Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
My right Heart Peninsula coming up. Our local Indigenous Voice
reps have made their first address in State Parliament. Hi,
I'm Jackie Limb with iHeart Air Peninsula your twenty twenty
four local news wrap for the Air Peninsula and surrounds.
But first twenty twenty four has been one of our
driest years on record and many of us are feeling
(00:21):
the impact. Our reporter Brooks they shall has more.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Thanks Jack, Yeah, that's right. And as a result, the
announcement of funding has been welcomed by farmers and organizations.
An eighteen million dollar assistance package includes an on farm
drought infrastructure fund. Through it, charities will get a boost
to transport fodder and hay, and there's money for existing
programs involving rural financial counselors.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
What we've done is develop this in conjunction with the
feedback that we've had from around the state. Now that's
been informal feedback and round tables which was bringing together
people in different regions, and also the Drought Advisory Committee
or group that has been set up been shared by
the Chief executive of my department. And also last week
I had a meeting with nearly all of the regional
(01:06):
mayors and cees. So all of that put in together,
as well as the omniperground information that the staff get
has fed into this and what we were hearing is
is a range of things, obviously, and the drought is
affecting different people in different parts of the state in
different ways. But the on time infrastructure grants, they are
(01:27):
small grants, super size thousand dollars, but they are important
in terms of being able to just make a contribution
towards things like containment feeding, which you know, sometimes haven't
had to use before. They just you know, they've been
in areas where the rainfall is such that that hasn't
been part of their business, or it might be towards
other infrastructure. But also in regards to the flight costs
for the donated fodder, that was really important and so
(01:49):
we've been investigating what we could do and so two
million dollars to be able to assist with the fate
costs for donated fodder is I think a really important
step forward. And the third thing, which particularly important, was
around mental health and well being because when farm businesses
and also the businesses in communities and regional areas that
rely on the farm businesses often as well when they
(02:11):
are struggling, then there's a big toll on mental health.
So we've pound to invest an extra million dollars for
additional support as well.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Minister for Primary Industries Class Scriven. Their meantime at Jamestown
Apex Club are organizing at twenty four Drought, an event
aimed at supporting those who have been most affected in
our local communities. Event organizer Donna Kelly says the local
community inspired the event.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
We decided to put it on an event for all
of the people in the area to be able to
come together, enjoy some fellowships, mental health information sessions, lift
each other up and get ready for Christmas.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Twenty four Drought will be held at Victoria Park on
December fourteenth.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Thanks for that one brook. After many months in limbo
and much controversy, the epdsail plant is finally one step
closer to fruition, the state government approving a plan for
Billy Lane's Point. The plant is set to address the
region's water security issues with stocks running low. Our reporter
Chris Gasket spoke to Minister for Planning Nick Champion earlier
(03:13):
in the week.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
This is a very rational decision. We know we're running
out of water on air peninsula with hyperclinity in many
of our acquises, and the remaining aquasers are going stale
line and so that is a very serious issue for
the thirty five thousand Australian to rely on water security
on their peninsula. We've got to make this investments trender
(03:36):
and thirty billion dollar investments. So it's not done lightly,
but we've got to make this investment and get it
in place by mid twenty twenty six to make sure
that we don't have very serious consequences in terms of
drinking water or word off the industry that the fishing
industry in terms of processing, or the farming industry in
terms of livestock. So business. You've been through the planning system,
(03:57):
it's been through a lot of debate.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
It's now time to speaking of debate. The conversation around
this has been robust, to put it lightly. Are you're
confident that the plan that you have in place will
be able to appease most of the people who will
be involved in this, Well, I.
Speaker 5 (04:10):
Guess it's not a question of a peacement. We think
we've made prudent changes to the detail plant to make
sure that it accommodates other concerns that were raised, and
now we've just got to get on with it because
the overriding reason to provide this plant is to provide
for water security for their peninsula. And you know, if
(04:31):
we delay it, if we look for alternative sites, if
we embark on some sort of naval gazing exercise, then
people will run out of water on their peninsulonae. That
will have catastrophic effects.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
You've talked a few times about the timeline already. You're
confident going to be able to keep to this because
it is very tight in terms of when this all
needs to be built. I'd imagine there's a pretty strict
structure around how this is all going to Look what
does it look like over the next eighteen months or so.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Look, you're right, we can't afford delay. This has been
aft probably too long by governments, by previous government in particular,
and we just got to get on and build it.
So that's what we're doing.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
I'm sure there'll be more to come on that in
twenty twenty five. Thanks for that one, Chris. And Elections
were held this year to peak representatives for the South
Australian Voice to Parliament. Our reporter Sam Talbot, how's more.
Speaker 7 (05:20):
That's right, Jack. Voting for the Essay Voice representatives took
place back in March, with the state Electoral Commission working
hard to spread the word about the vote.
Speaker 8 (05:29):
It's gone really really well at the moment. We've been
out in the regions working with our early writing teams
now mobile, our pollowing teams, and we're out in Yalta
yesterday and Sojourna in Portlancoln. We had a really good
turn up at all of those locations, so as an
indication in terms of the turnout, it's looking really good.
Speaker 7 (05:45):
James Trevlcoe there. But the voted turnout wasn't as good
as some people thought. In fact unimpressive according to some people,
including Shadow Attornie General Josh Tigue.
Speaker 9 (05:56):
So few people turned out to vote that in many
cases there were more Electoral Commission starts at polling places
than there were voters.
Speaker 7 (06:07):
Some contexts there, federal elections get about ninety percent turnout
of voters on average, while local government elections, which like
the Voice a non compulsory, usually get around thirty percent.
The Essay Voice did even worse than that, just a
ten percent voter turnout that meant about three thousand ballots cast,
meaning some representatives were elected with just a double digit
(06:31):
amount of votes. One elected official made the cut with
just eleven first preference votes. Nevertheless, the Voice representatives have
been working hard and meeting all year. Earlier this week,
Leroy Bilney, the Presiding Officer of Essays Voice, gave the
bodies inaugural address in Parliament.
Speaker 10 (06:48):
We are mothers, we are fathers, We are uncles, we
are aunties, we are elders, and we are young. And
we are here today speaking with one voice and united
with one purpose. We are here for truth telling and
to ignite within you an understanding of the plight of
(07:11):
our people.
Speaker 7 (07:12):
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs KaiA Mass says, as we head
into twenty twenty five, one of the big issues for
the Voice will be incarceration rates.
Speaker 11 (07:21):
Under three percent of the South Astralian population are First
Nations people, yet about a quarter of people are incarcerated.
Our Aboriginal tized rate on the people so overrepresented by
an order of magnitude, You're tenfold overrepresented. And that is
something I know that members of the Voice have talked
about that we're very keen to hear their life experiences,
(07:43):
the views of their communities about programs and things we
can do as a state to try and help with that.
Speaker 9 (07:51):
I Hearteninsula, My Heartininsula.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
It was a big year across region. The Tumby Bay
jettis issues rolled on, but finally the Progress Association's Dion
Lebrun told us some money had been found and the
jetty could be reopened with a temporary fix.
Speaker 12 (08:10):
Tumby Jetty has been close for two summers now and
the town's really missed having the jetty. Been lots of
negotiations between the state government and our council to try
and find a way to get it opened until we
can find a more temporary solution to not just Comby
Bay Jetty, but all jetties in the States. So the
state government's changed the load requirements of these jetties. They're
(08:34):
always assessed as being a commercial jetty and needed to
be able to take what they assessed as a commercial
weight loading. They've now revised that and said, really they
antly pedestric jetties. We can lower that requirement to a
pedestrian loading. And that's all of a sudden given us
an opportunity to do some remedial works on the jetty
(08:55):
that the community can afford. We're like everybody else in Tumby.
We love ajetty and really missed it, and Progressive Association
had some money in term deposit, been sitting there for
a while waiting for the right project to come up,
and this chance to help open the jetty is what
we would like the money spent on. It's a frustrating process.
(09:16):
Has anything to do with government is and anything that
involves multimillions of dollars of taxpayer money, state funding. You know,
it's never a quick, easy way through it. So yeah,
this is this has given us a chance to get
it open for a while. We don't know for how long,
but it's going to buy time to maybe sort out
a statewide plan for all the jetis in the state,
(09:39):
you know, find a way to fund their repairs and
their ongoing maintenance.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
The Movement for Local Politics was announced this year Rowan
Ramsey and his Blue Suits, making the call to hang
it up at the next election.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
Turned sixty eight.
Speaker 13 (09:53):
My wife and I've both experienced cares for in the
last decade. We've lost a number of friends that we've
just decided that and probably about the time people were
heading up there, ending up the stock weapon and give
it away. So it's just time for somebody else. We
need to make sure we've got enough time for each
other and ourselves the rest of our lives and kick
back and enjoy a bit, I think. So that's what
(10:13):
we'll be doing.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
In the news that got us jumping for joy. We
helped find some new homes for several kangaroos. Andrew John Oswald,
who ran at Gumby's Wildlife Sanctuary, needed to rehome over
thirty of his ruse, so he came to the rescue
teeing up a little transfer to mark Erin in the
big rocking Horse at the Adelaide Hills.
Speaker 13 (10:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (10:32):
Yeah, that wee could house easy, fifteen of them sort
of thing. Fifteen twenty amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
That would be absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 14 (10:38):
Even the thirty weekd house because we got nine acres
year total and we've only got eleven already.
Speaker 15 (10:44):
Wow, that's very much appreciated.
Speaker 4 (10:45):
Thank you.
Speaker 15 (10:46):
Oh, they would be fantastic. We've be in touch for
them and yeah, we'll see what we can work out.
I very do appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Mindlton's Childcare Center opened its doors in September with Rowan
Ramsey cutting the Red Ribbon.
Speaker 13 (10:56):
Got a fantastic facility now on Southern York Peninsula in Middleton.
It came about as a result of the Morrison government's
Black Summer bushfire grants. They met council managed to secure
two point two five million dollars and then they matched
that roughly fifty to fifteenth. We came up with a
four and a half million dollar facility. It is stay there.
It's fantastic and k Hugh, Esana Fasey and Amy Honor
(11:18):
driven the project. If you like it was their vision,
you wouldn't say we got lucky by having a fire there.
But as I said on the day, it's a new
wind that blows no good. And the fact that we've
now got a fabulous center there I think highlights the
issue that we probably need another dozen of them across
Gray for Middleton. They will now be able to there'll
be skewed people able to get back to work, there
(11:38):
will be businesses, they will be able to attract new
workers there and this is a real handbrake on all
these other communities. I continue to work to try and
bring about outcome. But due it was a good day
for Middleton.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Please, Commissioner Grand Stevens declared the Portogaster CBD a public precinct.
Speaker 16 (11:55):
We made an application to the Attorney General for declared
public precinct for the CBD of Portagusta, and that's on
the basis of the escalation of antisocial behavior and other
criminal activities that occur within that precinct over the summer
months with the additional influx of people into that environment.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Amy Featherstone told us all about Southern Launch being cleared
for takeoff.
Speaker 15 (12:16):
It's been a long process, working both through both the
state and federal government approval process that we're really excited
to bring space to the air Peninsula. So both the
state and federal governments have outlined a number of conditions
that we have to meet through the development and construction
of the project and then also when we're operating it.
So our next steps will be to go through all
(12:37):
of those conditions in detail, understand what our obligations are,
and then implement the strategies to make sure we meet them.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
The Pitch Ridgie Railway Preservation Society celebrated fifty years in
twenty twenty four. We spoke with former President of the Society.
Phil mellows about the milestone.
Speaker 17 (12:55):
Back on the twentieth of July nineteen seventy four, our
first train steamed out of Court Worn up to Summit
and fifty years later we're running two days of trains.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
It was a huge year in sport as well. We
learned from Sean Ford from the We learned from Sean
Ford from sam Ford, EP Footy could be in for
some changes.
Speaker 18 (13:16):
Local leagues and clubs who have really highlighted that they're
either having issues with travel, junior numbers, aging lists in
the seniors, whether that be football or netball, and then
even kids moving away for college and things like that
as well. So there's numerous discussions on the table with
all leagues and they are all at different stages as well,
(13:38):
but it's a positive step for regional sport to have
leagues and clubs and the EP Footy Board driving these discussions. Currently,
there are long term conversations with a couple of the
leagues to explore the option of coming together potentially an amalgamation,
but nothing has been actioned at this point in time,
so the consultation will continue moving forward.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Now we are soo farewelled, favorite Crow in Port.
Speaker 11 (14:01):
Lincoln, Oh One.
Speaker 19 (14:02):
Dearren show is one to say thank you to the
whole community over there, and we've got so many supporters
and fans over there that have supported our footy club
and myself in particular of all these years, so to
say thank you. But then the other party has just
keep their run a little more insight that probably haven't
seen across the years.
Speaker 14 (14:17):
To for port.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Woodness, Hannah Petty led the Thunderbirds to another premiership, much
to the delight of Premier Pete Melanowskiz.
Speaker 11 (14:24):
Thankfully the Adelaie Thunderbirds are participating.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Site'll be a clash of the ages.
Speaker 19 (14:28):
We're excited about it.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
The yp hosted the Masters Games and Port Agusta is
gearing up for the event in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 20 (14:35):
We've had a lot of competitors, one forty three in fact,
competing across four days, beautiful weather, great skills, great participation
and a really vibrant atmosphere. It will be in Port
Augusta next year from the tenth to thirteenth to Eightpril
twenty twenty five, and we encourage anyone to register and
(14:58):
head on up to Portagusta.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
With that and so much more coming up. We can't
wait to join you again in twenty twenty five with
all the bigger stories across the region and wider essay.
That's your twenty twenty four news wrap across the Air
Peninsula and surrounds. Don't forget. You can hear iHeart Air
Peninsula on the iHeart app or wherever you get your podcasts.
I'm Jackie Limb. Join us again next year for more local,
(15:23):
trusted and free news.
Speaker 14 (15:25):
My Heart Air Peninsula