Murray Bridge council watch: Players and Singers offered $100k loan for renovations
Plus the latest on the Diamond Park Christmas tree, an Italian memorial, a property rate review and more.
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Murray Bridge’s councillors have unanimously approved a $100,000 loan to help a local theatre company renovate its rehearsal shed.
Under the council’s new loans policy, community groups are able to apply for loans in situations where an ordinary community grant might be too small or not timely.
Councillors approved one of the first such loans, to Murray Bridge Players and Singers, at a special meeting on Monday night.
The loan will be contingent on the group winning funding from other sources for its building project, which will have a total budget of around $570,000.
In time, MBPS hopes to build a new kitchenette, accessible toilet and singing rehearsal room to its Short Street premises; to install a sprung dance floor and audiovisual equipment; and to complete other works to bring the building up to code.
The company most recently presented a production of British musical comedy Stepping Out in Murray Bridge; and will present a youth version of The Spongebob Musical and a Paris-themed cabaret this year.
Diamond Park pine tree’s lights may go dim
Meanwhile: how much would you pay to fix up the lights on the big Christmas tree in Murray Bridge’s Diamond Park?
How does $100,000 to $150,000 sound?
That’s the figure council staff came up with for a “suitably qualified contractor” to get the job done.
Cr Andrew Baltensperger had asked about the lights in the middle section of the tree, which hadn’t been working for several years.
Staff suggested the lights on that part of the tree could be replaced for $20,000, but that it would make more sense to do the whole lot and have them last.
The council has not committed to pursuing the idea.
Italian memorial wins broad support
A proposed Italian memorial in the heart of Murray Bridge has won overwhelming support from the local community.
The city’s council received 40 public comments about the idea during a recent consultation period, of which 38 were positive.
However, a business owner expressed concerns about the red, green and white lighting which may illuminate the statue at night.
The council voted to continue a conversation with that business owner before giving the Murray Bridge and Districts Italian Association final approval to build the memorial.
- Read more: Monument to Italian community proposed
Property rate review options narrowed down
Two options remain on the table as the Murray Bridge council revises its property rates policy ahead of its 2025-26 budget.
Over the coming months, ratepayers will be asked whether they want to keep the current rating model, under which they pay a variable amount but with a minimum bill of $1152; or change to a new model, where they’d pay a lesser amount, but add a $750 charge on top.
Yes, $750 is less than $1152, but most residential property owners would actually pay more under the new arrangement.
Yet a majority came out in favour of the new model during an initial round of consultation, held over the Christmas and New Year period.
Several councillors expressed concerns that may be people hadn’t quite got their heads around the proposal.
Cr John DeMichele encouraged everyone to have their say during a second consultation period, coming up soon.
“I strongly recommend that the public get involved, see the difference and see what they’re up for,” he said.
“We really will treasure your input.
“If you’ve got a voice, you should use it.”
Callington wins some, loses some
Chalk up one win and one loss for Cr Airlie Keen as she advocated for her community of Callington at the council table this month.
On the bright side, she prompted an extension of the Murray Bridge district’s green bin service to more households on Cemetery Road, East Terrace, Hallett Street and Jaensch Road.
However, she was unsuccessful in a bid to have the council grant $10,000 to the Callington Recreation Park for a lighting upgrade, pending an application for more funding from the South Australian Cricket Association.
Funds for the grant would have had to be brought forward from next year’s budget, outside the normal application period.
No other councillor was willing to support the idea.
Volunteer numbers rebound to pre-COVID levels
Finally, in encouraging news, the number of locals volunteering with the Murray Bridge council has finally rebounded to pre-COVID levels.
More than 500 locals gave up volunteering during the pandemic, according to the 2021 census – not just with council agencies such as the visitor information centre, but across the board.
However, the council has since regrown its volunteer base, and those volunteers completed 5363 hours of service in the last quarter of 2024.
Quote of the month
“Cr Schubert’s sheep are calling once again.”
–Wayne Thorley, after Cr Clem Schubert’s phone rang during a meeting
Disclosure: The author is a member of Murray Bridge Players and Singers.
