Councillor Don Palmer Providing Local Leadership & Working for You

In the face of a number of individual and locally focused residential groups around the train line running through Unley grow the Department is looking to set up a Community Action Group I think it is called.

Groups that I am aware of, apart from the initial Goodwood Junction Group set up last month by local MP Steph Keys I understand the following groups have formed and there may be others.

Forestville Reserve,
Devon Street South,
Cromer Parade, Canterbury & Parker Terraces, and
Cowper Street.

I applaud DPTI for this initiative.

In an endeavour to influence the make up of this group I have spoken with DPTI with some thoughts about the make up. I understand that it is proposed the make by 4 residents from east of the line and 4 west of the line, with a member of Council’s staff and one elected member of Council, along with representatives of DPTI and the principal contractors.

In my opinion this may not be truly representative and there is a need to acknowledge the groups above which have a clear north, south focus. In other words whether from the east or the west of the line residents north, south and central need to be represented.

I am unaware of what may be proposed about what must be the most important component of any such plan and that is how do we

1    solicit the views of all the affected residents in order to truly represent them in discussions with DPTI?
2    disseminate information about progress and decisions to these residents?

How council responds to the suggestion of input from us will be revealed soon. I am in discussions with our management about this, including whether it is appropriate for us to be involved.

Whatever happens with this or other groups Jennie & I remain available to help you with concerns you may have or questions you wish to ask if you feel you are not getting anywhere talking with DPTI. Hopefully this will not be necessary because of course we need to focus on issues of concern that are Council issues, not DPTI or State Government issues.

PS

Please everyone remember. These projects are design and construct meaning there is scope for reasonable requests by the community, acting in one voice, to influence the final design and work practices and scheduling.