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Local government plays a huge role in protecting and preserving the environment, and The City of Onkaparinga has a strong tradition of introducing positive measures and initiatives based on environmental and sustainability issues.
For that reason, a number of local environmental and community groups have contacted all the candidates standing for Mayor of Onkaparinga City, as well as those standing in the Southern Vales and South Coast Wards, to offer them the opportunity to introduce themselves to our collective membership, and to let us know where they stand on a number of key environmental issues in the City of Onkaparinga.
Each candidate was given the same ten questions to answer. Here are the responses of Jordan Pritchard, Candidate for Southern Vales Ward.
10 Questions Council Election
– Where do you live?
We live on Vine Street in McLaren Vale, we have been there for 17 years.
– What attracted you to where you live?
We moved to the area when my wife was successful in her job application to Tatachilla Lutheran College for 2005 (she is still a teacher there), we rented a house in Maslin Beach for just under a year before we managed to buy our house in Mclaren Vale. We looked at a number of properties in Willunga, McLaren Vale, Old Noarlunga and McLaren Flat before buying our property. I am from Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula and was keen to settle in more of a country location which we feel is still true and we wanted a good size block as we were planning on kids (we now have 3 boys) and wanted space for them to play.
– What’s your political background?
I have no political background and no political affiliations. My father in law is the current Mayor of Unley and is seeking re-election there.
– To which community groups or associations do you belong?
I am a member of the McLaren Vale CFS (14 years) – currently Lieutenant
I am a committee member of the McLaren Vale Tennis Club (5 years) – currently Vice President, and as part of this role have attended the last 2 McLaren Vale Sporting Complex AGMs
I am a committee member and coach of the McLaren Districts Soccer Club – juniors (8 years as coach, 6 on the committee)
I would also say I am a member of the Tatachilla Lutheran College school community through my wife as a teacher and 3 kids as students.
2 of my kids play football at McLaren Eagles Football Club and 1 is playing basketball at Southern Tigers at Morphett Vale and 1 at Willunga Basketball
We have attended a number of churches in the area
– If elected, what will be your priorities?
My priorities will be what the community I represent has as their priorities. I would like the focus to start at the local level, how can the council grow the engagement with more in the community to find and provide services and facilities that the community needs and wants.
– What are your policies regarding the environment and biodiversity?
I am very keen to understand the Southern Region Waste Resource Authority which I understand the City of Onkaparinga is a shareholder. I am interested to understand the recycling and landfill component of the business and the amount of resources that the council is reusing from this facility as well understanding how the council engages with the other waste facilities in the area.
– Do you think the City of Onkaparinga should re-visit declaring a Climate Emergency?
Since receiving your email I have looked into the declaration of a Climate Emergency and I’m a big believer in acknowledging the problem before you can start to improve. I believe this is the intention of this declaration but would need to understand more about what the City of Onkaparinga has already done before commenting further on next steps.
– How can Council accelerate decarbonisation within the community?
Obviously tree projects are key and policies around retention of trees in developments. I would also be keen to understand if council can add recycling and green bins to council parks, reserves and sporting complexes as these seem to be successful domestically so would expect that users would support them at public locations.
– How would you make Onkaparinga a better place to live with less resource consumption?
I would try and maximise services for the community so that they don’t need to travel outside of the area to access the service.
Continued support for improving transport impact. As an example; smarter use of materials – a winery I know of has invested in lighter weight bottles to reduce the resource impact for transportation.
Small inter town buses. LED and smart light trials. Further understanding of the ability to recycle for road surface material (old concrete, tyres, etc)
I understand the Willunga market only allows stall holders from a certain radius so that the transport impact of stall holders getting to the market is minimised which I think is a practical solution, but this has to be balanced against being a walled garden by not allowing others in especially which could be seen as hypocritical when as a region we have businesses looking to sell items out of area.
– How would you, as Mayor, aim to influence Elected Members to be effective decision makers?
As above, not running for Mayor
– Do you have ideas for championing improvements in the energy efficiency and lower resource footprints of new and retrofit development, both domestic and commercial?
I think there continues to be improvements in window product technologies for example that are more energy efficient and we have a number of businesses in these industries in the area which we could help to promote. We should understand house orientation and the impacts on energy usage which hopefully is part of policy making.
I am very keen to understand the reuse of recycled products, salvage companies and how industry bodies like the Master Builders Association are consulted.
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