The Mount Barker Courier

Calls for Federal funding to be re-instated

The Mt Barker Council has echoed independent MPs Rebekha Sharkie’s and Dan Cregan’s renewed calls for the Federal Government to reverse its cuts to major Hills infrastructure projects. In the lead up to yesterday’s Federal Budget announcement...

Residents called on to give a sheet

Instead of throwing in the towel and producing more waste, hand it over to the Adelaide Hills Council’s waste management team during a one-day-only free textiles recycling service. The council, in partnership with Green Industries SA and...

Student’s cancer experience helps save a life

On May 23, kettles across the nation will be boiled and hot drinks served as the annual Biggest Morning Tea kicks off for another year. For Hahndorf Primary School student Sadie Smith, the annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council has a personal...

Scott Murphy

Paving the way to the future

The Mt Barker Council is paving the way to the future, creating the district’s first 100% recycled road using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled crushed glass. Almost 200 tonnes of asphalt from old roads was used in the surfacing of...

Makeshift shop and dining experience improve dementia care

A dementia care initiative that was informed by feedback from residents’ families has earned the Strathalbyn and District Aged Care Facility a State award. The team behind the BIRCH Program, a collaboration between the aged care home and Dementi...

On the beat: Meet the region’s new officer in charge

An experienced SA police officer has described road safety and domestic and family abuse as priority areas as she takes on the role of officer in charge in the Hills Fleurieu region. As a 30-year veteran of SA Police, Superintendent Joanne Howard...

Rates could rise by almost 6%

Adelaide Hills Council ratepayers could be hit with an almost 6% rate rise next financial year. The Adelaide Hills Council met last night to consider a 5.78% or greater average rate rise, which would prevent the operating budget from sliding into...

News

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Federal budget reverses funding cuts to major Hills projects

Funding has been restored to previously scrapped upgrades of the Mt Barker and Verdun freeway interchanges, with $120m allocated in the 2024 Federal Budget. The interchange upgrades were initially part of the $250m Hahndorf Township Improvements and...

Clinic under review

Uncertainty surrounds the future of Gumeracha’s nurse-led after-hours clinic, after the head of the local health network revealed that the service was under review. Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Heath Network (HFLHN) interim chief executive Bronwyn...

Grief a catalyst for writer’s story

Michelle van Dyk received a Goldfield Libraries’ Mulga Bill Writing Award for her piece titled Frankie

Fin Dunford

01 May 2024

Indoor pool part of ‘wellness centre’ proposed for Stirling

The developer pushing for a European styled multi-storey village precinct at Stirling has teamed up with a local businesswoman to design a new wellness centre and hotel, which would form part of the new precinct. Stirling Village Developments...

01 May 2024

Council & Politics

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Calls for Federal funding to be re-instated

Residents called on to give a sheet

Paving the way to the future

Police

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Roadside robbery

A small family-run farm at Ironbank has been forced to close its unmanned roadside stall after thieves stole a large quantity of cash. Garlic producer Haaseford Farms had an “honor system” stall at Ironbank which allowed customers to purchase...

Scott Murphy

03 Apr 2024

Arrest over stolen firearms

A cache of stolen firearms was seized from a Macclesfield property on Thursday, following a SAPOL investigation. Police searched a property on Wirrinilla Drive, where eight firearms and ammunition were located. Police said the weapons were stolen...

27 Mar 2024

Quick response and wind direction prevent ‘nasty’ situation

Fallen powerlines sparked a small fire at Bletchley last week in what could have been a “nasty” situation during an extreme fire danger day. The CFS declared a total fire ban across most of south-eastern SA on February 28, due to strong winds...

06 Mar 2024

Freeway car fire causes delays

A vehicle fire on the freeway near Stirling on Thursday last week has caused minor delays for commuters. Emergency services received reports of a car fire and potential grass fire at about 12.50pm with two CFS firetrucks and about 10 firefighters...

06 Mar 2024

Community

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Night skies a kaleidoscope of colour

Elisa Rose

Student’s cancer experience helps save a life

Scott Murphy

Makeshift shop and dining experience improve dementia care

Uraidla going green

A community forum will be held this weekend to help residents of Uraidla and surrounding areas transition to renewable, sustainable and more reliable energy sources. Let’s Electrify Uraidla is a joint initiative of community organisation Imagine...

Sport

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Squash siblings a hit

Adelaide Hills siblings Jaxon and Matilda Lynn are certainly courting success in their chosen sport of squash. The brother and sister Mt Barker residents hold top spot in SA squash rankings within their respective age group categories. Jaxon was...

Hornets take hockey win

It was a jubilant victory as the Adelaide Hills Hornets tasted victory in the weekend’s round of metro hockey fixtures. Facing Burnside in Saturday’s Division 4 women fixture, the hosting Hornets turned in a solid team performance. Goals came...

Premier in control

Defending premier Nairne Districts have made it two wins from two starts in the 2024 Mid Hills A-grade netball season. Nairne overcame a spirited young Woodside Warriors combination to take the Round 2 meeting by 15 goals. A revamped Littlehampton...

Stats mount up

During last Saturday’s round of Hills Division 1 football, there were again some dominating players who were effective in the various statistic counts. In the ruck department, Blackwood’s Sam Zevenboom contributed a whopping 65 hit outs against...

Home teams rule

Hosting teams ruled the roost during last Saturday’s Round 4 Hills Football League Division 1 A-grade fixtures. In the clash of the two previously unbeaten sides, Hahndorf produced a decisive second term to establish ascendancy over Mt Lofty...

Back on court

Regional Adelaide Hills netball A-grade competitions commenced last Saturday. Defending Hills association premier Ironbank Cherry Gardens faced one of two sides being fielded by the Crafers club for the 2024 campaign. Ironbank have lost the services...

Bloods on the board

Having reached last season’s preliminary final, Macclesfield faced an important clash in Saturday’s fourth round of Hills Country Division A-grade football. The Bloods had dropped the opening three contests and desperately needed a win to kick start...

Shield retained by Barkeroos

Last Saturday at Benson Radiology Oval in Mt Barker was a special day for the Echunga and Mt Barker clubs as they paid respect to three club greats during Round 4 Hills Football League (HFL) Division 1 A-grade competition The annual Purple Ribbon...

Editorial

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Editorial

Rate rises

It seems likely that Hills residents will shoulder another large council rate hike over the next financial year. The Mt Barker, Adelaide Hills and Alexandrina councils are all considering average rate increases of between 5% and 8.3%. It is...

Editorial

A healthy review

It is reasonable that the State Government would review the nurse-led after-hours medical clinic at Gumeracha hospital, particularly given it was a first-of-its-kind service that emerged out of community concerns about the loss of the emergency...

Editorial

Animal instincts

A few weeks ago, a Courier staff member was involved in a collision with a kangaroo on a Hills road. Both the driver and the car were unharmed and the kangaroo jumped away. The staff member contacted a wildlife rescue organisation, but...