Your Views: Letters to the Editor
This week, InDaily readers have their say on a controversial bill for bigger garages and health concerns about the algal bloom crisis.
Responding to ‘Extreme anti-car ideology’: Labor vows to take bigger garage laws to election as bill parked
The most revealing thing about this week’s “garage wars” isn’t the size of the garages but the size of the imagination driving South Australia’s planning system. Faced with a housing affordability crisis, rising congestion and a climate emergency, the State Government has chosen to make bigger garages an election issue—as if our future depends on one more SUV fitting comfortably inside a suburban box.
Both major parties have collapsed the debate into a tug-of-war between “anti-car ideology” and “developer red tape”, while the deeper problem goes untouched: South Australia is planning for a past that no longer exists. Our cities are choked not because people don’t have big enough garages, but because for decades governments have locked us into car dependency, sprawl and a monoculture of detached houses at any cost.
Housing affordability won’t be fixed by mandating bigger garages. It will be fixed by building homes people can actually afford, in communities people can actually move around in—walkable, transit-rich, low-carbon neighbourhoods where a car is an option, not a lifeline.
South Australians deserve a planning debate fit for the 2030s, not one parked permanently in the 1980s. – Stewart Sweeney
All a load of money-grabbing bull – the developers want to shoehorn houses onto as small a block of land as they can get away with, and the Greens and Opposition are helping them to get away with it.
Fancy actually decreasing the size of the garage and then having the gall to suggest that councils need to police on-street parking more rigorously, which will mean more bloody fines for the rate payers who voted the council in, who are supposed to work for the good of the community, not themselves – most of them are nothing but parasites. – Steve Coppin
For once, I agree with the Labor Party – on this matter.
Small allotments, bigger houses, insufficient storage space, single garages that require the passengers to exit the vehicle before entering, so often the garage is used for other purposes, and their cars go to the street.
You only need to visit these pockets of infill sites that are targeted for medium-density developments, if, of course, you can drive down the street and find a park!
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If, one day, cars are no longer needed, people can apply to their council (if they still exist) to convert their double garage into whatever room(s) they require.
Their hoverboards of “Jetson” vehicles can hover in the driveway on an electronic lock. – John Bannister
I think the idea of individuals having their own garage parking space in their own homes has merit.
It will get cars off the local streets, reducing the congestion.
It may also encourage people to buy smaller cars, which would be better for our environment.
It would make the individual become more responsible for reducing the pollution they create.
What is happening with rainwater tanks and solar panels? I hope there are some government bills that cover these issues as well.
The building industry needs to look closely at providing homes that include off-street parking, solar panels and rainwater tanks. – Maria Morris
It’s absurd that the government is branding anyone questioning them as an “anti-car extremist”. They’ve presented no evidence that their proposed legislation will work, and there is a massive amount of research showing that it will make housing even more unaffordable.
If Labor wants to get cars off the streets, it should campaign on better public transport.
Bigger garages make a great press release, but fail to achieve anything. – Jamie Taylor
Make sure new houses are set back enough so that big utes can be outside on the driveway, and the house then has one enclosed garage big enough for normal cars. If a third car is required, the council can issue overnight parking permits with conditions so neighbours are not inconvenienced. – Phil and Marg Lawrence
There was a touch of hubris in our premier huffing and puffing in the media about his bill being defeated, and blaming the Opposition in an attempt to score points ahead of the election. I wonder if the premier ever thinks he gets it wrong or if it’s always someone else’s fault? He did seem to be playing the victim. – Dan Schmidt
Responding to ‘Unholy alliance’: Critics slam big garages bill set to force cars off SA streets
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I completely agree with the UDIA, PCA and the Greens on this, but it’s almost burying the lead. In the Minister’s speech to parliament, he outlined a series of changes to the Planning and Design Code which he intends to implement in order to facilitate this. This would result in ugly houses that have no interface with the street.
No front door, a tiny window (which can be a window into the garage) – this would remove all passive surveillance, which is the pillar on which most of the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) rest.
If the Minister wants an election issue, I would say that “encouraging more crime on our streets” isn’t a great look … – Ned Feary
This is an unethical political stunt by the Greens and Liberals. Walk down any street these days, and the number of cars parked outside homes has more than doubled. I live in Shelley Ave, Fulham Gardens. We used to be able to navigate comfortably, but now every block being rebuilt is with two double garage homes, and if they have two kids (and kids are living at home longer), there are four cars, and they park two on the street rather than in their driveway.
The proposed legislation makes sense to me, and most residents would agree, but unfortunately, only those vocal in the media get to speak, and politicians who object for political gain are of poor character. The sad part is that all politicians of this ilk are self-centred and do not care about the people. – Andre D’Souza
Responding to SA experts launch own human health research over harmful algal bloom
The fact that South Australian experts have had to develop their own health reporting system speaks volumes. For months, coastal communities have been reporting breathing issues, eye irritation, sore throats and real mental health impacts, yet our public data remains patchy and slow.
When a disaster affects thousands of kilometres of coastline, our environment, our tourism sector, our seafood industry and the health of local residents, it deserves a coordinated and transparent response. The community should not be left to fill the gaps itself.
This is a national disaster and should be treated as such. As an independent candidate for Unley, I will continue to call for full transparency, long-term monitoring and real investment in understanding and addressing the causes and the health impacts of this crisis. – Ryan Harrison
Responding to SA only state with no govt funds for homelessness peak body
Obviously, it’s an appalling state of affairs. I’ve no doubt there is sufficient money available to ensure that these vulnerable homeless individuals are provided for. Australia isn’t a third world country; politicians and the relevant governing bodies must act immediately to address this situation. Insufficient funding is given to ensure that those with mental health issues are cared for. The taxpayer surely pays enough to cover the costs of managing those in our society who are in such confronting circumstances. – Shirley Broomhall
I’m a landlord. I wanted to rent to the homeless a newly renovated house at $50-60 below market rate, so it was affordable on Jobseeker. I approached homeless organisations, and they wouldn’t take my listing. I then had to pay for advertising. I got a tenant with a bond certificate and two weeks’ rent. I had to chase up the government department weeks later to process it.
I had other people who saw the ad late and were living in their car in another state. I split my house in a hurry and furnished it ($3000 and I don’t negative gear) so they would have a separate living area and charged a small weekly fee so I could issue a lease and not have squatter problems. Again, I am having problems getting what is less than $150 for rent and a two-week bond out of the government. They are a bloody disgrace. – Tracey Hoolachan
Responding to Canola vs copper: Industries kick off over Liberal bill ‘sabotage’
Yet another example of Liberal policy being based on “offering a point of difference to Labor policy” rather than being a considered policy in its own right. Angus Taylor described the abandonment of net zero in similar terms. Liberal opposition across the country has become as shallow as piss on a footpath. – Andrew Phillis
Responding to SA loses one of its oldest food brands to interstate owners
So sad. I have always bought these brands. Love the gherkins and sauces. – Gloria Maria
I’m guessing the SA company going to NSW will change the lot to make it not the same. With an allergic reaction to fish, it was one of the very few who left the anchovies out of the Worcestershire sauce. – Andrew Ridge
Responding to Axed Flinders Uni algal bloom expert tells true cost of crisis
Thanks, Jochen Kaempf, for all your sound work and for your advice. The most effective thing we can do right now is research to learn to understand the bloom. You have given us the yardstick by which we can all understand the efforts of governments, universities and not-for-profits, and just how seriously they take the care of our environment. – Mike Rungie
