Latest news with #SouthernSuburbs
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
‘Noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple': Adelaide locals revolt over Tesla plan
Adelaide residents have erupted over a proposal to build a Tesla factory on community land in the city's southern suburbs, labelling the plan 'a noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple to billionaires'. Locals were informed by Marion Council in April that selling off Chestnut Court Reserve in favour of the development of a battery factory, servicing facility and vehicle showroom for the Elon Musk-owned company would reap significant financial rewards. The plan, however, was met with fierce opposition over the loss of public green space and tree coverage, and against the increasingly polarising Musk himself. Roughly 90 per cent (897) of the near 1000 responses to Marion Council's community consultation last month opposed the idea. Just 51 people were in favour. Public sentiment toward the world's richest man has grown progressively hostile, driven by his involvement in US politics. In addition to his vocal support for Donald Trump and the hundreds of millions of dollars in funding he contributed to the President's campaign last year, Musk has become an enthusiastic advocate for right-wing parties around the world. His savage cost-cutting measures as head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has also done him no favours. In response, vandals have targeted Tesla vehicles across the globe, even prompting some owners to disguise their vehicles as other models, or sell them altogether. In Australia, demand for Teslas – once the nation's best-selling electric vehicle brand – has plummeted in recent months. 'Tesla is a horrible business for the City of Marion to even consider providing this land to,' one Marion resident wrote on Facebook, in opposition to the plan. Another described the potential factory as 'a noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple to billionaires'. On a website called 'Trees Not Teslas', community members also warned the facility risks 'bringing protests to the area, gives the community a bad image, and hurts Tonsley's reputation'. City of Marion councillor Sarah Luscombe has urged the council to 'think really carefully' about other options for the state-owned land, which has been closed to the public since 2016 due to heavy contamination. 'If council wants to do more to activate the land then it could be put out to open tender to more local companies who could innovate and do something with the land for conservation biodiversity (and) improve tree canopy,' she told The Advertiser. The proposal is 'unlikely to go ahead' if the council says no to it, Cr Luscombe added. The issue will be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday. Tesla made more than $5 billion in revenue in Australia last year thanks to a 'remarkable turnaround' in its battery division, amid tanking global sales for its vehicles. Per its report for the 2024 calendar year, filed with the Australian Securities and Exchange Commission (ASIC), Tesla Motors Australia's revenue jumped by a third ($1.29 billion) from $3.81bn in 2023 to $5.1bn within 12 months, while profits rose from $39 million to $65m. That profit was in large part due to the sale, installation and operation of its batteries – at both grid and household scale – rather than its cars. Revenue soared nearly five-fold from $580m to $2.55bn between 2023 and 2024, in what Renew Economy described as a 'remarkable turnaround' for Tesla's battery storage arm. It also, for the first time, outpaced Tesla's vehicle sales, which declined from $3.18bn to $2.44bn – a slide that's continued since December. The genesis of Tesla's battery-based profits in Australia lies in a wager Mr Musk made with Aussie tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes a decade ago. At the time, Mr Musk told the Atlassian co-founder Tesla would install a 100-megawatt per hour storage plant, the world's largest lithium battery, in South Australia within a hundred days. Tesla delivered on the promise, prompting Mr Cannon-Brookes to concede he had 'never been more happy to lose a bet'. In late 2024, Tesla sought to find a buyer for the South Australian virtual power plant. That has yet to transpire.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- ABC News
Man on FBI's most wanted list found living in Sydney
Geoffrey John Busch is wanted over an investment scam in Florida in the early 2000s and just months after a renewed FBI effort to track him down, the ABC found him living in Sydney's southern suburbs.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Women's footy club rocked by sick alleged threats to players during match: 'I'll pay $50 to f*** her up'
The Adelaide Footy League has launched an investigation into deeply disturbing allegations made during a senior women's match earlier this month. The claims centre on a runner from a southern suburbs club who allegedly made violent threats toward opposition players during the heated on-field contest. According to a report from News Corp, the runner was overheard saying, 'I'll get her after the game,' and 'I'll pay $50 to f*** her up.' The alleged comments were made during play and reported after the final siren. Players affected by the threats were left shaken and intimidated, prompting swift notification to league officials. League CEO John Kernahan described the matter as extremely serious. 'The circumstances around the allegations don't allow the league any forgiveness at all,' he said. 'There is no chance we will allow anyone to suggest we have abrogated our responsibility.' Kernahan confirmed the investigation would not be rushed. 'Out of an abundance of caution for all, every party needs every opportunity to offer their position,' he said. 'There are always two sides to a story.' The Adelaide Footy League has taken a strong stance on behaviour standards, reaffirming its zero-tolerance approach to threats and abuse on match day. While the league declined to name the club involved, Kernahan confirmed all parties had been cooperative throughout the process. It is understood the runner could face a lengthy ban if found guilty of making the alleged threats. The incident has triggered broader concerns across the women's competition already facing a decline in player numbers. The league is set to lose seven senior women's teams in 2025, with clubs such as Flinders Park, Old Ignatians, and Fitzroy withdrawing sides due to low numbers. 'From 2024 to 2025 we lose seven senior teams, which in effect is one division,' Kernahan said. He linked the drop-off partly to the sharp spike in interest following the launch of AFLW, which may have created inflated expectations around long-term participation. 'There is a distinct difference in motivations to play between junior girls and senior women,' he explained. While women's footy remains strong at the junior level, many clubs are struggling to maintain senior teams. Flinders Park, for example, registered 64 women players in 2022 but has since scaled back. Mark Kearns, women's football director at Flinders Park, said changes in life stages and physical toll were likely factors. 'Some players didn't get to play growing up, joined for a few years, then moved on,' he said. He added that finances, volunteers, and match-day resources also contributed to the challenge of sustaining multiple sides. Still, Kearns remained optimistic. 'We'll retain a strong position in women's football, particularly as good junior numbers move through,' he said. 'These are just growing pains.' Kernahan acknowledged the trend extended beyond the AdFL. 'There's cold comfort that this isn't a local issue,' he said. 'We're seeing it across SA.' He added that it might take another two years before girls who picked up a footy in 2017 reach senior level, helping stabilise participation. While the alleged threats from the weekend match cast a shadow over the competition, league leaders are using it as a timely reminder of what is and isn't acceptable. 'This sort of incident is rare, thankfully,' Kernahan said. 'But we have zero tolerance for it - and that won't change.'
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Sectional title is hot property for first-time buyers in Cape Town
It's no secret that property prices have soared in Cape Town in recent years but there are still excellent investments to be made, especially in the sectional title sector, with 40% of purchasers being first-time buyers looking to get a foot on the ladder of a buoyant property market. 'The Southern Suburbs region is one of the most sought after as it offers many compelling drawcards, including proximity to good schools and the university, a vibrant commercial component and excellent lifestyle and this has seen house prices increase exponentially,' says Brent Towns, sectional-title team leader for Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty in the Southern Suburbs. 'However, for those looking for more accessible pricing or lock-up-and-go convenience, there's a multitude of sectional-title options, especially in Observatory, Salt River, Claremont (Upper and Lower), Wynberg and Wynberg Upper, Rondebosch and Plumstead, with prices averaging R2,250,000, although sectional-title prices in this area range between R800,000 and R1.3m. "Thanks to rampant development in recent years which has seen the number of sectional-title properties soar coupled with rising freehold prices and lifestyle choices, more than 50% of the properties sold are now sectional title with options to suit all budgets and lifestyle needs.' He adds that there is also strong demand from investment buyers, who either buy for their children attending university, for third-party tenants (rental sector), and also for the purposes of having a diversified investment outside of their current metro where they reside. 'Vacancy rates have for the past three years been below 1% in our managed residential property portfolio so there is no shortage of quality tenants, thus supporting the return on investment (ROI).' According to Townes, many buyers have specific wish lists when it comes to sectional-title property, with the most common being: Secure parking, above ground floor, two-bedroom units and amenities like private pools which all signal that buyers value comfort, security and lifestyle perks. A strong trend is pet-friendly schemes – usually a cat and a small dog – subject to Body Corporate approval. Hidden home costs While many buyers enter the market with optimism, understanding the full cost of homeownership and purchasing a sectional-title home is essential. 'While the purchase price is certainly the largest expense, additional costs can quickly add up and they aren't always factored in when buyers set their budgets,' says Townes. Using the average apartment price of R2,250,000, Townes lists the following as costs, some of which are often overlooked, and which can cause significant financial strain if not budgeted for: Bond costs: R52,603 Transfer costs: R97,634 Moving costs: Variable (R10,000+ estimated) Deposit for utilities: Variable (R2,000+) Fibre/Wi-Fi installation: R1,500 – R5,000 (plus monthly costs) Homeowners insurance: R500 – R2,500 per month School registration and uniforms: R5,000+ 'This means that beyond the purchase price, buyers should budget for at least R200,000 – R250,000 in additional upfront costs.'And another cost that is often not given enough consideration is the monthly levy that all sectional-title owners pay to the Body Corporate which covers the management of the complex and includes factors like maintenance and security.' Levies can vary significantly, depending on what facilities are offered and will usually be much higher if there are amenities such as pools and gyms or if security includes manned entrances. 'Townes says that with interest rates expected to decline by 0.25% at the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, bond repayments may become slightly more affordable, however, buyers should still ensure their financial readiness before committing. He offers the following key takeaways for buyers: - Do your homework and ensure that your budget includes all the property-purchase extras such as bond registration, transfer costs, moving expenses, and set-up fees. - Understand your affordability – even a minor interest-rate reduction won't significantly impact affordability in the short term. - Leverage City infrastructure investments – improved infrastructure in certain areas may boost property values over time. - Plan for long-term expenses – monthly levies, insurance, and maintenance costs will continue beyond the initial purchase – check their annual escalation rates in the past and project into the future. 'Buying a sectional-title property in Cape Town is an attractive and potentially lucrative investment, but careful financial planning is essential. By fully understanding all associated costs and what each area offers, buyers can confidently take the next step toward homeownership in this vibrant city,' concludes Townes. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
