Content concerning the environment, including urban forest.
This page contains documents related to the St Peters Billabong that provide reference information about the St Peters BIllabong which is part of the St Peters River Park.
Many of these documents were first obtained in response to Freedom of Information Requests submitted by Ralph Bleechmore. It is possible that council staff are withholding additional documents that should have been released under the Freedom of Information Requests.
Did you know that during a hot South Australian summer, a street with more tree canopy can be up to 5°C cooler than one without it?
As residents of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, we all know how punishing the summer heat can be. But the solution isn't just relying on air conditioning, it’s right outside our front doors.
Get on the front foot for 2027. Visit Green Connections - Plant Native Gardens and Verges now to register your interest, join the priority waitlist, and find out how to get your neighbours involved.
The October Update from From Madeleine St Johnston-Romano, group convenor of NPSP Tree Canopy Action Group (Facebook) provides details on how we can care for our street treesa nd verges today and long term solutions like tree inlets.
So, caring for street trees in ways that will really help them, for the long term, also means addressing some of the most expensive, distressing issues that attach to owning a home in our council area, along with also reducing our water bills and great stress on our reservoirs. Clearly then, it is wise to care for trees!
Residents will be aware that for some years SPRA has been pressing Council to enforce its planning regulations and take action with reSTspect to a significant encroachment on River Street at the top of the Billabong plateau. We are concerned that at the meeting on 1 September, Council resolved that its report, discussion and minutes be kept confidential until the revocation of the Community Land process commences.
We have written to Council pointing this out and asking the obvious question – why it did not just enforce its planning regulations? Something isn’t right.
THE BILLABONG is part of the St Peters River Park and its purpose, as stated in the NPSP Community Land Management Plan (2021) is to, inter alia
Council’s closure the track at the top of the Billabong prevents not only the wider community from accessing a beautiful part of the Billabong, but also the Friends’ volunteers from accessing the area to continue their important work. They have spent hundreds of hours over the years planting locally native plants and weeding.
South Australia’s tree protection legislation has recently been further strengthened, closing an important loophole.
Following sustained community pressure, South Australia’s Planning & Design Code was amended in May 2024. New tree protection policies meant that most native tree species were protected provided
However, there was a loop hole.
NPSP have decided to block access to the top of the billabong and have begun erecting a fence. SPRA do not support this action and believe that residents and visitors should be able to take in some of the best views of the billabong.
The Advertiser has published an article by Darren Chaitman titled If you can’t play nice … Backyard billabong brawl backfires.
After SPRA became aware of the issue and verified using a council boundary identification survey part of documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request by Ralph Bleechmore that the fence appears to extend onto onto the Linear Park.
Part 7A of the Real Property Act 1886 deals with adverse possession claims.
If Council, as the registered proprietor, lodges a caveat forbidding the grant of the application pursuant to s.80F(1), then S.80F(3) of the Act provides that the Registrar-General must refuse the claim. That section effectively gives council an absolute or unconditional right of veto.
Claims of adverse possession are notoriously difficult, lengthy, and the onus of proof is on the claimant.
This submission can be downloaded as a pdf for printing.
This Strategy is a planning document which includes targets and visions. The St Peters Residents Association (SPRA) is happy to comment on some of these but also considers it important to suggest concrete actions which could be taken to improve the greening of Adelaide.