Thank you! I’m off to a busy start… Edition 1, March 2023
BEFORE YOU KEEP READING, SIGN MY PETITION TO PROTECT OUR PARK LANDS AND STOP THE SAPOL MOUNTED OPERATIONS UNIT BEING BUILT AT PARK 21 WEST / MIRNU WIRRA.
80,000m2 of open green space and tree canopy is at risk, click the link below to sign the e-petition:
What I’ve been up to…
First of all, thank you to the residents and ratepayers of Goodwood Ward for giving me the opportunity to represent you! It is a great honour and I am committed to working hard to bring about positive change for our community.
The last few months have been packed full with mandatory training modules and induction sessions to attend, not to mention several Council meetings already. One of our recent meetings involved appointing elected members to the various committees which help Council to function effectively. I was pleased to be appointed to the Council’s Strategic Property Committee and the CEO Performance Review Committee.
I’ve also been busy meeting with local community groups and residents to discuss what is important to them and better understand some of the specific issues in our Ward. Some of these groups included; residents of Leah Street in Forestville regarding traffic implications of local development, residents of Rogers Street (and nearby streets) in Goodwood to discuss the proposed Living Street project, staff from the Goodwood Community Centre regarding their programs and offerings for the community, small business owners along Goodwood Road about how Council can support them as we emerge from the implications of the pandemic, members of the Governing Council of the Goodwood Community Childcare Centre to hear about the fantastic work the Centre does and the pivotal role it plays in our community, and many more.
I’ve already put a few Motions before Council, including one at the December 2022 Council meeting calling on the developers of the old Le Cornu site and the State Government to ensure that the development in Forestville include a publicly accessible green space no less than 1500m2 and a minimum of 15% tree canopy, my Motion was carried unanimously. At a recent elected member briefing we were assured that a 1500m2 reserve of green space has now been incorporated into the design but are still waiting on confirmation regarding tree canopy. I’ll be watching this space closely!
The next issue of my newsletter will be out later this year, in the meantime you can keep up to date with what I am up to by following me on Facebook: www.fb.com/chriscrabbe4goodwood
Community Champion
Meet Alice from Forestville…
Alice has lived in Goodwood Ward for 6 years and is incredibly passionate about reducing her carbon and waste footprint. In December of 2022 took out her rubbish bin for the first time in over two years. Around 2.44m tonnes of the 4.9m tonnes of materials sent to landfill each year are either recyclable or compostable, according to Planet Ark.
Alice, when and why did you decide to take ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ to the next level?
For me it’s been an incremental journey. I’ve been passionate about living lightly on the planet since I was a teenager, and when I moved to South Australia a decade ago I was motivated by our ability to compost all food waste via our FOGO Council green bins. I also decided at that time not to buy a car for environmental reasons and have chosen to live in Forestville because of its proximity to the tram, trains and bike paths. Since then things have snowballed, and adopting reusable menstrual products and bulk buying pantry goods without plastic has become normal. It’s my way of trying to combat the massive environmental challenges we’re facing globally.
What advice would you have for fellow residents thinking of doing the same?
I think it you’re already avoiding sending food waste to landfill then that’s half the battle. Some tips for keeping your green bin less stinky are to wrap and freeze meat / seafood scraps until green bin day so you’re not tempted to use the landfill bin and using compostable biobags or reusable bags for fresh produce.
I would also challenge yourself to look at your transport needs and swap the car out for a walk, ride or tram/train journey. It’ll get easier the more you do it ! In Unley we have increasing rates of personal car ownership, adding to pollution and congestion on our roads. Check out Flexicar car share network, which has recently arrived in Unley as an alternative and see if you can ditch your wheels entirely.
What are your favourite places to shop/trade for items with minimal or no packaging/waste?
I love the Clarence Park food Co-op for stocking up on groceries locally and supporting local suppliers. I’m also a big fan of Village Greens of Willunga Creek who deliver fresh produce, baked goods and grocery items without plastic packaging. House of Health in the Adelaide Central Markets is my go-to for bulk grains, flour and rice etc. I also love our local Buy Nothing Facebook groups to borrow, acquire and pass on household items without having to buy new. Circular economies are so satisfying, and it’s great to use resources that already exist in our communities.
What is your favourite holiday destination?
The Coromandel peninsula in New Zealand. I’m a kiwi originally and love hanging out with friends and family by the beach during the summer.
Favourite local eatery to grab a bite?
I’m having a great time picking up a coconut, custard or peanut pastry from Teli Original on Aroha Terrace, right by the Forestville tram stop.
And finally, what do you think makes Goodwood Ward great?
I think our sense of community is the best thing about our Ward. It’s a neighbourhood where I immediately feel at home. I walk through Forestville reserve twice a day and love how we use our public spaces. We’re lucky to have our Goodwood Road shops and I also think our proximity to public transport, bike paths and the city makes for a wonderful lifestyle.
You can find out more about reducing your waste by visiting the City of Unley website:
https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Bins-pets-parking/Waste-recycling/Reducing-Waste
Mrs Sunshine Loves opened its doors at 16 Rosa Street, Goodwood, in 2020. Amy is the owner/operator of “The world’s cutest store” and sells a range of fantastic gifts and decor. It’s a great place to grab a present for a friend or family, or to treat yourself to something beautiful for your home.
Amy, what made you open Mrs Sunshine Loves?
I had been nursing for 16 years and took a break while studying floristry in 2020 which led me to start planning a business model as part of the course. While talking with my husband about it he suggested we contact The City of Unley and apply to open a little store in the room of our home and here we are! It has always been my dream to operate a small boutique from an old corner store and I think what we've created is very special.
What’s your favourite item in the store at the moment?
I love our range of hand painted Picnic Folk tiffins; they're a cute, colourful and sustainable food storage solution. They also look really cute displayed on our shelves!
What’s flying out the door at the moment?
We have a huge range of ceramics in store at the moment and they're always very popular, particularly Studio OH 10's colourful cups.
What are you reading at the moment?
I'm currently reading 'The Happiness Plan' by Dr Elise Bialylew.
Favourite park in Goodwood Ward to visit with your dogs?
Soutar Park is our favourite local park; I love sitting on the park bench under the big shady trees in the summer while watching our dogs play with their friends. It's also a great place to catch up with locals who bring their dogs to the park too.
And finally, what do you think makes Goodwood Ward great?
Goodwood Ward is great for many things and here are a few reasons why we love our community. It's multicultural and there are many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, we’re blessed with lovely neighbours who look out for each other, sharing fruit and veggies grown from everyone's gardens, we check in on each other if we haven't heard from someone for a while. Our neighbours on one side made a doggy door, joining their backyard to ours so our dogs could hang out with them while we aren't home which is really special. I don’t drink alcohol but my husband enjoys craft beers and we like spending time at Suburban Brew as it’s a dog friendly venue. We play board games by the fire in winter which is always nice and cosy! We love Ginger’s too; Arthur always takes care of us and offers the dogs some treats!
Check out Mrs Sunshine Loves on Instagram: @mrssunshineloves
Do you know a local community champion or small business you’d like profiled in a future issue? Get in touch by emailing hello@chriscrabbe.com.au.
Good to know:
Greening Verge Incentive Program
Did you know that this program assists Unley residents or organisations to beautify their verge. Applications for the program should open in the coming months, if you’d like to be notified when applications open then add your email address to the mailing list at: https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Environmental-Sustainability/Greening-Unley
Shaping Unley
Have you expressed your interest in being part of the Shaping Unley initiative? Shaping Unley is a comprehensive engagement process that the Council may choose to use for exploring complex and polarising policy issues facing our community. You can find out more by visiting: https://yoursay.unley.sa.gov.au/shaping-unley
Council Agendas and Minutes
Interested in following what’s happening on Council? The Agendas and Minutes for Council meetings are available to the public to view here:
https://www.unley.sa.gov.au/Council/About-the-Council/Meetings-minutes
Follow me on Facebook: www.fb.com/chriscrabbe4goodwood
Have you got a local matter you’d like to discuss? Get in touch:
M: 0422 686 306