Welcome to the site for the Colonel Light Gardens Historical Society.

Here you can access many documents to help you understand Colonel Light Gardens history and the plans which will guide its future, as well as the news relating to Colonel Light Gardens.

If you have comments or suggestions as to what you would like to see on the site, please send an email to the Secretary

Matters raised with Mitcham Council

There is a continuing problem with 501 Goodwood Rd. The latest is ugly new signs.

On 21 Feb 2011 Mitcham Council was asked if the new signage had been approved. How long will it take to get an answer? Lets see.

Of course, if Mitcham Council enforced the 1989 development approval conditions then the Rochester Avenue frontage would be screened by mature trees. This has been repeatedly raised with Council's Administration since the early 1990s. And it is not that Council lacks any negotiating position as it owns the majority of the land on which the carpark is located. These matters were taken up with Gault Ward Councillors Stephen Fisher and Chris Adcock on 23 Feb 2011. Their response will be posted here.

The Acting Director, City Management advised on 24 Feb 2011:

The compliance team will need to do an audit of all of the signs in the photograph to determine which ones have approval. If there are any that do not, then enforcement action will need to be commenced.

Let down by the 'Planning' system

In 1996 there was an application to change the use of the former Uniting church building at 57 Salisbury Crescent, Colonel Light Gardens and to extend it for use as a child care centre. The report to the City of Mitcham Planning and Building Committee 18 March 1996 is available from here.

In respect to the vegetation, the community in that report was told:

In place of the vegetation being removed is a row of bushes to be grown as a hedge along the frontage of the carparking area. All other trees on site are to be retained. (p9)

A land scape plan is provided indicating the location and species of plants to be provided an the site to add to the existing landscaped areas surrounding the building (p9)

the removal of some vegetation and the inclusion of formal landscaping in the form of a hedge. (p10)

A more formal landscape area fronting the carparking area and the sealing and linemarking of that area will present a neater appearance to the street and will in fact enhance the visual impact of that area. (p10)

and one of the recommended conditions was:

Landscaping as detailed in the application for development shall be planted prior to the occupation of the development and shall be maintained in good and reasonable condition at all times. Any such landscaping shall be replaced if it dies or becomes seriously diseased. (p12)

The landscaping plan provided after p13 of the report indicated that the hedge was to be as follows:

Syzygium australe [32 off @ 600mm centres] (to be trimmed as a hedge to 1.2m high)

So how has this landscaping plan been realised? The photo below, taken in Feb 2011, shows nothing of what we were told.
It is hardly a hedge! For 16 years this is what community has been forced to see.

As late as 4 Feb 2011, the Acting Director, City Management mheinrich@mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au, City of Mitcham advised by email:

57 Salisbury Cr CLG -  29/6: Lilly Pilly hedge now planted as per original DA.  MATTER RESOLVED  

Sorry Mr Acting Director, this is what the hedge we were promised should be looking like now, and we should expect nothing less. Why do you?

This matter was being taken up with Gault Ward Councillors Stephen Fisher and Chris Adcock on 23 Feb 2011.

Mortlock Park

In 1992, after considerable efforts and suburb-wide consultation, Mitcham Council adopted the Mortlock Park Master Plan. The Plan consists of the resolution and the accompanying Mortlock Park map. A copy of the Plan is here, and the accompanying map is here.

Work proceeded to implement major parts of the Plan. In 2005, in adopting the Colonel Light Gardens Conservation Management Plan, Mitcham Council set out what it wanted to see happen at Mortlock Park:

• Refine the approved 1992 Mortlock Park Master Concept Plan and develop more detailed direction for the future of the Park
[Colonel Light Gardens Conservation Management Plan; 5.15.1 Mortlock Park 'Policy']

It is now coming up to 6 years since the Elected Members set out this direction. The Acting CEO of Mitcham Council was asked on 24 Feb 2011 when Mitcham Council's Administration will carry out the policy set by the Elected Members.

Conservation Management Plan-

The implementation of the Colonel Light Gardens Conservation Management Plan is now underway, with many reserves having new trees planted.

The prototype of the street name plate has been installed. More details are set out in the March 2010 Agenda papers for the Engineering and Environmental Services Committee here. (see page 20). Sadly as at Feb 2011, Council staff have made no further progress. This is despite funding having been made available in the 2009-10 financial year and the design approved.

National Heritage List - Nomination made Jan 2011

The Society, Mitcham Council and the Colonel Light Gardens Residents Asociation have again nominated Colonel Light Gardens for inclusion on the National Heritage List.

A lower resolution copy of the Nomination form is available from here. Details of the Nomination are to be found on the Australian Heritage database here.

Colonel Light Gardens book again available

Dr Christine Garnaut's popular book on Colonel Light Gardens has been reprinted. The book has a new Introduction which updates developments in the suburb since 1999.

The book is highly recommended to all residents interested in Colonel Light Gardens.

More details of the book and where it can be purchased are available here.

Some notes on the naming of Colonel Light Gardens have been made available. See the Background Notes panel to the right for the link.

Important book on SA Town Planning has been republished

On 7 November 2007, the second edition of the book With Conscious Purpose: a history of town planning in South Australia was launched. The book first published in 1986 has been updated with postscripts to the original chapters as well as a new chapter to cover the period 1986 to 2007. The book gives the reader an understanding of the town planning of South Australia, and includes a chapter on Charles Reade (the designer of Colonel Light Gardens) as well as a section on Colonel Light Gardens. The book is published by the Planning Institute of Australia and more details are here

First textbook on Australian Town Planning now available as an ebook

The first Australian textbook on town planning, John Sulman's 1921 Introduction to the Study of Town Planning in Australia is now available as an ebook on a CD for only $12 AUD including postage. The book is in PDF format and is an image of the original book, with all the text now fully electronic searchable. For more details and to purchase the book use this link.

new work by homeowners- Since May 2000 approval is needed for:

• fences,
• carports,
• garages,
• roller doors,
• pay TV dishes,
• roller shutters,
• new roofing,
• air-conditioning,
• window replacement, and
• planting vegetation on the nature strip.

The links in the plans and guides section will help guide you to the requirements or call or visit Mitcham Council for advice before commencing work. Paper copies of these documents are available from Mitcham Council.