Councillor Update
CITY OF ONKAPARINGA THALASA WARD COUNCILLOR UPDATE
Main Road Cherry Gardens Update
The Mayor has recently written to the Minister for Transport concerning the need to upgrade Main Road between Black Road and Cherry Gardens Road. It is being proposed to hold a community meeting involving residents, Hon. Josh Teague (Member for Heysen), Mayor Thompson and ward councillors. The time, date and location has not yet been finalised but once it is known we will ensure that the relevant communities are advised, so please keep an eye out once an announcement is made.
Cat Desexing
Don’t miss out on free cat desexing. Do you own a cat or perhaps know a stray cat that might need to be desexed? Onkaparinga residents that own a cat that is not desexed, and residents that feed a semi-owned or stray cat, are being urged to book them in for free desexing before the offer runs out. The free service—which also includes a microchip check, vaccination and flea and worm treatment— is part of Australia’s largest cat desexing program, launched by RSPCA South Australia and the City of Onkaparinga in 2020.
This program aims to combat cat overpopulation, and by desexing your cat, you’ll be helping reduce the free-roaming cat population in your community and reducing nuisance behaviours such as noise, spraying and fighting. The landmark initiative allows for the free desexing of 2000 cats until August 2022, but numbers are expected to book out before then.
Bookings are by appointment and for City of Onkaparinga residents only, and you need to register via the RSPCA South Australia website.
Residents are strongly recommended to vaccinate their cat before desexing, and also to keep your cat indoors at night where it’s safe.
Sustainability Onkaparinga Facebook Page
Follow the new Sustainable Onkaparinga Facebook page. Onkaparinga residents have a new community-focused Facebook page to follow with a spotlight on the environment.
A wide range of topics will be covered on the page including how to reduce waste to landfill and recycle right, getting outdoors to conserve and connect with nature, how to get climate ready, tips to reduce energy use and costs, how to be water smart, food and growing tips for your garden, and much more. Every one of the 170,000 households in our region is serviced by our waste, recycling and organics collection, so it’s no surprise this is the number one enquiry our customer relations team receives.
Children Reading to Success
Did you know reading aloud with your child has proven to be one of the most valuable ways to set them up for success and help them develop a lifelong love of reading? City of Onkaparinga’s six libraries offer free story time sessions for toddlers and babies, and there are a range of benefits the sessions offer. Research has shown children whose parents read to them when they’re young learn to speak, read and write more easily.
The most important stage of brain development is between birth and three years of age, with 90 percent of brain development taking place between birth and five years of age.
Reading with your child promotes early literacy skills including phonological awareness and letter recognition. It can help a child regulate their emotions and learn about their world and events, help them to discover, stimulate curiosity and learn new things such as familiarisation with animals and the sounds they make, different types of vehicles and transport and different cultures.
Reading with your child also promotes a sense of safety, resilience, closeness and belonging with parents as they sit together and share the story. There are a range of storytime sessions available at Woodcroft, Seaford, Aldinga, Noarlunga, Willunga and Hub Libraries, which provide an opportunity to socialise with other new parents and caregivers, and provide an opportunity to learn new skills to engage with your child from experienced library staff.
Free sessions are available. Bookings via Eventbrite are essential – head to www.onkaparingacity.com/libraries to explore the children and youth programs on offer and book your place.
Aldinga Washpool Conservation Park Announcement
The state government will protect the unique Aldinga Washpool forever by proclaiming it as a conservation park. This is a huge win for the Onkaparinga region and anyone who loves the Washpool area. The City of Onkaparinga has been advocating strongly on behalf of the community for many years to secure the future of the Washpool and surrounding land. The Aldinga Washpool area can now continue providing environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits for generations to come. Given the cultural significance of the Washpool, the City of Onkaparinga also recognises the important opportunity the proclamation of the park presents for co-management with Kaurna representatives. Through their community co-design process, we urge the state government to discuss the potential of involving Traditional Owners in the management of the park.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Council.
Geoff Eaton
Councillor
Thalassa Ward
City of Onkaparinga
Email: geoff.eaton@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au
Mobile: 0416 637 351