Murray Bridge council watch: What to do about European wasps?

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What’s with all the European wasps around Murray Bridge this summer, and what can be done about them?

Councillor Andrew Baltensperger asked the question at last week’s Murray Bridge council meeting.

“There’s been a huge surge in the amount of these things around,” he said.

Could the council move in and remove wasp nests if residents found them, as some councils in Adelaide apparently did?

Council Thuyen Vi-Alternetti said no – it was only the council’s responsibility to clear out wasps in public places, like around rubbish bins in parks.

“If it’s on private property, that needs to be referred to … a pest controller,” she said.

But some councils in Adelaide offered free wasp nest removal to their residents, Cr Baltensperger said.

“Perhaps we could get them to do ours as well,” Mayor Wayne Thorley suggested, tongue in cheek.

• More information: Visit www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au and click on “vermin, pests and animals”.

High-speed rail is worth considering, CEO says

Murraylands residents’ dream of a high-speed rail connection to Adelaide is still alive – just.

Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley and council CEO Heather Barclay met a fortnight ago with Luigi Rossi, a former transport department executive turned advocate for high-speed rail.

Mr Rossi’s plan for an improved rail link to Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend was “very aspirational and visionary”, Ms Barclay said – meaning it was unlikely to happen in the short term.

But it was still worth considering, she said.

Council staff reduce costs by almost $1 million

The Murray Bridge council has copped some flak from ratepayers over the years for employing too many staff and consultants.

So Cr Airlie Keen was sincere last Monday night when she commended staff for finding more than $960,000 worth of savings in the first half of the 2023-24 financial year.

“We all know that we’re facing a range of cost pressures and … there’s not an appetite in this chamber to raise rates, so the challenging task of finding savings has been put on our administration,” Cr Keen said.

“I think they’ve done an amazing effort.”

It was impressive that staff had been able to find the savings without making significant cuts to services, Mayor Wayne Thorley said.

• Read more: How does Murray Bridge’s 6.9 per cent rate rise compare to other councils?

Quote of the month

“Since that’s redundant, can we have $50,000 for fireworks at New Year’s Eve?”

–Cr Andrew Baltensperger, with regard to a budget allocation for a silo artwork viewing area that was not needed any more