Latest news with #DuncanEvans
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Smoke-free': Big call on major tourist strip
A major thoroughfare running through one of South Australia's star beach suburbs could soon be a smoke-free zone. Port Adelaide and Enfield councillors voted unanimously this month for a report into making the western section Semaphore Rd, which connects Semaphore Beach and its famous jetty with a line of shops and restaurants, free of cigarettes and vapes. Semaphore councillor David Wilkins proposed the motion and told NewsWire this week a Semaphore local had asked the council to consider the ban. 'We actually had a local resident reach out to our mayor, who raised the concept of it,' he said. 'The resident is particularly passionate about it because she lost her father in 2020 to sinus cancer, which they have shared with us, was likely caused by passive smoking. 'As a result of that, she's asked whether we can put in smoke free areas, so we're protecting people in the community.' Semaphore lies in Adelaide's western district, bordering Port Adelaide to the east and West Lakes to the South. It's a popular tourist spot, with the foreshore clock tower, jetty and steam train rides that run from the beach to Fort Glanville and back all drawing in families from the city and interstate. Semaphore is a popular beachside suburb in Adelaide's west. Duncan Evans / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The proposed smoke-free zone would cover the western section of Semaphore Rd. Google Maps Credit: News Corp Australia The retro Odean Star cinema also sits on Semaphore Rd alongside eateries like Zambrero and Yo-Chi. Mr Wilkins said a smoke ban would elevate the strip's attractiveness even further. 'We've got the beach, the cinema, it's very much a place we want to encourage people to come and visit,' he said. 'This proposal would really help create a welcoming environment to come and visit and support our local traders.' Staffers will now prepare a report and interview businesses on the thoroughfare to gauge their position, including the pubs that serve the strip. 'I think it will likely be supported because it's about encouraging people to come and visit,' Mr Wilkins said. Staff will also investigate whether the council has the legal authority to implement the proposed ban. Cancer Council SA senior manager for prevention Christine Morris praised the idea. Semaphore Rd hosts a range of popular eateries. Duncan Evans / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's fantastic to hear that local councils are taking a proactive approach to keeping South Australians safe from the harmful effects of smoking, by making more public spaces smoke-free,' she told NewsWire. 'South Australia is leading the nation in providing smoke-free spaces since new laws were introduced last year and we welcome continued action to protect community members from exposure to second-hand smoking, especially vulnerable people and children.' Semaphore already has some smoke-free zones. In 2021, Mr Wilkins organised a ban on smoking outside public buildings such as libraries and community centres. 'It just makes it such a more welcoming and inviting environment,' he said. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield council areas covers a vast portion of Adelaide's north, stretching from Klemzig in the east to Semaphore in the west and the Osborne naval shipyard in the north.
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Surprise theme in new Qantas business lounge
From the curve and shape of the Flinders Ranges to the stark beauty of Kangaroo Island, iconic South Australian aesthetics dominate the new Qantas business class lounge at Adelaide Airport. Culinary legend Maggie Beer, speaking with NewsWire at the airport on Thursday, said the new lounge had 'raised the bar' and would present travellers with the best of South Australia. 'I love the vibrancy, the open space, the feeling of how grown up this place is, as Adelaide is,' she said. 'There is nowhere else like Adelaide and South Australia.' The new Qantas business class lounge at Adelaide Airport. Duncan Evans/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire Kangaroo Island inspired the central bar space. Duncan Evans/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire Chef Neil Perry crafted the menu at the lounge, with the city's iconic Central Market a key influence. Ms Beer's produce will also feature. Qantas Group chief executive Qantas International Cam Wallace said the lounge would offer business travellers a 'premium in-flight experience.' The new Qantas business class lounge at Adelaide Airport. Duncan Evans/ NewsWire Credit: NewsWire 'For the millions of customers that visit our lounges, we know just how important it is to have a premium pre-flight experience and we're so pleased to be bringing this to Adelaide today,' he said. 'The new lounge has been designed based off feedback and the features we know our customers' value the most.' The 1016 sqm lounge can accommodate 190 customers. It features locally sourced furniture, lighting and natural materials. More to come .
1News
04-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Lake Tarawera locals push for lower sewerage costs
A Lake Tarawera residents' group says lowering sewerage scheme costs for homeowners at the lake is non-negotiable and unaffordability is "not a trivial matter". A member suggested homeowners not sign off on allowing connection works on their properties until they have funding certainty. Rotorua Lakes Council is considering three funding options for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme in its Annual Plan consultation The scheme connects lake properties to Rotorua's reticulated sewerage, replacing septic tanks blamed for declining lake water quality. The most recent cost estimate is $32.2 million, up from $29 million late last year. The council has said protests and court action added expense. Under the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan, Tarawera ratepayers would need to fund $20.9m, but this has now jumped to $21.5m. The council would borrow the money and households would pay it back over time. Under the first funding option — the status quo — the lump-sum cost was $50,315 each, including GST. Paid over 25 years, it would be $3899 a year — including covering the cost of the council holding the debt. This could be split into two rates, one for the main pipeline and the other for connecting to the scheme, with the latter only charged to households that connect. About 446 existing properties and 104 more to be built in the future could be connected. These included public toilets, which the council would pay to connect. The figures reflected a $5286 discount if households agreed by June 1 to having installation work on their properties. So far, 65 properties have given approval for this. Households that missed the deadline would need to pay for the connection themselves. Any who refused to connect may have few options, with the council previously saying septic tanks alone would be non-compliant and upgrades to be compliant were unlikely to get consent with reticulation available nearby. The two other funding options reduced Tarawera households' costs by increasing rates paid by all other Rotorua ratepayers, through the Lakes Enhancement Rate. Option two added $2.80 a year to all ratepayers' bills for 25 years, raising $1m and reducing Tarawera households' contribution to $47,737. Option three raised $4m by increasing rates $11.20 per year, and reduced Tarawera payments to $40,001. At a community meeting on Easter Monday, the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Working Group recommended attendees support option three. Group member Duncan Evans told the meeting option three did not "go far enough". He said the group had told council staff many could not afford the scheme and proposed three non-negotiable conditions. These were to set the maximum cost for Tarawera ratepayers at $36,600; exclude all cost escalations from their bills; and ask Bay of Plenty Regional Council to increase its funding to $1.485m to match Rotorua Lakes Council's contribution. He advised attendees not to sign off on installation plans until they had certainty and a capped charge was agreed. Evans suggested that if the group's maximum was agreed, then homeowners would agree to sign plans within two weeks of that decision. In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting, group chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said the council must negotiate with the Tarawera community before the rates are struck. "This is not a trivial matter. Many community members simply cannot afford to pay for the options council is proposing." Submissions on the Annual Plan are open until May 5. The council's infrastructure and assets group manager, Stavros Michael, encouraged people to make submissions for elected members to consider. "We continue to have discussions with Tarawera property owners and have continued to explore additional funding options to reduce the cost to ratepayers as much as possible." The council hosted a webinar on the scheme options last week. Council chief executive Andrew Moraes answered questions including what happened when someone could not afford the 25-year rate. "The council has a range of policies that address hardship for people who struggle to make rates payments." He encouraged people to reach out before making "significant life decisions" about their property. Moraes said the council intended to seek more funding from the regional council and suggested people write to it for the same. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
03-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
‘Not A Trivial Matter': Lake Tarawera Locals Push For Lower Sewerage Costs
A Lake Tarawera residents' group says lowering sewerage scheme costs for homeowners at the lake is non-negotiable and unaffordability is 'not a trivial matter'. A member suggested homeowners not sign off on allowing connection works on their properties until they have funding certainty. Rotorua Lakes Council is considering three funding options for the Tarawera Sewerage Scheme in its Annual Plan consultation The scheme connects lake properties to Rotorua's reticulated sewerage, replacing septic tanks blamed for declining lake water quality. The most recent cost estimate is $32.2 million, up from $29 million late last year. The council has said protests and court action added expense. Under the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan, Tarawera ratepayers would need to fund $20.9m, but this has now jumped to $21.5m. The council would borrow the money and households would pay it back over time. Under the first funding option - the status quo - the lump-sum cost was $50,315 each, including GST. Paid over 25 years, it would be $3899 a year - including covering the cost of the council holding the debt. This could be split into two rates, one for the main pipeline and the other for connecting to the scheme, with the latter only charged to households that connect. About 446 existing properties and 104 more to be built in the future could be connected. These included public toilets, which the council would pay to connect. The figures reflected a $5286 discount if households agreed by June 1 to having installation work on their properties. So far, 65 properties have given approval for this. Households that missed the deadline would need to pay for the connection themselves. Any who refused to connect may have few options, with the council previously saying septic tanks alone would be non-compliant and upgrades to be compliant were unlikely to get consent with reticulation available nearby. The two other funding options reduced Tarawera households' costs by increasing rates paid by all other Rotorua ratepayers, through the Lakes Enhancement Rate. Option two added $2.80 a year to all ratepayers' bills for 25 years, raising $1m and reducing Tarawera households' contribution to $47,737. Option three raised $4m by increasing rates $11.20 per year, and reduced Tarawera payments to $40,001. At a community meeting on Easter Monday, the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Working Group recommended attendees support option three. Group member Duncan Evans told the meeting option three did not 'go far enough'. He said the group had told council staff many could not afford the scheme, and proposed three non-negotiable conditions. These were to set the maximum cost for Tarawera ratepayers at $36,600; exclude all cost escalations from their bills; and ask Bay of Plenty Regional Council to increase its funding to $1.485m to match Rotorua Lakes Council's contribution. He advised attendees not to sign off on installation plans until they had certainty and a capped charge was agreed. Evans suggested that if the group's maximum was agreed, then homeowners would agree to sign plans within two weeks of that decision. In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting, group chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said the council must negotiate with the Tarawera community before the rates are struck. 'This is not a trivial matter. Many community members simply cannot afford to pay for the options council is proposing.' Submissions on the Annual Plan are open until May 5. The council's infrastructure and assets group manager, Stavros Michael, encouraged people to make submissions for elected members to consider. 'We continue to have discussions with Tarawera property owners and have continued to explore additional funding options to reduce the cost to ratepayers as much as possible.' The council hosted a webinar on the scheme options last week. Council chief executive Andrew Moraes answered questions including what happened when someone could not afford the 25-year rate. 'The council has a range of policies that address hardship for people who struggle to make rates payments.' He encouraged people to reach out before making 'significant life decisions' about their property. Moraes said the council intended to seek more funding from the regional council and suggested people write to it for the same. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Tarawera group pushes back on sewerage scheme costs, seeks funding clarity
The most recent cost estimate is $32.2 million, up from $29 million late last year. The council has said protests and court action added expense. Under the 2024-34 Long-Term Plan, Tarawera ratepayers would need to fund $20.9m, but this has now jumped to $21.5m. The council would borrow the money and households would pay it back over time. Under the first funding option - the status quo - the lump-sum cost was $50,315 each, including GST. Paid over 25 years, it would be $3899 a year - including covering the cost of the council holding the debt. This could be split into two rates, one for the main pipeline and the other for connecting to the scheme, with the latter only charged to households that connect. About 446 existing properties and 104 more to be built in the future could be connected. These included public toilets, which the council would pay to connect. The figures reflected a $5286 discount if households agreed by June 1 to having installation work on their properties. So far, 65 properties have given approval for this. Households that missed the deadline would need to pay for the connection themselves. Any who refused to connect may have few options, with the council previously saying septic tanks alone would be non-compliant and upgrades to be compliant were unlikely to get consent with reticulation available nearby. The two other funding options reduced Tarawera households' costs by increasing rates paid by all other Rotorua ratepayers, through the Lakes Enhancement Rate. Option two added $2.80 a year to all ratepayers' bills for 25 years, raising $1m and reducing Tarawera households' contribution to $47,737. Option three raised $4m by increasing rates $11.20 per year, and reduced Tarawera payments to $40,001. At a community meeting on Easter Monday, the Lake Tarawera Sewerage Working Group recommended attendees support option three. Group member Duncan Evans told the meeting option three did not 'go far enough'. He said the group had told council staff many could not afford the scheme, and proposed three non-negotiable conditions. These were to set the maximum cost for Tarawera ratepayers at $36,600; exclude all cost escalations from their bills; and ask Bay of Plenty Regional Council to increase its funding to $1.485m to match Rotorua Lakes Council's contribution. He advised attendees not to sign off on installation plans until they had certainty and a capped charge was agreed. Evans suggested that if the group's maximum was agreed, then homeowners would agree to sign plans within two weeks of that decision. In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting, group chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said the council must negotiate with the Tarawera community before the rates are struck. 'This is not a trivial matter. Many community members simply cannot afford to pay for the options council is proposing.' Submissions on the Annual Plan are open until May 5. The council's infrastructure and assets group manager, Stavros Michael, encouraged people to make submissions for elected members to consider. 'We continue to have discussions with Tarawera property owners and have continued to explore additional funding options to reduce the cost to ratepayers as much as possible.' The council hosted a webinar on the scheme options last week. Council chief executive Andrew Moraes answered questions including what happened when someone could not afford the 25-year rate. 'The council has a range of policies that address hardship for people who struggle to make rates payments.' He encouraged people to reach out before making 'significant life decisions' about their property. Moraes said the council intended to seek more funding from the regional council and suggested people write to it for the same.
