Community feedback addressed
During the Easter Market held Saturday 30 April 2024 Council Members made themselves available to meet with members of the community to hold discussions, answer questions and take suggestions regarding matters affecting our city. This was the first ‘Listening Post’ held during the term of this Council, and the feedback indicates it was very well received. The holding of Listening Posts is an excellent opportunity for Council Members to talk directly with residents and represent the community.
Mayor Phill Stone said ‘’we had an exceptional response from the community, this was a great initiative to allow the community to speak directly to our councillors. It was fundamental we did this so the community could see we are dedicated to listening to their questions and queries and working to address them.’’
Please see below a few of the questions addressed, if you would like to read the rest of the feedback, please click here to access the May 20 agenda, from pages 79 to 88.
Beach locked Changing Places toilet – how do we get them unlocked? Suggested explanation signage should be displayed on site.
Changing Places are locked using a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK) – they are locked to protect the system from vandalism and misuse, guaranteeing they are reserved for the people who really need them. The MLAK is an innovative system that enables people with disabilities to gain 24/7 access to a network of public facilities. They can be orderedonline at https://masterlocksmiths.com.au/mlak-order-form/ or the online form can be printed and taken into a locksmith. MLAK keys are $25 inclusive of GST.
Signage will be ordered and displayed at the site along with implementing some community education.
What goes in what bin?
In short; all organic waste can go into the green bin. Cardboard, hard plastic, glass, aluminium, paper and metal are recyclables and go into the yellow bin. Nappies, mixed rubbish, dirty recyclables, clothes, shoes, broken crockeries are general waste and go into the red bin.
Please refer to the links below for more detailed information;
https://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/services/waste-and-recycling/managewaste
https://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/services/waste-and-recycling
Shopping trolleys – can council use the app and ring supermarkets?
Our Customer Service Team will direct customer enquiries to the Trolley Tracker website or relevant phone number if reported and also assist residents with reporting if required. Compliance Officers will report any abandoned trolleys if found in the course of duty. The Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act has recently undergone some amendments regarding abandoned shopping trolleys and these amendments include:
- Shopping trolleys are to be identified
- Shopping trolleys must be collected within 3 business days of notification
- Councils have the ability to require retailers to develop plans of action to prevent or minimise abandonment of trolleys.
Council’s media team has promoted the Trolley Tracker website, app and phone number to enable residents to help improve the situation. A number of comments were received regarding trolleys being reported but not picked up, these will be passed on to the supermarkets.
Council will meet with supermarket management teams to develop strategies to reduce trolley abandonment and should supermarkets not comply with their requirements under the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act, compliance activities will commence. Note also that the matter of shopping trolleys has been captured within Council’s ‘City Amenity’ project.
Rubbish out the front of houses.
Council have commenced placing tape around illegal dumping and should, upon investigation, the offender be identified, an expiation notice is issued. Council is currently investigating a renewed program of illegal dumping of rubbish on verges. A pilot program in collaboration with Council’s verge maintenance crew is currently underway, with the outcome of the Pilot to be reported to Council at the June meeting as part of a report outlining a program of actions that will go towards ‘City Amenity’.
Potholes around the city.
Once a request is received via the My Local Services app, a customer request is raised. Otherwise, it will be part of our programmed works as we move from zone to zone. Council programs pothole inspections and repairs based on zones throughout the city which are checked on a regular basis. If new potholes are noticed by the community, it is recommended that they put through a customer request using the app for follow-up and repair. Once a customer request is received, the pothole will be assessed on the basis of risk and programmed accordingly. The app is regularly promoted via Council’s social and media channels.
If you didn’t get a chance to attend the Listening Post, we encourage regular and ongoing community feedback to help us continually improve and ensure we’re aware of issues that need addressing.
You can do this by:
- Discussing it with any of your elected council members (contact details on our website: https://bit.ly/3EOlPwL)
- Using the My Local Services app - detail here: https://bit.ly/42zLW4x
- Heading to the 'Contact Us' section of our website: https://bit.ly/3nRW6hS
- Emailing council@whyalla.sa.gov.au
- Direct messaging via our Facebook page
- Calling 8640 3444
- Visiting our Civic Building on Grundel Street
