Media response - Christmas and New Year messages
Published on 13 December 2024
Response to the Fleurieu Sun.
- The journalist asked for Christmas/end-of-year messages from the mayor and CEO for the paper's readers.
MAYOR MOIRA WERE AM
As 2024 draws to close I want to celebrate a few of our wonderful achievements this year.
We worked with a record number of community members to create our Community Vision 2034 for a connected community and a sustainable future.
So many of our projects in 2024 contribute to that vision. Our state and federal government funding partners joined with us to deliver for our whole community.
We continued our program to upgrade 21 intersections across the region, including in McLaren Vale, so they’re safer for all travellers.
Our cycling and walking trails are expanding. The latest additions are the 5.8km Willunga to Aldinga path and the 800m trail connecting McLaren Vale and Tatachilla Road.
We completed Stage 1 of Aldinga Sports Park, hosting multiple sports, and an upgrade of Knox Park in Morphett Vale, with facilities for competition-level athletics. Congratulations to the team who delivered the award-winning Aldinga Sports Park.
We achieved sustainability and climate-resilience standards for the new 800-home development at Aldinga and will pursue the same standards for the 3,600-home precinct planned for Port Stanvac.
Our new Coastal Adaptation Plan deepens our action to respond to changes in our climate impacting our precious coast.
Our green credentials took another step forward with the launch of One Tree Per Child to encourage every child to plant at least one tree before leaving school, adding to our existing efforts to plant 100,00 trees by 2037.
Onkaparinga is about community. So much of what we achieve is through working together, including with our wonderful volunteers. I thank each and every one of you.
On behalf of the City of Onkaparinga, I wish you, and those around you, a safe, sustainable and connected holiday season and start to the new year.
PHU NGUYEN, CEO
What a year! 2024 has been filled with highlights and, of course, some challenges, but I’m really proud of the way the community and our staff have stayed connected, supportive and resilient.
Next year promises to be even bigger. There are so many projects and plans I’m excited about, and also plenty of things on our Christmas wish list.
The state government’s recent announcement about unlocking Port Stanvac presents us with a unique, one-off opportunity to drive economic, social and environmental benefits for our city.
In 2025, we’ll invest a lot of time and effort in advocating for this development to strike a good balance between affordable housing, employment land, and the preservation of the stunning coastline.
Meanwhile, we’re developing a housing and homelessness strategy to further support the community and respond to the housing crisis.
Council projects I’m excited about in 2025 include major refurbishments of Noarlunga’s beloved Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga Aquatic Centre and Port Noarlunga’s Wearing Street aquatic precinct, while the much-anticipated Witton Bluff Base Trail will connect Christies Beach and Port Noarlunga for the first time.
Overall, I’m looking forward to building the council’s financial resilience, but doing it in a way that limits the impact on ratepayers and residents.
As always, we want to work with you to ensure Onkaparinga remains the best place to live, and we value your feedback, your passion and your commitment to your community.
Have a great Christmas and New Year and I’ll see you in 2025.
ENDS