans" to retire, Mr Hemmerling says he does not yet know what he will be doing next.
"I have never sat still, but at this point in time I really felt as though I needed to take step back," he said.
"I don't have anything particularly, despite the media speculation about the 36ers.
"That is a great passion to me; I have been involved in basketball for 45 years, but it is not the sort of focus of what I am going to do next.
"It is a very keen interest of mine, but there are other things, so we will sit back and see."
In the meantime, Mr Hemmerling says he plans to spend more time with his wife Ruth, work on his golf handicap, and put a bit more effort into his beef cattle farm in the Adelaide Hills.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html
CRAIG BILDSTIEN
September 19, 2006 10:25am
OUTGOING Adelaide City Council chief executive Mal Hemmerling says the city is thriving and has urged critics to stop being so "negative and destructive".
In his first interview since announcing his decision to leave the council in November, Mr Hemmerling says criticisms of the city's performance are "clearly wrong".
"I don't see people in Melbourne talking Melbourne down . . . I don't see people in Sydney talking Sydney down . . . but for some reason here in Adelaide, we're bloody good at it – and we shouldn't be," he told AdelaideNow.
Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan this month labelled the current council as an "abject failure" and called on Capital City Minister Jane Lomax-Smith to intervene to kick-start activity.
However, Mr Hemmerling, 60, says Adelaide has experienced "incredible growth and some outstanding results" during his three years at the helm.
"It worries me that people of influence are talking Adelaide down – it is not doing us any good," he said.
"These people should be talking up Adelaide and be really pushing the fact that we are a city worth investing in and we are a city that is on the move and going forward," he said.
Mr Hemmerling claimed that business had demonstrated an "amazing confidence" in investing in the city, particularly commercial developers from interstate.
"We have had the most rapid growth in construction in the city since the second world war," he said.
"We are attracting more overseas students than any other city in the Commonwealth.
"SA Water, Transport SA and the Film Corporation are relocating their head offices back into the city bringing with them a critical mass of workers.
"We are five times the average of metropolitan Adelaide in terms of residential growth.
"All of the indicators are showing that Adelaide is going ahead in leaps and bounds.
"It is recognised by The Economist as the fourth best city in the world to do business in."
Mr Hemmerling said this year's council budget included "an incredible" $63 million for capital works and $16 million for asset maintenance.
"Light poles are now painted – not rusty relics – streets are cleaner, the trees are trimmed, we're putting gardens back into the city," he said.
"But we also run carparking stations, we run an aquatic centre, a golf course, we run a whole lot of land banking developments.
"We take an active role in assisting development in the city and all of these things are happening in an environment of incredible financial pressure where we have not had to burden ratepayers."
Mr Hemmerling said that under his leadership, council had changed financial controls to measure outcomes, changed reporting systems to measure deliverables and focussed on outputs, rather than process.
Describing himself as "a passionate South Australian", he will finish at the council on November 2, but return the next day for a "staff farewell".
"I came back here with some things that I really wanted to do, and I think the journey has been amazing," he said.
Mr Hemmerling says he has "stabilised" relationships between the council and its administration and created an environment of "co-operation" between the council and the State Government.
He also believes he has established "a can do mentality" within the city, which he says is focussed on outcomes and delivery of service with pride.
Asked how he would leave the council, he replied: "I think we're in really good shape.
"I think we have been really fortunate to have the Capital City Committee.
"It is fundamental and recognition of the fact the city is a key economic driver in the state.
"We have aligned their strategic objectives and the city's strategic objectives together and are working co-operatively to drive the whole state economic base forward."
Describing his management style as "engaging", Mr Hemmerling says council under his stewardship has been "open".
He says his relationship with Lord Mayor Michael Harbison and councillors has been "pretty good".
"Sometimes there are differences of opinion about things, but at end of the day, that's what delivers good results," he said.
Mr Hemmerling is reluctant to comment on his likely successor, other than to say the fundamental criteria for the top job is "a passion for Adelaide".
He said it was up to councillors on whether or not to appoint from within or advertise for a replacement externally.
Asked about the highlight of his three years, he responds: "I think the real success of the growth of Adelaide. That is something I can justly sit back and say I am really proud of."
On what image he thought South Australians have of the city: "We see it is as the prime shopping precinct, with 800 stores in Rundle Mall; the fashion centre of SA; the market, with its fresh fruit produce...
"We see it as commercial district, with lawyers, accountants, medical and service industries; also more than that, as an entertainment precinct."
And are people more positive now than they have been in the past: "I think we are . . . I clearly think that we are.
"I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't say we are not better today than we were three years ago or five years ago."
What about niggling issues, like Hindley St, homelessness, and alcohol consumption in public areas?
"These are issues that are social . . . if you want to look at the triple bottom line of the city, we have had an incredible success rate, and ticks on all things," Mr Hemmerling said.
"We need to look at in the perspective of the big picture".
While he admits he has "no plans" to retire, Mr Hemmerling says he does not yet know what he will be doing next.
"I have never sat still, but at this point in time I really felt as though I needed to take step back," he said.
"I don't have anything particularly, despite the media speculation about the 36ers.
"That is a great passion to me; I have been involved in basketball for 45 years, but it is not the sort of focus of what I am going to do next.
"It is a very keen interest of mine, but there are other things, so we will sit back and see."
In the meantime, Mr Hemmerling says he plans to spend more time with his wife Ruth, work on his golf handicap, and put a bit more effort into his beef cattle farm in the Adelaide Hills.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html
