Mayor4Unley

The State Government has commenced public consultation on the proposed Kaufland mega supermarket on Anzac Highway @ Everard Park/Forestville. However, the catch is that only residents (and businesses) within 60m of the development may formally comment. This is totally outrageous. So many residents who will be impacted can not have a say. I would have thought that the new Liberal Government would have quickly changed the State planning process. This consultation is a joke #saparli. This development has the potential to severely impact residents over a wide radius, especially to the south in all the side streets off Leader Street. There must be a rigorous independent traffic management plan before approval is granted. The high volume of vehicle movements at this site warrants the traffic study. Residents are encouraged to meet with those living within 60m and pass on their concerns which may then be formally submitted. You may also pass on your concerns to me and I will ende...

DPTI has just contacted me to advise that over the next 3 nights there will be overhead works at the South Road tram overpass. Throw screens will be installed on the recently fixed cycle/pedestrian bridge. I hope that the new throw screens don't cause the same problem as last time. I'm sure that the new design has been carefully scrutinised (and certified). Anyway, there will be night works with noise and some traffic diversions over the next 3 nights. The cycle/pedestrian bridge is due to open in ~ 6 weeks. I understand that it will be a grand opening with dignitaries aplenty; more-so with the approaching SA Election. I will be there in lycra to wave the cyclists through.

On Monday 25 September 2017 I moved the following motion at Unley Council. That: The City of Unley Council writes to the Minister for Planning and expresses its concern about the lack of consultation by DPTI with the local community about the proposed Inner & Middle Metropolitan Corridors (Sites) Ministerial DPA, and particularly for the site comprising 12 to 30 Anzac Highway and 6 to 14 Third Avenue, Everard Park between KFC and Solver Paints on Anzac Highway and extending through to the local minor residential street at the rear in Third Avenue, Forestville. Why? Outraged locals in Forestville and Everard Park, especially in Grove Avenue about zero consultation by the Minister for Planning with regard to the mega development on this site. Locals only learnt about the proposal in a recent newspaper article. I would hope that when the Minister gets a letter of concern from Unley Council, he will undertake further consultation with the Everard Park and Forestville residents. ...

The Messenger 'local rag' newspaper must be doing it tough. I've just received a leaflet from the Messenger in my letterbox. It says 'We have identified a group of suburbs that have a lower than average tendency to pick up delivered copies of the paper. Your suburb is in that group.' Messenger wants my feedback. Further, it suggests that in the future the options may be to drive somewhere and collect a paper from a retail outlet or subscribe for an online edition. I gave feedback and replied that I want the delivery to continue. Yes, a high % of people leave the paper in the driveway and mulch it with their car tyres. However, many (and I would suggest a good 50%) do pick it up and read it. Perhaps the high number of flats in the area is distorting the figures and suggesting a lower than average readership. I suspect that when the Messenger refers to a group of suburbs, the size of that group is high and the real push is to stop paper copies and force r...

I planted a crop of climbing peas a couple of weeks back and they are rushing out of the ground. They like the cooler weather and hopefully will produce a bountiful harvest in a couple of months. I collected the seeds from last year. They are called Telegraph Peas due to their mature height; reaching for the heavens; with tall stakes to cling to. By why, after 1,000s or millions of years of evolution and training, do the young pea plants tend to flop onto the ground. Later in life, in a few weeks they'll get the knack and be good clingers; and climb and cling. Meanwhile they need a bit of twine to hold them upright. It's a bit of a worry if that's your major concern at the moment 😉 Then again, gardening is a wonderful escape from the complexities and demands of the outside world.

Check out my new rooster! Before Christmas I commissioned an art work by acclaimed local artist Anna Small (of A Small Art Factory). Her website is http://www.asmallartfactory.com.au Follow her on Facebook. Anna works with metal and creates fantastic art work to adorn the garden; or to hang on a wall inside or outside. She can be found most weekends at the quality craft markets in Adelaide. Anyway, I wanted a rooster, not the usual hen on a pole. She took on the challenge and I gave her feedback on her initial design. In January Anna delivered the rooster and he has has taken up residence in the backyard chilli patch. Thank you Anna

I have a new friend; actually two new friends. A couple of young Murray Magpies (aka. a Pee Wee or more formally as a Piping Shrike) have come to the garden and do regular patrols; hunting for spiders, moths or grubs and insects on the lawn. I started feeding them small bits of meat; pieces of chop or left-over sausage. That was a big hit and they have adopted me. This morning one flew at me in excitement to get some food. The dogs are not happy with this new friendship; so I will have to build a feeding platform head-high above the ground. As a matter of interest, there is confusion about which bird is displayed on the South Australia flag. Is it an Australian Magpie or the smaller Murray Magpie? More information from Wikipedia ... "The piping shrike is the emblematic bird that appears on South Australia's flag, State Badge and Coat of a Arms. The bird appears "displayed proper" with its wings outstretched and curved upwards. Although the image of the piping...

I have a family of spotted doves living in and near my back yard. Actually it's a rather extended family. The number of visitors seems to be increasing. I would prefer to have the Australian native top knot pigeon visit, but it's spotted doves. They get fed with mixed seeds each morning and if they're lucky again at dusk. A couple are quite tame and walk up to me, totally unafraid. They sometimes come near me to escape when others are aggressively chasing them. Two years ago I climbed a ladder to peer inside a nest. There were two feathered chicks peering at me and I'm convinced that my face formed a bonding image; just like a duckling adores the chicken hen that hatched it. Since then, these two birds see me as a friend and are totally unafraid. It's nice to be loved.

For the past 15 years I have been the Newsletter Editor of my local Neighbourhood Watch (now called Watch SA). The area includes Forestville and Everard Park. We meet every 3 months and have some fantastic guest speakers. The newsletter is distributed to all residents in the area. A local has asked me to publish the newsletter on my blog. Attached find the August newsletter. Watch SA Newsletter, August 2014

As a local Councillor I've had a few interesting requests for assistance from residents in Wayville, Goodwood, Forestville and Everard Park. Last weekend I was contacted by a local who I'll call John. I visited John and heard his story. His neighbour was doing what many people do viz. collecting snails from the backyard. Usually they squash them or dispose of the snails by some other means. Instead, the neighbour was tossing the snails over the the side fence and onto John's manicured lawn. John wanted me to do something about it. He wanted the Council to intervene or perhaps get the Mayor onto the case. I explained that it was a civil matter and neither the Council nor the Mayor would be able to assist. I recommended 3 courses of action: 1. Talk to the neighbour about the matter. No, he wouldn't do that. 2. Buy a couple of ducks to free range in his yard. Ducks love snails. No, he didn't want any ducks. He didn't want duck poo everywhere. 3. I had l...

I have decided to run again as a Councillor for Goodwood Ward in the City of Unley Council elections to be held in Oct-Nov 2014. With the elections approaching, I thought I should declare now whether or not I was running. I noticed in the media today that there is a statement that I issued. The media comment was … UNLEY councillor Bob Schnell will re-run in Goodwood ward against high-profile candidate Gill Hicks in the November council elections. "I am encouraged by support given to me by residents in Wayville, Goodwood, Forestville and Everard Park," Cr Schnell said. It’s amazing how the media has presented the news as me running against Gill Hicks. Isn’t it the other way around? The reality is that come the election all candidates will running against the others. In Goodwood Ward (and all other wards across Unley) there are 2 positions of Councillor. As one of the current Councillors I have worked hard over the past 4 years and have runs on the bo...

Forestville/Everard Park Local Area Traffic Management Plan Good news for the residents of Forestville and Everard Park. At the Council meeting on 28 April 2014 I moved a motion to approve a local traffic study for Forestville and Everard Park. The motion passed. I had negotiated this outcome during deliberations of the budget for 2014/2015. It was a hard won fight. The Residents had petitioned Council and local MP Steph Key had held meetings with the residents. There are ongoing issues of increased traffic, speeding, hoon driving and commuter rat runs through streets parallel to Leah street eg. First Avenue, Second Avenue, ... The approved LATM (Local Area Traffic Management Plan ) study commenced a few weeks ago with traffic counts being recorded. You will notice recording devices in the local streets. Shortly, residents will receive a letter advising dates of community meetings so that issues can be collected and solutions can be designed to alleviate the problems Ensur...