Mayor4Unley

What to do when pulled over by the police? Know your rights and politely exercise them. I never carry a driver's licence. There is no legal need to in South Australia unless travelling on holiday. Have a read of your rights. Remember to be polite

I spent late afternoon at the Capri Theatre @ Goodwood. I thought that I was going to see Star Wars, but it was Red Dog (rating 3/5). When emerging onto Goodwood Road @ 6pm all was quiet, no cars; just lots of Police and SES vehicles. A burst water main opposite Goodwood Library had shut down the street. David Pisoni MP, Shadow Minister for Burst Water Pipes was there watching the gusher. Minister Ian Hunter had been there; getting his cardboard legs wet in the torrent. I spoke to a local resident and expressed my opinion that the Government should replace the water mains pipes before that strip of Goodwood Road is resurfaced in 6 months. It just makes sense; plain common sense. To fix the ageing water pipe infrastructure, the Government must invest say $50m a year over 30 years to reduce the number of burst mains. Ageing infrastructure must be replaced along entire streets rather than ad hoc repairs. Full marks to David Pisoni for seemingly attending every burst pipe in the Ade...

There is a Quiz Night fund raiser to assist the Police and Fire men and women attend the next World Police & Fire Games in Fairfax, Virginia (USA). It is a good cause, so book a table. Details: When: Saturday 09 August 2014, starts at 7pm Where: Goodwood Community Centre (32 Rosa Terrace, Goodwood), behind the Goodwood Library Cost: $15 per person Tables of 8-10 are available BYO nibbles and soft drink Beer & wine are available over the bar It will be a fun night. For bookings, contact Tracy mobile  0403 186 515 or email tracy.johnson@police.sa.gov.au

An initiative to fight graffiti has gone relatively unreported. In January 2014 the SA Government announced that rewards of up to $500 will be offered to citizens who dob-in graffiti vandals. The rewards will be given for information that leads to the conviction of a person for graffiti offences. Following my query, the Hon John Rau (Attorney General) has advised me that the reward applies to all incidents of graffiti vandalism, except in cases of on one's own property. Hopefully this will encourage residents to be more vigilant and report all observed graffiti attacks.

During May there is heaps happening as part of the SA History Festival. Here is information about a tour of the old Adelaide Gaol.  It's a worthwhile visit and only costs $3 per person. Get caught having fun with $3 entry to Adelaide Gaol On Sunday 25 May the historic Adelaide Gaol will throw open its doors for the special entry price of only $3 per person.  Explore the gaol that housed over 300,000 men and women from 1841 to 1988. Discover prison life on a self-guided tour of the cell blocks, hanging tower, gallows and prisoner graves and take home your very own mugshot. Catch yourself getting spooked with a mini ghost talk and other fascinating tales from the volunteers on hand. Captivating history talks and a sausage sizzle will complete the day. When: Sunday 25 May Time: 10.00 am – 4.30 pm (last entry 3.30 pm) Address: 18 Gaol Rd, Thebarton. (Please note there is no right turn into the gaol if you are approaching from the city, however there i...

At the Unley Council meeting held (last night) on 11 March 2014, a key outcome was adoption of a policy governing mandatory inspections of new swimming pools and spas. I gave this matter my full support. We should do everything we can to reduce the unacceptably high number of deaths of toddlers by drowning in backyard pools. All new pools and spas will need to be fenced and have safety signs displayed. It is mandatory for residents and builders to notify Council when a pool or spa has been built or installed. This is a follow-on from the State Government revising the Development Regulations. A statutory fee of $170 will be charged for an inspection. This is set by the State Government and can’t be changed by Council. The reality is that it will probably cost the Council more than the $170. The bottom line is that it’s a good outcome and hopefully will reduce the number of drownings. For more information, here are some links … Unley Council agenda for me...

Drones are starting to appear on the horizon. They are being used for everyday practical tasks. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) is using them to provide aerial photography and video of road and rail infrastructure project work sites. DPTI hires the drones which are technically called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs). The drones are basically a mini helicopter (usually with 4 sets of blades for extra stability) with an on-board camera/video with GPS. A ground based operator controls the drone by a wireless control pad. The Police recently acquired 2 drones, primarily for surveillance work. They can assist Police during high-risk events eg. during a siege or terrorist attack. With an on-board camera/video they can collect evidence of the situation. Other intended use is searching for drugs and assessing damage after a fire or explosion. After training and commissioning, the Police drones will be operational later this year.