Your views: Letters to the Editor
Responding to The next big reform for South Australia
Living on the central beaches, we feel our rights are continually being eroded by this government by their indecision and delay, resulting in continual erosion of our beaches to the benefit of the northern beaches. – Alan Young
Responding to State Budget 2025: The key measures
Once again, still nothing for the lower South East. I’m fairly sure if Barker was a Labor stronghold, we’d see some money miraculously appear. – John Spehr
Responding to Council balance sheets must resemble a lawyer’s picnic
The majority of the residents “on the plain” don’t want to move to Campbelltown Council area, as you imply. Both the Adelaide Hills Council and Campbelltown have extensively and individually surveyed residents during the nearly six years that this hostile takeover bid has been running. In both cases, a very clear majority of residents said no to the proposal. Campbelltown Council ignored the results of its own professionally conducted survey and has pushed ahead. It simply ignored its own “consultation” and the wishes of residents in the takeover area – all in pursuit of almost $2 million in annual rates. – Steve Swann, Secretary, Morialta Residents’ Association
How do we attract different people with varied skillsets into the council chamber? Councillors in Queensland receive remuneration of between $61,000 and $171,000 per year (which includes councils smaller than any we have here in SA), making it a much more attractive proposition for people needing to balance paid employment or their own small business with an elected role. In terms of elected member composition, in Victoria, most councils have smaller elected bodies, generally with five to nine elected members – as anyone with experience on a committee can attest to, smaller groups generally lead to improved efficiency and effectiveness in decision-making. Smithson is correct, there must be a better way of running all local councils. – Joel Taggart
Responding to Uncertain future for oldest South Australian student publication
I was saddened to see the news about On Dit. As a new writer, I contributed to On Dit several times, and I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that the experience contributed to the trajectory my career took after uni. Maybe you can be an award-winning author, a #1- New York Times bestseller, discipline lead of a creative writing department, or whatever else I’ve managed without learning the hard way about deadlines, editorial tastes, and style sheets, but it’s bound to be a lot harder! In a world full of social media journalism and the threat of AI, new Australian writers need training grounds more than ever. If they can’t find one at Australia’s largest university, where are they going to go? – Dr Sean Williams
Responding to Romilly House set for significant transformation
Bravo! So pleased. Perfect use for a property that needs salvation and for people who need security, independence and support. Thrilled! – Bunty Parsons
Stay informed, daily
Bulldoze the lot. To expect this to provide accommodation for disabled people is stupidity. –Daryl Anderson
If you see the archival photograph of this building, you will see that it had a beautiful cantilevered balcony wrapping around it. If it is to be restored and a tower developed behind, surely the balcony could be reinstated to complete the building, as it isn’t done at this stage, it is unlikely ever to be put back. – Sandy Wilkinson
It will be great to see this gateway State Heritage place properly restored to its former beauty. Any restoration should include the return of the original verandas and balconies, and the removal of the paint to showcase the bluestone walls. Not too sure about the residential tower behind it, however, it might help hide the brutalist 1960s North Terrace House that should never have been built. – David Cree
