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In touch with the community - November/December 2023
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Council news...
Several key reports were considered by Council Members at the November Council meeting, including adoption of the 2022/23 Annual Report and Financial Statements, and completion of an affordable housing study undertaken in partnership with Tatiara District Council, Naracoorte Lucindale Council, and Southern Mallee District Council.

A draft Flag Flying Policy was endorsed for community engagement; feedback will be invited in early 2024.

A new Driveway & Property Access Policy was also adopted - this policy provides clarity on constructing and maintaining driveways, and access across road verges and footpaths.

Members were also advised of a number of maintenance actions that have been completed at the Coonalpyn Swimming Pool to ensure it is ready to welcome pool visitors this season.
 
To view the meeting agenda and minutes in full, please visit our website.

The My Local Services app delivers information about council services to communities for the participating SA councils, including Coorong District Council.
Download it from the App Store here.

What's in this month's Newsletter
Latest News
Tailem Bend Train Park - New Fence Complete! 
On Tuesday, 14th November Council celebrated the completion of the new fence at the Tailem Bend Train Park with the Tailem Bend Primary School.

This project was presented as an idea to the Mayor and elected members by the Tailem Bend Primary School during a visit to the Council chambers as something students would like to see happen within their community.

To celebrate the Tailem Bend Primary School were invited to attend a quick assembly in the park with the Mayor followed by a sausage sizzle cooked thanks to the Lions Club of Tailem Bend, as well as some playtime on the playground and much beloved train before heading back to school.

The new fence improves access and safety for those enjoying the playground while also giving the park a new and more modern look.

This project was externally funded through the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program
Let's talk.....
Let's talk about... The Proposed Sale of Surplus Land - Tenth Street, Tailem Bend

Consisting of 10,000 square metres, the land at Tenth Street (115 Princess Hwy), Tailem Bend was previously home to the Tailem Bend Tennis Club who have recently relocated to Jaensch Park.

The land is now considered vacant and surplus to Council’s needs. An Options Paper has been developed to understand the various opportunities for the site.

A copy of the options paper is available to be viewed at any Council office or online www.coorong.sa.gov.au.

Feedback is now invited from the community via online survey, email, post or in person until 5pm on Friday, 5 January 2024. 
Findout more and prvide feedback here
Projects Update
Tailem Bend and Tintinara’s median strips have received another tidy up with mowing  and built up dirt and debris removed from the road edge.
 
The unsealed roads program has seen re-sheeting works completed on a 2km section of Homestead Road, Tintinara and works continue on a section of Heym Road, Sherlock.

The reconstruction of 11.8km of  the fourth and final section of Poltalloch Road is now complete. Extensive works involved the restabilising of the existing deteriorated pavement,  reinforcing two heavy vehicle entrances, sealing and line marking.
 
The stormwater upgrade on Railway Tce, Tailem Bend is now complete with new pits and culverts installed, kerb and footpaths replaced and line marking complete.

Rehabilitation of the service road next to the Ampol service station in Tailem Bend is now complete, significantly improving vehicle access.

Pictured below: Line Marking Complete, Poltalloch Road; AMPOL Service Road rehabilitation complete in Tailem Bend, and Princes Highway, Tintinara median strip works. 
 
Coorong Galleries

2023-24 Student Art Show
In December the Coorong Gallery will be hosting an exhibition featuring art works by our district's talented local school students at the Coorong Gallery in Tailem Bend.

Exhibition Opening:

Thursday, 7 December 2023

10:30am - 12:30pm

Light refreshments available, please RSVP to Patsy Crabb via pcrabb@coorong.sa.gov.au or on 1300 785 277.

Exhibition dates:  7 December 2023 until 1 February 2024

Viewing Times: Mon - Fri, 9am - 4:30pm
(subject to availability of the Council Chambers - excluding Council's Christmas Closure)

Talking Tourism
New Murray River Lakes and Coorong Visitor Guide
The New Murray River Lakes and Coorong visitor guide is hot off the presses and we can't wait to get our hands on some! 

There are some great highlights on some of our local businesses, places to go and things to see across the Coorong District so keep your eyes out for a hard copy in one of the local visitor information outlets in the near future! 
Check out the new guide online on the link in the post below!
Community Events & Opportunities
Limestone Coast/Mallee - SA - Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer 2024
Black Dog Ride's iconic annual 1 Dayer aims to start a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention. Help get the country talking and join your local 1 Dayer on 17th March 2024.
 
8 Australians take their lives every single day, that's one Aussie every 3 hours losing their life to the black dog.

On the third Sunday of March, Black Dog Ride is uniting under one banner with one voice on one single day to amplify a national message of hope, awareness and prevention. Let's get the conversation started, register for the Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer 2024 today!
Find out more & Register
Volunteer News
Appreciation for the Lions Club of Tailem Bend!
The Lions Club of Tailem Bend cooked up a storm on behalf of Council while celebrating the new fence at the Tailem Bend Playground with the Tailem Bend Primary School. 

It's thanks to our community, sporting and service clubs like the Lions Club of Tailem Bend that our communities continue to benefit from the amazing volunteer work they do - Thank you!
Tailem Bend Football Club AGM - 11Dec, 6pm
Your Club, Your Community.
Business News

Barrista Essentials Training - 7-8 Dec 2023
Skilled Baristas with a flair for perfecting a Café Latte, Cappuccino, Espresso, Flat White, Long Black, Piccolo Latte, Mocha, Ristretto and Short & Long Macchiato are in high demand.

Cafés and Restaurants are one of the biggest sources of employment growth in Australia and this Employment Pathway will help gain direct employment within the hospitality industry.

Learn how to:

  • Organise coffee workstations
  • Select and grind coffee beans
  • Advise customers and take espresso coffee orders
  • Extract and monitor quality of espresso
  • Undertake milk texturing process
  • Serve espresso coffee beverages
Find out more

White Card Training Session - 12 Dec:

Learn how to:
  • Identify WHS legislative requirements
  • Identify construction hazards and control measures
  • Identify basic principles of risk management
  • Identify WHS communication and reporting processes
  • Identify WHS incident response procedures
  • Identify safety signs and symbols

To work on a building site in Australia it is a requirement that every person holds a valid general induction card, also known as a ‘White Card’.

Find out more

HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid - 13 December 2023

Learn how to:

  • Assess the casualty and recognise the need for First Aid response
  • Respond to an emergency situation
  • Apply appropriate First Aid procedure
  • Perform CPR procedures
  • Communicate details of the incident
  • Evaluate the incident and own performance

This unit of competency applies to all people who may be required to preserve life and provide First Aid.

Occupations necessitating this competency include workers in Police, Correctional Services, Teaching, Education Support, Early Childhood and Community Services.

This unit of competency is to be updated every three (3) years.

Find out more

Provide responsible service of alcohol - 12 Dec 2023

Learn how to:

  • Sell or serve alcohol responsibly 
  • Provide accurate information to customers on alcoholic beverages 
  • Prepare and serve standard drinks or samples according to industry requirements and professional standards 
  • Assist customers to drink within appropriate limits 
  • Assess alcohol affected customers and identify those to whom sale or service must be refused
  • Use appropriate communication and conflict resolution skills to handle difficult situations 
This unit of competency is a minimum requirement for people serving any form of alcoholic beverage.
Find out more
South Australian Businesses: Elevate your impact with the $122M Economic Recovery Fund

The $122 million Economic Recovery Fund (ERF) aims to assist business and industry in key areas to grow secure, well paid jobs, improve productivity, increase exports and support innovative, value adding technologies in South Australia.

Two core streams are available:
  1. Manufacturing Innovation - Grants up to $2M and loans to $5M, with a 50% government co-contribution.
  2. Regional Tourism Infrastructure - Boost tourism in areas like Barossa & Clare Valley. Grants to $1M and loans to $5M, with a 30% co-contribution.
Apply by 15 December 2023.
Find out more
Coorong Libraries
Coorong Libraries are always open online
 
Did you know our Coorong Libraries are always open online? If you have a Libraries SA One Card you will have access to a wealth of digital media including:
  • Digital Magazines and Newspapers
  • eBooks and Audio books
  • Family History Research
  • Online Learning
  • Plus all the other great things you can find at your local Library!
You will find your local Coorong Library in Coomandook, Meningie, Tailem Bend, Tintinara and Coonalpyn.
Find out more
School holiday & Christmas closure dates for your local Coorong Library
 
Have Your Say
Have your say on ideas and suggestions for changing the way councils operate in South Australia

Have your say on ideas and suggestions for changing the way councils operate in South Australia

The Office of Local Government is conducting a state-wide consultation to give community an opportunity to provide feedback on ideas and suggestions on how communities can better engage with their councils through a council term and, particularly, at election time.

This review and consultation will focus on these key topics:
  • ways to better engage and participate with councils;
  • ways to encourage a greater number of more diverse candidates for election to councils;
  • ways to increase voter turnout; and
  • ways to ensure that council elections are run efficiently, with the highest level of integrity.

The aim of this consultation is to inform reform proposals and the development of the bill to amend local government legislation.

Find out more, read the Local Government Participation and Elections Review Discussion Paper or Summary Paper and take the survey at https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/council-participation-elections


Consultation closes 1 March 2024
Find out more and take the survey here
Help make South Australia's coastal and inland waters safer
The first ever South Australian Recreational Boating Safety Strategy is being drafted. It will outline a 5-year plan that focuses on improving safety for recreational boaters and others who share our state’s coastal and inland waters.

Your feedback will help unearth issues and contribute to solutions that enhance safety across our coastline and waterways. The more input received, the better equipped we'll be to create positive change.

Find out more and have your say at https://marinesafety.sa.gov.au/south-australian-recreational-boating-safety-strategy

Survey closes 5 January 2024.
Find out more and take the survey here
Give your input to the The Emergency Management Act 2004 Review
The Review aims to:
  • identify opportunities to improve the current legislation, ensuring it remains fit-for-purpose and meets evolving challenges and,
  • ensure our state is best equipped to appropriately prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant emergencies
It is now timely to review this legislation as the scale, impacts and consequences of recent emergencies such as the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and the River Murray Flooding Event have far exceeded all other events since the commencement of the Act.

Your feedback on these documents, will help draft a written report with recommendations to the Premier.

View the documents and complete the survey online here

Consultation closes 30 January 2024.
Find out more and give your feedback
Have your say in the priorities for the new Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre
Are you a local business owner, a boaty, or a pastoralist? Do you have a passion for the environment? Or do you value the cultural significance of our region? The CLLMM wants to hear from you!

Goolwa is home to the new Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre. To establish the impacts on climate change to the region, the CLLMM Research Centre will develop an evidence-base that will identify future management actions to support the CLLMM’s biodiversity and ecosystem services. Most importantly, the research and engagement activities will be based on the collaboration between First Nations, the community, management agencies and researchers. 

The CLLMM Research Centre would like to hear from everyone in the community to better understand the values that are most important to the community of the CLLMM region. The CLLMM will use these to guide their research and future engagement activities.  

For information visit, www.cllmmresearchcentre.org or follow the link to the survey
Find out more and take the survey here
Grants and Funding
Coorong District Council has developed a dedicated 'Grants in Your Community' webpage which provides interested community members with the latest information on grants available.
Grants in Your Community
A number of new grant opportunities are available for interested persons, community groups and businesses within community development, sporting, tourism, pest and weed control, environmental, primary producer, business, and arts categories.
Health and Wellbeing
Coonalpyn Holiday Swim
5 Day Program - 2- 6 January 2024

Holiday Swim is the only seasonal water safety education program to access the Swim and Survive program, and it is run across 40+ locations throughout the December and January holidays.

The Swim and Survive program is a Royal Life Saving program which has been ingrained in South Australian water safety programs for over 50 years. The program teaches children of all ages and abilities essential water safety and survival skills.


Programs available:
  • Little Wonderl Levels W2-W4 and Level 1 are 30 minute 
  • Swim and Survive Level 2 - 11 and Bronze Star lessons are 45 minutes
  • Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross,  lessons are 1 hour 
Find out more & Book now
Tailem Bend VACSWIM - enrollments are open! 
Block 3 (08/01/2024 to 12/01/2024
 
Whether you're looking to develop your water safety skills or just want to have some fun in the water, VACSWIM has a program that's suitable for all participants aged 3 to 12 years – with extension programs for those aged 13 to 15 years.

With a range of levels, locations and experienced instructors you can be sure that VACSWIM will provide an unforgettable experience.
 

Location Offerings:

  • Pre School (ages 3 to 4 years)

  • Levels 1 - 7

Find out more & Book now

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. 

The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Find out more
Are you heading outdoors this weekend?
Please remember to Cover Up and Repel
Find out more & Fight the Bite
Fire Danger Season is now in effect for all Fire Ban Districts across the state. Let's work together to keep our communities safe!

Make sure you know what activities are affected by Fire Danger Season and Total Fire Ban days – like burnoffs, campfires, and BBQs.

Brush up on what you can and can't do during the Fire Danger Season 
Find out what you can and can't do during Fire Danger Season
Coorong Conversations Matter
Share a little bit of sunshine with Sunflowers

Coorong Conversations Matter are encouraging everyone in the district to have a little fun and spread a little sunshine by getting together and planting Sunflowers.

Plant your sunflower seeds in a spot where the flowers will be seen by those passing by when they flower, e.g. front yard.

The Sunflower seeds will flower approximately 80-95 days after planting which means that we will, hopefully, be a community of cheerful colour before Christmas.

Sunflower seeds have been purchased by Coorong Conversations Matter and will be available in select locations including:
  • Meningie Info Hub
  • Tailem Bend Civic Centre
  • Tintinara Customer Service Centre
  • Coorong Libraries
  • Pauline Linke directly 0409 617 501
For more information please contact Pauline on 0409 617 501
Your Natter Matters: Ask R U OK?

Give the gift of conversation because your natter matters. 
A simple chat can mean everything to a friend or loved one who might be struggling.  
Visit the RUOK website for more information.




 
Useful mental health and wellbeing sources:

Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling – 1800 011 046​

Heads Up has all sorts if resources for staff and managers', in particular if you are concerned about someone’s mental health and wellbeing and are unsure where to start and what to say.
Connect with your community
Did you know there are local papers and publications throughout our district that help connect and share information across our community?

Tailem Topics

The Tailem Topics is a monthly publication produced, printed, and distributed by the Tailem Bend Progress Association and local volunteers. View the online edition on their website here.

The Lakelander

The Lakelander is a community newspaper for the district of Meningie on Lake Albert and surrounding towns, including Meningie, Narrung, Raukkan, Coonalpyn and Salt Creek. View the online edition on their website here or ask to be added to their mailing list by emailing lakelander@internode.on.net.

Coonalpyn Community Hub Newsletter

Distributed to residents and businesses across the Coonalpyn, Tintinara, Sherlock, Peake and surrounding areas.
What's On
30 Nov

1-3 Dec


6 Dec
9 Dec
9-15 Dec

19 Dec
20 Dec
Coomandook Community Carols

mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship @ The Bend Motorsport Park
Blue Bight - Christmas Theme Disco
Tailem Bend Christmas Parade
Enchanted Experience at the Tailem Bend Community Centre
Sherlock Community Christmas Tree
Coomy Christmas Show
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Copyright © 2023 Coorong District Council. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Coorong District Council
PO Box 399
Tailem Bend SA 5260
Australia

Email: council@coorong.sa.gov.au
Phone: 1300 785 277

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