Issue

The St Peters Residents Association has, in recent years, repeatedly expressed strong concerns at the financial position of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, particularly in relation to decisions made regarding the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre.

These concerns have mostly been the result of Council's decision in late 2023 to continue with the redevelopment of the Payneham Pool.

The first draft of the budget was based on this 8% and showed a modest surplus.
However, at the Council meeting earlier this month, an increase of 8.5% was decided upon.

This is significantly above the 3% CPI the budget is based on, and well above all other metropolitan Adelaide Councils.

Items that we hope you will find of interest include: -

• NPSP Budget 2025-26
• 40km/h Speed Zones
• Successful NPSP Community Funding Grant
• Town Hall Candidate Forum
• SPRA 2025 Annual General Meeting
• Cr Kester Moorhouse
• Facebook Page

The St Peters Residents Association (SPRA) has, in recent years, repeatedly expressed strong concerns at the financial position of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, particularly in relation to decisions made regarding the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre (PMSC).

We again wish to express our anger at Council’s resulting debt position and the significant impact this is having on ratepayers due to the unacceptable level of rates now required to fund Council borrowings, mostly for the Swimming Centre. We implore residents to provide feedback.

While the overall rate revenue increase proposed is 8.5%, this will equate to a substantial 9.49% residential rate increase well over the large 7.44% for the previous year. The Residential Rate increase is over three times the 3.0% CPI used in the LTFP. In many cases the rates will be higher and could reach the maximum cap of 17.0%. Some residents will face an effective rate rise of 36.89% over two years!

In 2022 Council endorsed the Built Heritage Strategy 2022-2027.

The Strategy includes the installation of Heritage Plaques on Local Heritage Places in the Council area. (Page 16 Item 1.2.2).

As far as this Association is aware no Heritage Plaques have been installed on any Local Heritage Place since the adoption of the policy 3 years ago. That means a deficit of at least 18 plaques.

SPRA would appreciate your suggestions of buildings that are deserving of a plaque.

This is the December 2024 newsletter for the St Peters Residents Association, representing the Residents of St Peters, College Park, Hackney, Stepney, Maylands, Evandale & Joslin.

Items that we hope you will find of interest include: -

• SPRA Membership Now Due
• Ninth Avenue Christmas Lights
• Recent SPRA Submissions
• Remembrance Day Second World War Plaque Unveiling
• NPSP = No Pretty Stobie Poles
• Linde Reserve Sculptue Stolen for the Second Time
• River Torrens Linear Path Lighting
• Adelaide Caravan Park Redevelopment
• Community Alliance Forum with Nick Champion
• Facebook Page

Stobie poles are a uniquely South Australian invention, and a distinct part of our local streets. Designed by James Stobie in 1924, these concrete and steel poles have stood the test of time.

South Australian Power Network (SAPN) celebrates residents and artists transforming their infrastructure into vibrant public artworks. Unfortunately, our opportunity to participate in this creative process in NPSP has stalled.

One of the great features of Linde Reserve is the collection of public art sculptures by metal artists Will Kuiper and Meliesa Judge.

The Leaving bronze sculpture has been stolen. Previously, "The Egrets" were missing from Linde Reserve, Stepney.

SPRA have significant concerns about the rise in rate revenue and debt position of the council. SPRA would prefer to see council spending cut or deferred rather than rate rises at more than double the rate of inflation.

In our response to the draft of the 2023-2024 budget, SPRA noted concerns about the Payneham Memorial Swimming Pool and the significant increase in council debt represented by the Net Financial Liabilities Ratio (NFLR). Twelve months later the budget of the Payneham Memorial Swimming Pool has tripled to $60 million with the potential to increase further. The NFLR has increased from the previous peak of 117% to 162% and will still be above 130% in 2034.

This deputation is made as a result of the decision made by Council in December 2023 to proceed with the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre in spite of the cost being three times what was expected in 2022, and the effect this will have on the future Council finances.

In 2022 & earlier the pool cost was expected to be about $20m.

In the 2023/4 budget a figure of $24m was used although it was expected that tenders would be in the order of $30m.

We spoke to this when we addressed Council prior to last year’s budget.

The $60m cost is double that of the similar facilities currently being built at Salisbury.

SPRA responded to the Local Government Participation and Elections Review with a detailed response that covered many topics including:

• Council engagement with community
• Council meeting
• Nominating for council
• Elections including compulstory voting