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Volume 11, Wednesday, December 17, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

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WRITTEN BYPATRICK GLOVER

The Executive Chairperson of the company that owns the central shopping mall in Roxby Downs, Harry Perks, said he is willing to work with current traders to help them in 2015, and is already on the search for new businesses to step into Roxby Central next year.

As the head of PPI Funds Management, Mr Perks told Th e Monitor last week the current situation with local shops is obviously a concern.

In the New Year we will be looking at what we can do and see if we can nd new tenants.

It is not an easy location but we will talk to poten-tial clients and we are already talking to a couple at the moment.

Having owned this property since 1995, Mr Perks said the business has been successful for 20 years and the issues that had arisen of late had obviously a ected trade in the precinct.

But he said his door was always open if traders in town need to talk to him.

I have owned the property since 1995 and never had any problems, so we must have been doing some-thing right for those 20 years, Mr Perks said.

Th ere are a whole range of issues (that can lead to businesses closing) and it just happens - there is change over time and it is disappointing when any shop closes.

I am involved in a number of shopping centres and this is one of them.

I am always pro-actively working with my clients to resolve any issues, and talk out any problems they may have.

Mr Perks was named a property icon on the week-end as part of a property council program launch last week. He is well-known as a campaigner for tax re-form, particularly land tax.

He said the recognition was due to his reputation to do the right thing and for being fair and reasonable - traits he believes are important during times like this.

He has been in talks with the Roxby Council in the past two weeks and will enter talks with BHP Billiton next week in an aim to work out a solution for next year.

Asset President of BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Dar-ryl Cuzzubbo said it was upsetting to see local retailers struggling and said Olympic Dam would work to help in any way they could.

Wherever we can, we work with local and regional suppliers and support their e orts to become more competitive as it is our collective competiveness that will drive collective success, Mr Cuzzubbo said.

For retailers, the best thing we can do is to work hard to ensure the long-term success of Olympic Dam as this will build a more vibrant retail business.

Mr Cuzzubbo said he and his team at Olympic Dam shared retailers pain with Olympic Dam facing similar challenges, albeit not the same ones.

While the circumstances are not completely the same, we do face similar challenges at Olympic Dam, he said.

We have to reduce costs to build a strong, sustain-able and viable business.

Safely reducing costs is the most important thing for Olympic Dam as that will, more than anything else, enable us to compete successfully for limited capital.

Local business owner Katalin Wilby, who was re-cently appointed the new chairperson of the traders association, is also looking to come to the party and help with the current situation with the mall.

Mrs Wilby already has some ideas she is looking forward to implementing in 2015 to get the mall back to what it once was.

Th ere are lots of di erent things that can be done, she said.

Businesses can be supportive of each other, encour-age people to shop locally.

(We need to) get people to look at what we have here and market businesses better, (and) make people aware they are here.

I have lots of other visions, so look out 2015.

Perks happy to help through

tough times

The Monitor Newspaper wishes you a Merry

Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year.The offi ce will now be

closed until January 12. Our fi rst edition back will

be January 21, 2015.

Roxby Downs 2014

- Wednesday, December 17, 2014 www.themonitor.com.au THE MONITOR - Your Community Newspaper

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An d a m o o k a T o w n Management Committee (ATMC) Chairperson Lyn Breuer wants to attract more tourists to Andamooka in 2015.

In a talk with Th e Monitor last week she said Andamooka had tourism potential and would be putting applications in early in the new year for funding to attract more people into town.

Tourism SA concentrates on Kangaroo Island, the Barossa Val-ley, Flinders Ranges and even Coo-ber Pedy, sometimes, Mrs Breuer said.

Th is is a huge outback region and Andamooka is a part that I think grey nomads and backpack-ers could be interested in.

It would be ideal: they could come through Pimba, onto Roxby Downs and then to Andamooka.

Th en from there they could go up the Bore eld to Oodnadatta, William Creek and on to Coober Pedy.

Mrs Breuer said Andamooka was one of the oldest mining re-gions in Australia which could act as an attraction to tourists.

Th e iconic local cemetery, Lake Torrens not too far away, historic cottages and the lifestyle in Anda-mooka could easily enable tourists to spend a couple of days.

It is a unique outback town, right in the middle of the desert and I would like to see it develop,

Mrs Breuer said. I will discuss with Deb what

has been looked at in the past and areas that we can possibly explore.

Further or improving of signage and getting the Andamooka name on maps (are areas that could be

looked at).After discussion with Deb Al-

len, Andamooka Community Ad-ministrator, and local member for Giles, Eddie Hughes, Mrs Breuer will then look at talking to Tourism Minister, Leon Bignell, to see what can be done.

Breuer to look at making Andamooka a tourist town

Lyn Breuer.

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New RAAF Base in Woomera

Air Base Executive Offi cer Simon Bartlett and Woomera Testing Range Director Reg Carruthers with a Heron aircraft which has recently returned from Afghanistan.

One of the PC-9 planes on display at the open day last Tuesday.

RIGHT: A Hornet showed off some of its skills

during a brief air show at the open day.

BELOW: The new tarmac in amongst some of the old hangers at the RAAF base site.


A new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base has been estab-lished within the Woomera Range Complex and is due to start operation next year.

Under a reorganisation of the com-plex, around $35 million has gone into the redevelopment of the air eld already in place in the Woomera Pro-hibited Area (WPA).

Th e air eld will still be a part of the Woomera Range Complex (WRC), but we are re-organising the airbase side of things, newly appointed RAAF Base Woomera Air Base Executive O cer Squadron Leader Simon Bartlett told Th e Monitor last week.

Th e aim is to normalise the way we do business at Woomera and run it just like any other RAAF airbase.

Squadron Leader Bartlett said pub-lic access and living arrangements to Woomera village will not be a ected by the changes.

Th ings may be slightly di erent but it will not a ect the village that much; life will go on pretty much as before, he said.

Th ere will be a few more facilities added but absolutely nothing will change in the way of access to the vil-lage.

Th e RAAF base has been in the plan-ning for around 12 to 18 months and upgrades to the air eld are nearly at completion having begun about six months ago.

A public meeting was held in Woomera village last Monday where the public was told for the nal time what was happening and given the chance to ask any questions they may have.

While only around 10 per cent of the towns population attended the event, Squadron Leader Bartlett said that was a good sign that residents were happy and understood what was going on.

Squadron Leader Bartlett will head a team of 11 other Air Force members that will be based at Woomera.

While we have had individual peo-ple posted here in the past, there has never been a RAAF base here so it is an honour and a privilege (to be appointed to this role), Squadron Leader Bartlett said.

I have a great deal of respect for the community of Woomera.

If any town in Australia deserves to be called a Defence Town it is this one and I include the local population, mining organisations, pastoralists and the Traditional Custodians of the land, the KoKatha people, in that community.

We get a great deal of support from

all those people.Th is new RAAF base now also frees

up people in other areas working in the WPA such as the test range.

Woomera Test Range Director Reg Carruthers said it was very exciting to have the RAAF base ready to go.

Until these changes were announced I was responsible for the test range, airfield and village. We now have a normalised RAAF base that will be operated like all other RAAF bases in Australia, Mr Carruthers said.

Now I can concentrate on the new equipment being acquired to upgrade the test range and concentrate on man-aging critical defence trials and leave the running of the RAAF base to the new Air Base Executive O cer and Defence Support sta and their con-tractors.

Th e upgraded air eld has been de-signed to take any type of aircraft meaning there will be a whole lot of new and di erent aircraft types ying into Woomera in the next couple of years.

Th e level of activity on the range is expected to double over the next 10 years, Squadron Leader Bartlett said.

Th e mission for the range is to test war materiel and train war ghters and the RAAF base will be able to support all those activities.

Squadron Leader Bartlett believes this RAAF base will help people to see what actually happens in the WRC.

Th ere wasnt any certainty about the longevity of the airbase and the range; people will see that Defence is making a real commitment to Woomera here, he said.

Squadron Leader Bartlett said his team dont begin working at the RAAF base until January 12 but the public were given a look at the new-look air- eld last Tuesday with an open day.

A solid crowd was treated to an air display by a Hornet aircraft and a PC-9 as well as being able to look inside a PC-9.

A Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which has served in Afghanistan, was also on display having only recently returned to Australian soil in the past couple of weeks.

While Squadron Leader Bartlett will have a team on the ground at Woomera at all times, Mr Carruthers said with all the di erent operations that would be taking part on the air eld now it was a RAAF base, the majority of the people doing work on the air eld would be y in y out during trials.

It is going to be a whole di erent set up, Mr Carruthers said.

It is a very exciting time and there is always further potential for the future.


OUT ABOUT&Kerrie Nemes and

Chris Morgan at The Club recently.

Hannah and Rob Trice rollerskating

around Roxby.

Caleb, Tyler, Bailey, Tristan and Corey at the YAC Pool Party.

Bailey and Gordy playing snakes and ladders at

the YAC Pool Party

Hayley, Gemma, Kim, Ines and Mattia at the YAC Pool Party.

Kim Bruce and Daniel Rogers at

The Club recently.

Cara Brittain-Lange and Kiani

Gilbert at a recent Oasis brunch.

BHP Billiton will support all the Olympic Dam workforce who wish to quit smoking or want to remain smoke free while at work by providing Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

NRT uses products like patches, inhalers or chewing gum to supply low doses of nicotine orally or through the skin. These products do not contain the toxins found in cigarettes and are considered to be clean or provide therapeutic nicotine delivery.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy:- assists with overcoming the physical nicotine addiction- reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings- is available over the counter- has been shown to double the quit rate compared to those not using NRT- is best for those smoking more than 12-15 cigarettes per day

For the most effective results when quitting, NRT should be used in conjunction with professional support and advice. You can contact the Site Health Centre for more information or visit www.quitsa.org.au or www.icanquit.com.au

Olympic Dam is going smoke-freeAre you ready to go smoke-free at work on 1 January 2015?

NEWSMonitorThe

www.themonitor.com.auTHE MONITOR - Your Community Newspaper Wednesday, December 17, 2014 -- Page 5

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Music in Roxby Downs is about to go up an octave with the Arts Forum receiving a grant of $20,000 to support a regional music teacher for 2015.

A shortage of music teachers in Roxby Downs has been identi ed by the Arts Forum following a sur-vey released in September.

Th e survey, which received 68 responses, showed 45 requests for a piano/keyboard teacher, 30 for a guitar teacher and smaller num-bers for other instruments such as voice, violin, drums and ute.

We have teachers come and go all the time, it is just part of be-ing in a mining town, Arts Forum member and volunteer instrumen-tal teacher Owen Lewis said.

Every year there is one that leaves, so there is no continuity for the kids.

The Arts Forum in conjunc-tion with the Roxby Downs Area School will look at getting two high pro le music teachers up to Roxby Downs for two days per week who will run lessons out of the RDAS music room.

Th e lessons will not solely be looking for RDAS students, but also St Barbaras students and even adults.

Th e funding was for one music teacher for 12 months but the Arts

Forum has decided to get two for six months and work on some fund-raisers in the interim to keep them here for the rest of the year.

Arts Forum Chairperson Ra-chael Young said music is an im-portant part of a childs learning and was excited that their submis-sion had been accepted by BHP Billiton.

Students learn music at school and this in turn extends in to other areas and helps them there too, Mrs Young said.

If kids havent started playing a musical instrument by Year 10 in the school system at the moment they cant start at all (in school).

So it is important to start early, for their future education.

Music is an international lan-guage, it is the same in every coun-try you go to.

A lack of teachers has also be-come more apparent with local piano teacher of two and a half years, Dana Uczynska leaving town to head back to Perth to be closer to her family.

I have absolutely loved it (Piano teaching), Mrs Uczynska said.

From it I have made a lot of good friends because I did lessons in peoples houses and they were all so friendly.

Th e children were perfect.Mrs Uczynska, originally from

Poland, has been teaching piano for 25 years, having played the in-strument since she was six.

She said she was glad to see

some replacement teachers come in to take her place.

Th ere are some kids with big potential and it would be very sad if they had to go without a teacher next year, Mrs Uczynska said.

Th ere are currently three teach-ers including Mr Lewis and Mrs Uczynska and between them they teach 66 students a number of dif-ferent instruments.

The new model with the two new FIFO teachers will enhance the current program in place.

Mrs Young said there had been a similar model in place around 10 years ago, with a teacher coming up from Whyalla.

But due to family commitments it got hard and she stopped.

Nevin Lettens will be the co-or-dinator of the model and the pro-gram.

BHP Billiton Olympic Dam said they were more than happy to be able to support locals with the op-portunity to pursue a passion in music.

Th e Arts and Culture Forum have done a tremendous job in se-curing talented teachers to enable students to learn a number of in-struments, BHP Billiton Principal - Community Chad Menzies said.

We believe it further enhances the educational opportunities and diversity in Roxby Downs.

Th e music teachers are expect-ed to be con rmed early next year and be ready to go early next year.

The golf course has been awarded a grant worth around $13,000 from the Olympic Dam Community Donation Program to purchase a new weed spray unit.

Golf Course and Town Oval Superintendent Wade Hooper said the weed spray unit would be a great ad-dition and would help with the upkeep of the course.

It is going to be very handy and we are very grateful to BHP Billiton for the donation, Mr Hooper said.

It will help with the weed control which in turn will aid to preserve the condition of the golf course for the community.

Once the grass grows, there will be less weeds but (in the mean-time) we are looking forward to seeing the di erence it can make to the course.

It will de nitely improve the course in the years to come.

Th e weed spray unit comes with a GPS device which can tell you information like where you have already sprayed and where you need to spray next.

Mr Hooper said it helped with eliminate things like incorrect application and overlapping.

BHP Billiton Principal Community Chad Menzies said Olympic Dam was happy to donate the money to such a worthy cause and believed with the recent appointment of Mr Hopper the Golf Course would only bene t.

Th e golf course is an incredible community asset for people of all ages to experience the sport, socialise and exercise, Mr Menzies said.

With the recent appointment of the Wade, the course and town ovals will bene t greatly from the dedicated and skilled resource and Olympic Dam, via our Community Donations program, was only too happy to support the provision of the weed sprayer to enhance what is already an excellent course.

Mr Hooper also thanked Tom Bilney for helping put together the Weed Spray Unit, which is now attached to the back of a Ute to make it easy to use.

BY PATRICK GLOVER

S cott Yak Gaskin has joined a long list of deserving winners, becoming the November winner of the Volunteer of the Month Award.

Mr Gaskin has lived in Roxby Downs for 14 years and is the pres-ident of Th e Royal Flying Doctors Roxby Downs Auxiliary, as well as a Joeys Leader at the Roxby Downs Scouts and is a part of the Neigh-bourhood Watch committee.

I was really surprised by this nom-ination but was really chu ed with the award, Mr Gaskin said.

Volunteering is good fun and if an-yone wants to become a volunteer I recommend jumping in with both feet.

There are plenty of volunteer groups in Roxby Downs and there is something to suit everyone.

Th ere are a number of reasons Mr Gaskin was awarded the Volunteer of the Month Award, including leav-ing work early on Tuesdays to run Joey meetings, helping with Scout fundraisers, putting a lot of time and e ort into his presidency role at the RFDS and attending this years school camp as a parent supervisor.

Mr Gaskin said he will be donating the $100 received for the Volunteer of the Month award to the RFDS, who he said need it the most.

BY PATRICK GLOVER

Donation a hole in one

Yaks hard work earns him volunteer

of the month

BHP grant to amplify music

Owen Lewis, Rachael Young and

Dana Uczynska.

The new weed spray unit purchased by the Golf Course thanks to the OD Community Donation Program.

Back: Andrew Fonseca, Emily Miller, Caleb Kemenyvary, Teacher Dana Uczynska; Middle : Liam Miller, Isaac Tilley, (Rafael Velasco

Hidden), Joaquin Velasco, Jesryl Santos, Pulitha Samarakoon, Isaac Kemenyvary, Yudeesh Samarakoon; Front: Alice Lettens,

Felix Lettens, Chae-Yoon Kang, and Joanna Runge.

Scott Yak Gaskin recieves his Volunteer of the Month award from Michelle Davis.



Volume 11, Wednesday, January 22, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

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Municipal Works Manager Peter Keller and Stevens Resources Manager Paul Smith are shocked by the $6,000 rampage that ruined a community area recently.

ABOVE LEFT: Litres of commercial grade oil were spilled on the towns skate park, rendering it unusable for three days.

ABOVE RIGHT: One of the 19 broken sprinklers in and around the town oval.

By Millie Thomas

A large quantity of commercial grade cooking oil was spread over the Roxby Downs Skate Park and 29 reticulation sprinklers were damaged in a sporadic $6,000 vandalism attack in the early hours of Sunday, December 29 last year.

But the carnage didnt end there - with rolls upon rolls of toilet paper also spread all over the Roxby Downs Lions Park and Richardson Place and items of public property defaced in the senseless act.

It took over 40 hours for Roxby Council contractors Stevens Resources to clean up the mess, in an attack that company manager Paul Smith said was the worst hed ever seen in his 16 years with the business.

And local rate payers will ultimately foot the bill for the damage.

Th at park should be so far advanced by now, but were always replacing stu because anything that is starting to develop or have new growth is just getting crushed and trashed its very annoying, Mr Smith told Th e Monitor last week.

Probably one of the worst times we have is when school holidays are on. I think a lot of people, kids, are bored. Th eir parents are still at work, they are left to their own devices and we get a lot of damage during school holidays and its always in that area there.

Generally damage is more limited to things like broken glass and broken tree limbs, but this latest attack saw sprin-klers smashed by concrete blocks. Th e

sprinklers were snapped back to the connections underground, meaning the grassed oval behind the Lions Park had no irrigation for two days.

The skate park a highly utilised public area was also closed o for three days while work crews dumped sand on it to soak up the oil, and scrubbed it with degreaser.

Were never going to get anywhere if it continues to go on like this, Mr Smith said. Th ey say its a young town, but for the age it is, these areas should be much further advanced than they are now. Th eyve been planted so many times and were just replanting, and replanting.

Roxby Council Works Manager Peter Keller has been disgusted by the inci-dent, citing the clean up as a cost to the community.

Why do the people of this town want to ruin anything thats good for the rest of us? Mr Keller asked. Who pays the bills? We as a community are tting the bill for the enormous cost to what theyve done. Its a huge cost to the community.

What happened here didnt take ve minutes, it took quite some time to do. It took a lot of e ort to smash those sprinklers with bricks, and douse oil all over the park.

It was done by a number of people, so obviously there are people around who know, whos done this, and if theyve got any conscience, theyd dob them in.

To report any information about this incident or any other incidences of vandalism, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000.


Volume 11, Wednesday, February 5, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

MonitorThe




Name:

Phone:WINNER

ANNOUNCED NEXT

EDITION

WRITTEN BYMILLIE THOMAS

End of lease agreements are looming for eight shops in Roxby Central, and if recent rent negotiations with landlords PPI Funds Management dont come to a head, the mall could face losing even more retail services.

Roxby Central once boasted 25 specialty shops but now looks barren with six stores closed or relocated, and dwindling foot tra c.

Th e property funds management landlord which has 15 shopping centres valued at ap-

proximately $550 million, has so far been un-willing to change the rent prices from what they were over 18 months ago before the cancellation of the Olympic Dam expansion and the radical decline in population and trade.

Central Traders Chairperson Leigh Malcolm last year hired a rent negotiator on behalf of business owners within the mall, after several attempts for assistance from both the landlords and BHP Billiton.

Despite e orts made by small local business-es, the landlords and property managers Savills have allegedly refused to budge leaving shops scraping for change in what appears to have become a real life battle of David and Goliath.

However, according to Mr Malcolm, negoti-ations should wind up in coming weeks, hope-fully signing the end of the battle.

Because there was so many of us, and that there were eight shops coming out of lease all at the same time it puts a bit of pressure on the landlords to act, otherwise they could lose eight shops, Mr Malcolm said last week.

Outgoing costs for businesses in the mall are through the roof calculated at approximately $1200 per square metre to cover services such as rates, cleaning, rubbish removal, property maintenance, marketing levy and incidentals.

Th at teamed with a rent charge of $530 a square metre means the average shop is paying

approximately $72,000 per annum, despite a fall of up to 50 per cent in trade over the last 18 months.

Th en obviously the bigger the shop, the big-ger the outgoings and rent, Mr Malcolm said. So su ce to say there are lots of shops here that are paying over $10,000 a month rent and outgoings, which is $120,000 a year.

While individual business requests varied, Mr Malcolm said traders were ghting for a long term rebate and incentives, with more favourable terms.

I think its probable that were going to lose a couple of t he businesses regardless of the outcome and thats a shame, he said.

Some stores, such as Simons Pizzeria have

been vacant for months.

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CHECK WEATHER YOURE AT RISK.

www.cfs.sa.gov.auYour Community Newspaper ~ Roxby Downs

MonitorThe

WRITTEN BYMILLIE THOMAS AND GAIL HERITAGE

T raders in the Roxby Central mall have been left on tenterhooks according to Roxby Central Traders Chairperson Leigh Malcolm, after property managers Savills failed to meet the Friday deadline to end rent negotiations.

Mr Malcolm also said Sav-ills had been conspicuous by their absence, with no o er put on the table when speaking to Th e Monitor on Monday.

A lot of the traders are basing their decisions on what these people give them, so well just have to wait and see I guess, he said.

Were waiting now to hear back, it should be any day now, I would have thought.

Visiting shadow Mining Minister and Minister for Economic and Regional De-velopment Martin Hamilton Smith said during his trip to Roxby Downs last week that he would try to help them prosper under the current climate.

Mr Hamilton Smith accom-panied State Liberal candi-date Bernadette Abraham in a pre-election visit on Th urs-

day, meeting with various de-mographics in town.

I am very aware of the issue at the shopping centre as well, he told Th e Monitor. Th e least we can do is put the land taxes down; get the supermarket proprietors in a position where they can re-view the leases, so were look-ing at that.

Anything we can do to get the cost of being a small busi-ness down, we will.

However, local retail trad-ers told Mrs Abraham any help from either party elected to State Government would come too late.

Onemajor retailer in Rox-by Central told Mr Hamilton Smith they would de nitely close their doors, and soon, instead of waiting any longer, despite any election promises, changes in mine operations or discount from landlords.

Mr Malcolm also told the delegation Woolworths, Mi-tre 10, and the Tavern and Thirsty Camel had already renewed tenancies for the next ten years, and he sus-pected the smaller retailers had become incidental rent to landlords.

Our major problem is that between those three major players theres proba-bly enough there for them not even to worry about us we are just incidental, he sai d.

Volume 11, Wednesday, February 12, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

INSIDE This Week

Page 3 Page 10 Page XPage 20

IIt Could t Could have gone have gone ahead ahead

PPink ink Stumps Stumps DayDay

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www.cfs.sa.gov.au

The Roxby Downs Cultural and Leisure Precinct will undergo a massive trans-formation in 2014 which will include a new two-storey building on Richardson Place.

Concept and oor plans are expected to be released within the next few weeks, and will in-clude extensive refurbishment of many popular areas within the precinct, providing many new facilities for the community.

Th e plans include a complete refurbishment of the Dunes Caf, development of an extensive alfresco dining area, a two storey extension with mezzanine oor, a new art gallery and revamped visitor information centre.

Th e gymnasium will also be expanded with a refurbishment of the leisure centre pool caf and foyer, and a new rear entrance to improve

access to outside sports courts and ovals.Youth will also win under the plan, with the

refurbishment of the existing Youth Centre to include a community kitchen.

Th e precinct has not been fully redeveloped in a major way for more than a decade, and will complement the new Library Link building completed last year.

It is anticipated service relocations will be undertaken in March, with tenders called for building and works shortly thereafter. It is ex-pected to be business as usual at the centre while the works are taking place.

A public meeting led by Town Administrator Bill Boehm will be held within the next month where locals will be able to discuss the project. Plans will soon be on display at the leisure cen-tre and library.

The project would be funded over three years, with an allowance of $450,000 made in the 2013/14 budget. Th e balance would be known once detailed plans and speci cations have been nalised.

Both BHP Billiton and Roxby Council have supported the redevelopment.

We are excited to be part of creating an ex-panded commun ity hub for the community, Mr Boehm said.

Th e precinct redevelopment will provide additional services and spaces for the commu-nity to meet together in our township, he said.

Th is redevelopment program will greatly enhance the current and future aspirations of the community of Roxby Downs, to be seen as a world-class town of choice, for both business and individuals alike.

Olympic Dam Asset President Darryl Cuz-zubbo commended the ongoing work of the Roxby Council in providing high quality facil-ities for the Roxby Downs community.

We value the role the town centre precinct plays in o ering a real hub for community en-gagement and interaction, Mr Cuzzubbo said.

Th ese facilities enable us to highlight the Roxby Downs community as a real positive in our e orts in attracting and retaining workers for our operation, he said.

Mr Boehm said the project would be an ex-citing period for Roxby Downs.

We are looking forward to working with all stakeholders to be part of this exciting time for the Roxby community as we roll out this and other stages.

Continued on Page 2.

Roxbys newest world class project

Traders left on tenterhooks

The once busy Roxby Central Mall appeared desolate last week.

DDaves aves our lucky our lucky WinnerWinner


Volume 11, Wednesday, January 29, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

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By Millie Thomas

The 2014 Citizen of the Year Award was handed to volunteer Cherie Gaskin, a proactive and dedicated local who Town Administrator Bill Boehm described as a quiet achiever.

Mrs Gaskin has volunteered in the Roxby Downs community for approximately 13 years, devoting her time to various roles within the Royal Flying Doctors Service Auxiliary includ-ing a long stint as secretary, volunteering at for the Red Sands Cancer Council Branch and Neighbourhood Watch, member of the Scrap-bag Quilters Group and listening to children read at school.

Her contributions have included organising fundraisers and 4WD Tag Along Tour, creating Christmas Pageant oats, running engraving days and much more.

She works tirelessly, Mr Boehm said on Sunday. Every year the citizen that is cho-sen is worthy, its not until you read the list of achievements that you realise how important their contribution is.

(She is) really the type of person that epit-omises the quiet achiever and re ects com-munity spirit.

Young Citizen of the Year award recipient Adam Ryan (16) has contributed consistently to sport in Roxby Downs for a number of years.

Adam was captain of under 18 SA Country Magpies Association at the Australian Junior Basketball Cup, captain of the USA tour SA Country High Performance group (read page 16 to learn more), most valuable player at the U18 National Team Brisbane SA Country Aus-tralian Junior National Championship, 2002 RDAS (Roxby Downs Area School) Sportsper-son of the Year in the school and community, volunteer basketball coach for RDAS SAPSA-SA basketball, and player in the West Adelaide Football Coach under 16 development squad.

Well respected, well deserved, Mr Boehm said of Adam on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly, the Community Event of the Year was awarded to the Roxby Downs Cele-brates 25 Years event that was held in Richard-son Place late last year.

Th e event not only showcased what the en-

tire community has achieved since the towns inception, but also gave impetus to our bright future, world class community and best mining town, Mr Boehm said. Th e main street was bursting with families who call Roxby Downs home, past residents caught up and its great to see people come back and the Roxby Stories Project which was integral to the whole thing is something that will last as a testimony.

Deputy Chairperson of the Roxby Downs Community Board Michelle Davis presented more awards for the local Senior and Junior Sportspeople of the Year. Th is year, dedicated volunteer Michelle Casserly was awarded with the Senior Sportsperson Award for her services to sports administration.

Michelle is a life member of the Roxby Downs Netball Association, and currently holds the position of records keeper for the netball association, Mrs Davis said. Shes also the current treasurer of the Basketball Associ-ation and Michelle is always volunteering her time scoring, timing, setting up and packing up wherever shes needed.

Rising star 14 year old Madeleine Young was

awarded the Female Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award. Madeleine was not present on the day, but her award was accepted by her father, Mark Young.

Madeleine has represented SA Country Basketball for the last three years, Mrs Davis said. In 2013 she coached basketball minis and represented the Spencer Academy in Netball.

She was a member of the successful A Grade Miners Netball Premiership team in 2013 and also umpires junior and senior basketball in Roxby Downs.

Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year Con-nor Fenwick made the cut at only 13 years of age for his involvement in Senior mens cricket.

Connor is not fazed by playing A grade and many people have commented that he has re-ally good ball skills and control for his age, Mrs Davis said.

Connor is a very enthusiastic young crick-et player who takes every opportunity to play the sport he loves. He is working towards his dream of playing for Australia one day and as-pires to be the next Shane Warne.

Cherie, the quiet achieverCherie, the quiet achiever

Recipients of Roxby Downs Australia Day awards which

were presented at the Australia Day Celebrations on Sunday.

January 22, 2014

$6,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE BY VANDALS

Vandals did $6,000 worth

of damage to the skate park and town ovals, damaging 29 reticulated sprinklers.Roxby Council Municipal Works Manager Peter Kellar and Steven Resources Manager Paul Smith were shocked by the damage, which included commercial grade oil being spilled on the towns skate park, rendering it useless for three days.

February 19, 2014

OD IDEAL PLACE FOR RADIOACTIVE

DUMPAs Roxby Downs was battered by a summer storm, bringing down the digital television tower, The Monitor reported on a leading ecologists comments to build the States radioactive waste repository at Olympic Dam.Former Roxby Downs resident and Olympic Dam employee John Read said Olympic Dam was the most logical site for the waste dump, having all the radiation, environmental and security capabilities already in place.

january

february

Y E A R I N R E V I E WY E A R I N R E V I E WMonitorThe

WRITEN BYGAIL GERITAGE

Another year of news has passed by and Christmas 2014 is only days away.It was an interesting year in Roxby Downs as always. Its amazing just how many good things happen in Roxby Downs and Th e Monitor never has a shortage of stories.

2014 was another year of ups and downs as the town continued to battle through a massive downturn.

After much debate and negotiation, our local retailers continued to struggle. By the end of the year three retail shops in the main shopping precinct will have closed their doors Sportspower, Pie R Squared Bakery and the Roxby Nextra Newsagency.

All of those businesses have continued to operate in some way in Roxby from home or alternative premises, albeit on a much smaller scale. Its obvious shop owners just cannot a ord the rents in the shopping mall while the population levels remain so low.

However, as always with Roxby Downs peo-ple there is an air of optimism around town. People continue to think the mine will pick up. More people will come to live in Roxby Downs. Th ings will get back to normal.

If you look at some of the front page stories from across the year its easy to believe. Copper production is up at Olympic Dam and costs are down. An underground expansion is underway. A heap leaching pilot plant will begin operation next year.

Th e wheels of progress keep turning.2014 also saw Roxby Downs residents

stand up and have their say about the future of Roxby Downs through various community workshops and consulta-tion. Locals want what is best for Roxby Downs and some of those ideas and concepts are already starting to lter through to next years council plans, spending and budget. Stay tuned.

Th rough footy nals and race days, golf days and concerts Th e Monitor was there to report on all and sundry the good, the bad, and the some-times ugly.

No matter what, whenever things get tough, Roxby Downs people band together. Some of the great fundraisers this year included the Team Zep initiative and the recent Scott McKay Golf Day. We salute you, and all of the other amazing volunteers in our amazing little community.

Th e team at Th e Monitor are proud to work

here. We are proud of the town and its residents. We are proud to be born and bred in Roxby Downs and to put together your community owned and operated newspaper.

We look forward to supporting the com-munity, our readers and advertisers in 2015.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ough, S

here.We are proud of the town and its residents.

2014 the year that was2014 the year that was

Above: The Monitor team

Jody, Gail, Patrick, JZ, Marisa and Emma (right).




Volume 11, Wednesday, March 12, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

BE BUSHFIRE READY.

THE RISK IS NOT OVER.

www.cfs.sa.gov.au

Roxby Downs will welcome some special guests this week-end as Th e Transformers ride into town for the annual Autopro Show and Shine.

Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee will make special appearances at Market Day this Saturday and the Roxby Clubs Super Hero Party on Saturday night, before becoming star attractions at the Show and Shine on Sunday.

Th e winners of this years Show and Shine Peoples Choice Award will win tickets to the Bathurst 1000 in October, and trophies will also be awarded in the categories of Best Holden, Best Ford, Best Bike, Best Four-Wheel-Drive, Best Classic and Best Ute.

Roxby Downs Autopro Manager Jess Dow said local car enthusiasts were lin-ing up for the special event.

Cars will start arriving from 8am 9am and Show and Shine will run from 9am until 1pm, Jess said.

Jess said the event would be followed by a Mystery Car Cruise around town.

Th ose attending are invited to vote for the Peoples Choice Award with a gold coin donation, which will go to-wards Th e Worlds Greatest Shave par-ticipants Cathy Calligaris, son Nick and family friend Cody McCarthy. Th e trio will shed their locks at 1pm at the Show and Shine event .

WRITTEN BY MILLIE THOMAS

Local woman Camelia Cantell had 40 centimetres of her own hair cut o on Friday afternoon, as part of her 2014 years Worlds Greatest Shave theme To Be Courageous.

Mrs Cantell also raised more than $2,500 for the Leukaemia Foundation, and will do-nate the hair to Wigs for Love who will use it to create wigs for those who have lost their hair as part of their battle with cancer.

I think its always been something that comes around every year, and Im always like, I could never do that, Mrs Cantell told Th e Monitor after the big chop last week.

Then this year I thought well why wouldnt I do it, and what do I have to lose?

I was just weighing up the options before I told anybody I was just like okay, I just have to lose my fear of insecurities worrying about how people feel, or how I feel and things like that.

Mrs Cantell said while she didnt know anybody who had su ered or was su ering from Leukaemia, she didnt want to wait un-til she did to take action.

Im pretty blessed that my kids are good, my husbands awesome, theyre all healthy. So I felt pretty blessed.

I just thought I will do it, why not.Ms Cantell joins several other locals un-

dertaking the chop during March including local identity Ross Orr who will undergo the shave at the upcoming Happy Healthy Expo. See more on Page 2.

Be transformed

Camelia gets the chop!

Camelia Cantell and her long tresses before the big chop.

Right: Going ... going ... gone! Camelia watches in horror as her long locks disappear.

Optimus Prime himself said hello to local residents via a Facebook post recently.


Volume 11, Wednesday, March 26, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

BE BUSHFIRE READY.

THE RISK IS NOT OVER.

www.cfs.sa.gov.au

Incorrect installation of television masthead ampli ers in Roxby Downs households has caused the prolonged, consistent interference in the local Telstra mobile network.

Th e interferences have been occurring in Telstra mobile phones in Roxby Downs for a number of months , and include interrupted mobile internet browsing, trouble making out-going calls, and frequent call drop outs.

Telstra Country Wide (SA North and West) General Manger John Tonkin said Telstra has

had technicians up in Roxby Downs investi-gating the issue.

Th ere were six (television masthead ampli- ers) found only a week or two ago up there by our techs (sic), Mr Tonkin told Th e Monitor last week. Th ey were de nitely identi ed as causing interference with the mobile network and it looks like (its because of ) faulty instal-lation procedures for the TV masthead amps (sic).

Th e ampli ers are installed internally to im-prove television reception and according to Mr Tonkin if they are installed correctly and dont go faulty, they are not an issue.

So far, Mr Tonkin said it seemed the incor-rectly installed ampli ers have been found in BHP Billiton housing in Roxby Downs in no speci c area in town.

Th e issue is potentially theres 100s of these installed around Roxby, Mr Tonkin said.

We understand peoples frustration and we apologise for the issues, but to some extent its outside of our control at the moment.

Mr Tonkin said Telstra hoped to work close-ly with BHP Billiton to rectify the situation.

If theres any reassurance I can give peo-ple its that we will not stop until its xed, he said. We want the network back to what we

consider normal and it hasnt been normal for a number of months.

So again we apologise, we have worked re-ally hard and closely with BHP (sic) to see if we can get this closed out sooner rather than later.

While Mr Tonkin was unsure whether cus-tomer compensation would be available to Roxby Downs residents, he urged those who thought they may have a special case to call 125 111 to review it.

A BHP Billiton spokesperson said they didnt feel they were in a position to comment on the matter. BY MILLIE THOMAS

Prize includes two nights accommodaton for two people valued at the Wallaroo Marina Apartments valued at $298 and a SeaSA Passenger and Ferry transfer valued at $428.50!

For your chance to win a Wallaroo Autumn Escape for

details below and return it to The D Z

Place, or post it to PO Box 72, Z^KZ

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a Wallaroo Autumn Escape valued at over $700Win

Telstra service interrupted by amps

Happy Happy Healthy Healthy Expo this Expo this weekendweekend

Alex Harvey with some raw food products which will feature at the expo this

weekend.


R ather than dabble in a fad diet week in, week out, or listening to the industry professionals, local Alex Harvey has found her own way to healthy eating by eating raw.

Th e engineering graduate rst fell in love with cooking and eating raw about a year ago, and has since held stalls at Market Day planning her next appearance at the Happy Healthy Expo this Saturday.

Eating raw is not the most conventional method of attaining general wellbeing, nor for some the most appealing, but Alex is well and truly hooked.

I was initially attracted to raw food as a way of healing my body and trying to bring it to optimum health, Alex told Th e Monitor last week.

Alexs beliefs in food revolve around all food being the bodys medicine or poison. She believes the correct eating and fuelling of the body has an immense impact on in-

dividual energy levels, concentration and wellbeing.

Raw food is so fun, nutritious, and delicious and makes me feel

joyful when Im eating it! Alex said.

Continued onPage 2.


www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

-[RWT



Volume 11, Wednesday, April 30, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843


R esults from a local survey about the Roxby Cultural and Leisure Centre redevelopment has shown the vast majority of respondents are not in favour of the local project.

Conducted by experienced data analyser and report writer Paul Trotta, 378 respondents had taken part in the survey at its close on Th urs-day, April 17.

Th e survey showed respondents were op-posed to most aspects of the leisure centres redevelopment and methods of community consultation.

Mr Trotta, a local of ten years, said he de-veloped the communication method without particular motive.

It was not initiated on behalf of a particular group or with the intension achieving a par-ticular result. Th e survey initiator conceived the idea and worked alone on the project, Mr Trotta stated in the nal submission made to Roxby Council last week.

Th e purpose of the survey was to encourage residents of Roxby Downs to have their say on the proposed redevelopment of the Cultural and Leisure Precinct by o ering a simple and quick way of making a submission.

More than 96 per cent of respondents ranked the level of public consultation for the project average, poor or very poor, with 52.12 per cent stating they knew about the development from only March 2014 onwards.

Suggestions to improve community consul-tation included that correspondence be sent out with rates, power and electricity notices, or through social media. More advertising and a letterbox drop were also suggested.

Many respondents said they hadnt heard about the redevelopment until they read about it in Th e Monitor.

I believe the plans were already drawn up before ANY consultation, one respondent stated.

Another said the consultation had been ex-tremely poor.

Th ere has been NO consultation. Th e rst I knew about it was the front page of Th e Moni-tor Newspaper on 12th February 2014, headline reads 'Roxby's Newest World Class Project' and the sad fact that the other headline below was the struggle of the local traders coming up against the landlords who own Roxby Central. I could have fallen over; I was shocked to say the least.

Some also suggested that in the absence of an elected council, more community consultation should be done more regularly.

In response to one survey question asking if the mainstreet project was the best use of council rates at this time 59.84 per cent of respondents strongly disagreed.

Nearly 68 per cent of respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed when asked if the re-development will have a positive spin o for Roxby Central businesses.

What the majority of respondents did agree on was that maintenance of existing infrastruc-ture would be their number one priority to

spend council money with 39.42 agreeing. Only 6.08 per cent chose the redevelopment of Richardson Place as their number one priority for spending.

Some other suggestions from the survey in-cluded vast sporting facilities upgrades and the provision of cheaper rent alternatives and support for existing business owners in Roxby Central Mall.

Th e town oval is in desperate need of up-grade and we have been told what upgrades need to happen for AFL/SANFL pre-season games to be played her (sic) which would bring money to the town and exciting events for the town to attend as sport especially football is huge in Roxby and many other sports will ben-e t from an oval upgrade, one respondent said.

(By) helping established businesses by drop-ping the rates, so instead of them having to close down they could stay open and people wouldn't loose (sic) their jobs, we don't need a co ee house.... the council needs to step up and help the businesses that are already here, another stated.

All individual areas of the redevelopment with either strongly disagreed or disagreed on with percentages for the art gallery, Visitor Information Centre, Dunes Caf, new library office and green room, new offices for The Monitor and RoxFM all over 50 per cent.

However, 58.29 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with a new kids in-door play area showing clear support and want for the service. Th e gym redevelopment was also supported, with 38.44 per cent agreed or strongly agreed.

Th is upgrade is a complete waste of money in a stage when the town has lost many peo-ple who have lived here and our house prices have dropped and we cannot sell them, yet our council rates continue to increase. How are we expected to continue to be able to live here? one respondent asked.

I think what we have at the cultural pre-cinct/dunes area is su cient already, no need for more cafes when we have Dunes, Pie R Squared and Black Stump Cafe, will only take more business away from both Roxby Central businesses putting increased pressure on them and we end up with more empty shops!! an-other said.

As a resident of Roxby for 26 years i see this as the biggest misuse of council money I have seen.

In additional comments made by respond-ents at the end of the survey, it seemed many questions were left unanswered.

Th e survey was submitted to Roxby Council on Wednesday, April 23.

Roxby Council Administrator Bill Boehm said in a statement last week, All feedback re-ceived from the community will be taken into account as part of the project review process which will be undertaken at the conclusion of the consultation period which ends on 24 April 2014.

Once this consultation period ends, Coun-cil will prepare a Summary Report addressing matters raised in relation to the proposed de-velopment. Th is Report will be a public docu-ment and will be available for viewing online at www.roxbydowns.com.

Survey reveals local opinion

A beautiful wreath

display at the Woomera Memorial on Friday.


Volume 11, Wednesday, May 7, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

Kristen Dwyer with two-week-old daughter Hannah May Dwyer. Hannah was born in Whyalla on April 19, weighing 2.54 kg. Kristen (22) has lived in Roxby Downs her entire life and will

be celebrating her rst Mothers' Day with Hannah and husband Tom (24) this Sunday.


A fter a tumultuous 18 months in the local real estate market for both buying and renting it seems the real estate market is on the rise with one local investor and reader reporting a 35 per cent drop in vacancy.

Kyal Skyring, a former resident and current property investor, has been keeping a close eye on the Roxby Downs real estate market, particular-ly since BHP Billiton announced the cancellation of the Olympic Dam mine expansion in August 2012.

Vacancy ratesre ect thehealth of atown like Roxby Downs, soI thought it would be worthwhile measuringit, Mr Skyring told Th e Monitor recently.After BHP announced they wouldhold the expansion and cut jobs,everyone knew the market in Roxby would take a hit, but the question was by how much and for how long?Mr Skyring recognises the rise and fall in mining towns such as Roxby Downs and took particular note of the sudden drop in vacancy hoping to show an in-dication of further good things to come.The current shift to a sharp and noticeable tightening in vacancy rates,indicatesmore people are com-ingback into the town andmore busi-nesses are investing in the town, Mr Skyring said. Historically, thistrans-lates into increasing rental prices and increasing interest from prop-erty investors looking to purchase properties and invest in the market.Still got some way togo but de nitely

signs are that vacancy ratesare tight-eningquickly, he said.

Lorraine Aubrey, from Andrews Property Roxby Downs said the agency had made two house sales since De-cember, and had another three under negotiation at current.

So yeah we have been a bit busy, and its really positive for the town, Mrs Aubrey told Th e Monitor.

However in the rental market, she said people are just shu ing.

Theyre coming from our other properties where landlords arent ne-gotiating well and theyre jumping into cheaper properties. At the moment, tenants are looking for something that is inexpensive, Mrs Aubrey said.

Some have dropped rent to under $200 a week and o ered four weeks rent free they get snapped up. Some of them have been vacant now for over 12 months.

However, Mrs Aubrey said she couldnt speak on behalf of all real es-tate agencies in town, but said, Th e market has de nitely improved; its a lot more positive around town with people. I know when weve been out to dinner a few times (its) been busy!

So people have a bit of con dence back, which is good.

Principal Realtor at Raine and Horne Roxby Downs Craig Sumsion said the market had de nitely seen a change but it wasnt yet enough to make a marked di erence.

Vacancy rates went as high as 113 properties earlier this year and its come back to 74 at the moment. Its still far too many, he said.

Continued on Page 2

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Vacancy rates

falling

-[RWT




Volume 11, Wednesday, June 18, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

INSIDE This Week

Page 3 Page 5Page 15

Alcohol license explained

Standing up for Roxby

Locals makeSAPSASA

BUILDING GRE AT MEN .

Our aim is to create a strong, family-style environment in which the boys look out for, and respect each other.

St Peters College. St Peters, Adelaide, Australia, 5069 +618 8404 0400 | stpeters.sa.edu.au | @SPC_Adelaide

To be a boarder at St Peters College, Adelaide, is to be part of an inspiring social and emotional environment where each boy thrives. The Saints boarding community is a safe, homely experience providing boys with a warm, familial and supportive community.

To learn moreSt Peters College invites prospective parents to speak with Head of Boarding, Paul Brown and Marketing and Communications Manager, Tracy McNamara regarding Boarding on Saturday 21 June at the Roxby Downs Market Day and visit www.stpeters.sa.edu.au

CRICOS Provider No. 01535E. The Anglican Church of Australia Collegiate School of Saint Peter, trading as St Peters College.

Lucky Lucky escape forescape forJixxJixx

WRITTEN BY PATRICK GLOVER

Imagine being trapped in a re and how scary that would be? Jixx the dog su ered from just that the other weekend.

Jixx was in his kennel when a re ignited at his home in Andamooka, o Opal Creek Boulevard, just after 4am Sunday, June 8.

Jixxs escape passage became blocked after a shade cloth collapsed during the re and as a result the dog su ered minor burns to his nose, eyes and back legs. He also sliced open one of his paws.

Th e CFS eventually cleared a path for Jixx to get out and he bolted o down the street hiding in a yard down the street.

He is very lucky, Roxby Downs vet-erinarian Andrew Melville-Smith said.

He only sustained burns to a small percentage of his body, so his burns were only minor, but they could have been a lot more severe.

Often when animals get stuck in res like this, they injure their lungs through all the smoke inhalation.

Jixx has been boarding at the Rox-by Downs Veterinary Clinic since the re and has received treatment for his burns and his paw and is expected to make a full recovery.

Th e Veterinary Clinic will contin-ue to be Jixxs home for a little while longer until his family can pay o the bill following the loss of their house.

We are accepting donations from the public to help with the bill, Mr Melville-Smith said.

We have already received a few donations.

We will be providing a little help ourselves by lowering the cost of the bill and we are happy to take dona-tions here (at the Roxby Downs Vet).

Well do as much as we can to help out.

Jixx the dog, with vet Andrew Melville-Smith, suffered minor burns during a house re in Andamooka.

The Scheduled Township Electricity Maintenance Power Outages have been cancelled, due to unforeseen

circumstances. Residents are asked to disregard the map and

instructions communicated previously, as the works will be rescheduled. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Scheduled Township Electricity Maintenance

Power Outages Cancelled


Volume 11, Wednesday, July 9, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

INSIDE This Week

Page 2 Back Page SportPage 3

English Speaking Lessons

Roxby Races to celebrate 20 Years

Dogkilled in Andamooka


The ongoing relationship between the Roxby Downs Basketball Association (RDBA) and Sportspower has ended following the closure of the sports store last weekend.

RDBA president Ruth Rowlands said Sport-spower owner Jill Koning had donated thou-sands of dollars of equipment and clothing to the sport over the past couple of years, and the closure of the local retailer would hit the association hard.

Were going to have to outsource now, which will eat into our funds, Mrs Rowlands said.

Well have to purchase all the equipment ourselves and rely on sponsorship money and donations.

Chairman of the Roxby Downs Traders As-sociation Leigh Malcom said the outsourcing for sporting equipment and clothing due to the closure could also have a negative impact on the rest of the stores in town.

Th is (closure of Sportspower) will have a major impact because it will force people to look for things out of town, he said.

Th ats not good for the rest of us (in Roxby Downs).

Mrs Rowlands was worried that not only would the association be a ected by the clo-sure, but children wanting to take up the sport would also not be able to get the correct equip-ment and clothing to compete.

For the basketball kids, they all go in for balls and stu from there so now they are go-ing to have to source the gear from somewhere else, Mrs Rowlands said.

Th is can be hard because sometimes its a spur of the moment decision (to play a sport), particularly if its a new sport in a new town.

We supply the tops but people went into Sportspower to get the correct shorts.

I hope it doesnt mean we see kids missing out because they have incorrect uniform.

It will not just be the RDBA that is a ected with all sporting associations having a similar relationship with Sportspower.

Im sure they (Sportspower) supported everyone, Mrs Rowlands said.

I know for netball there was a mass demand for the skorts, so Jill just put in a big order for everyone.

Mr Malcom agreed that all sporting clubs would be majorly a ected by the closure, and said it was sad to see a store as generous as Sportspower forced into closing.

Absolutely (its sad). Th eyve been a long standing business. Th eyve been here for about 15 to 16 years, he said.

Its one of those things. People wont know what theyve had until its gone.

Sportspower were very generous with their donations to the sports clubs and any organi-sations in town so it will have a major impact.

Mr Malcom was hoping the closure of the popular sports store would not be a sign of things to come with other stores in town.

Th ere are a lot of businesses that will be looking hard at their place (in town), he said.

Th ere are a lot of businesses that are out of lease at the moment and are just going month

by month.Everyone is just sitting tight and hoping

things will pick up at the mine.Im hearing some positive comments com-

ing out of BHP (sic) so we might see some new tenants move in soon.

Mrs Rowlands said she would like to public-ly thank Mrs Koning and her team at Sport-spower.

I would like to publicly thank Jill, it was great to have her and the teams support, she said.

Store closure to affect localsShaun, Bailey, Ashlee, Paige,

Grace, Ruth Rowlands and Josh were sad to see

Sportspower close.

-[RWT




Volume 11, Wednesday, August 27, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

Y ears of planning and construction have come to fruition with the official open-i n g o f th e D e s e r t Trade Training Centre (DESTTC) planned for Th ursday, September 11.

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsay will openthe new training and skills devel-opment centre at the Roxby Downs Area School.

Built with the help of a Federal Government grant of $2 million and a further $800,000 commitment from BHP Billiton, the centre would provide innovative programs and skill training pathways to local students.

Trade Training Centre Coordinator Tony Holden said students right across the region would bene t.

Th is innovative program will provide multiple path-way options for students who study in our secondary education system from as far a eld as Marree Aboriginal School to Woomera and Roxby Downs Area Schools, Mr Holden said.

BHP Billiton is par-ticularly interested in ensuring our students leave the secondary system with work-ready skills, and that they are adequately prepared with the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills needed to successfully compete in post-secondary education, training and employment, he said.

Mr Holden said the centre was a commitment to the education of regional South Australian students.

WRITTEN BYGAIL HERITAGE

O lympic Dam has again made international headlines after it was ear marked by BHP Billitons CEO as one of its top six major global projects, with an expected lifespan of 200 years.

Th e statement from BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie followed the release of the companys end of year report last week announcing a full year pro t of $US13.8 billion.

Olympic Dam would form an integral part of a transformation of the company as it turns its focus on six core projects in a new structure that would concentrate on large assets in iron ore, copper, coal and petroleum.

Th e company announced it planned to split its global operation to create another metals and mining company, which would accommodate smaller projects in the aluminium, coal, manga-nese, nickel and silver sectors.

BHP Billiton Asset President Darryl Cuzzubbo said last week Olympic Dam continued to prove its worth as one of the best

copper and uranium deposits in the world.Olympic Dam sits in one of the four pillars of the company,

copper, and it is seen as an asset with tremendous potential, Mr Cuzzubbo told Th e Monitor last week.

Olympic Dam continues to optimise performance and build a strong, viable business today that is worthy of investment tomorrow, he said.

As Olympic Dam becomes more successful, Roxby Downs will thrive as well.

Mr Cuzzubbo said although the reserve mine life of Olympic Dam was con dently indicated at 56 years, as shown in the 2013 Annual Report, the resource life of the mine could be much greater.

The reserve life includes both measured and indicated resource available, and carries a high level of con dence in what is known of the ore body, he said.

The resource life of Olympic Dam is far greater but it includes inferred resource which is basically a lower con dence portion of the ore body.

As the resource life carries with it a number of unknowns, we normally report and plan against the reserve life.

Th e news follows recent reports the company would explore

the option of heap leaching technology to access the world-class Olympic Dam ore body.

We continue to evaluate all options for growth and heap leaching is one technology option that we are investigating, Mr Cuzzubbo said.

Early results of laboratory trials have been encouraging and we are seeking approvals to build a demonstration plant to further test the technology.

Th e companys end of year report said the techonology would help to explore this alternative, less capital intensive process.

Should government and board approvals be granted, construc-tion of the demonstration plant is expected to commence in the second half of the 2015 calendar year, the report said.

A trial period of 36 months is envisaged, commencing in late 2016.

Th e top six assets referred to by Mr Mackenzie highlighted for future investment are Western Australian Iron Ore, Queensland Coal, New South Wales Energy Coal, and the vast Escondida and Pampa Norte Copper mines in Chile.

Th e company said Olympic Dam continues to be one of the best copper and uranium deposits in the world and is Australias largest underground mine.

Olympic Dam in global top six

Training Centre to open

Roos causing grief on local roadsWRITTEN BY PATRICK GLOVER

Local car repairer David Critchlow has been hard at work over the past few weeks xing cars that have come to grief with kangaroos.

In the last two weeks alone Mr Critchlow has repaired 14 that cars have hit kangaroos on local roads - and more continue to roll.

I was really busy before Easter, but once it rained and greened up they moved away, Mr Critchlow said.

Th en in the past three weeks they have come back.

Almost daily someone comes in with damage fortunately the damage is mostly cosmetic but now we are seeing some big hits in bent bull bars and tyre damage, which can cause loss of control.

Mr Critchlow said half the hits he had dealt with were from collisions that occurred between Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam.

But the danger is not isolated to that stretch of road with Mr Critchlow saying he had heard of someone spotting 43 kangaroos between Roxby Downs and Andamooka.

Motor Accident Commission (MAC)

data showed only 28 crashes involving animals occurred in the Far North last year, and to the end of June 2014 ,there had been a only 10 collisions for the year Th is includes all animal collisions and was not isolated to just kangaroos.

But General Manager for Road Safety Michael Cornish said it was important to note, not all of these crashes were reported and the recent increases can take time to appear in statistics.

The Motor Accident Commission reminds all drivers to be vigilant and attentive on the roads, he said.

Dawn and dusk are likely to be higher risk times for crashes....

Avoid all distractions, like mobile phones, which may take your eyes o the road.

Stick to speed limits, which helps to achieve better braking distances.

Driving is a complex task, and when an animal suddenly enters the road, it is important to be in a position to react quickly.

Roxby Downs Police Senior Sergeant Terry Boylan said local police had not received any reports of an increase in kangaroo collisions, but backed up Mr Cornishs claims that not all accidents are reported.

He pointed out that reports can now be made online.

A kangaroo warning side on the road between Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam, an area where a number

of kangaroos have been hit by cars recently.

RIGHT: Cars that were damaged after hitting kangaroos on

local roads in recent weeks.

Big Bash Breaky Variety Bash hits Roxby. See the photos on page 9.

Gala Dinner Event on September 19Tickets on sale Friday August 22


Volume 11, Wednesday, August 13, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843


O lympian and world cham-pion cyclist Anna Meares came to Roxby Downs last week, paying visits to Olympic Dam, RoxFM and school children at St. Barbaras Parish School and Roxby Downs Area School.

The BHP Billiton ambassador only recently returned from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where she was the Austral-ian Flag bearer and won one gold and one silver medal.

And although she had only one

week off before starting training again, a visit to Roxby Downs was high on her agenda.

Last weeks lightening visit was ac-tually her second to Roxby Downs, and she said she felt right at home.

BHP (sic) were very eager to get me back and visit the schools and see the township. Its wonderful, she said.

I feel like this is home, this is (like) where I grew up.

In coming weeks, as part of her role as a BHP Ambassador and a Little Heroes Foundation Ambas-sador, Meares will shave her head alongside local Olympic Dam mine worker Graham Warren at an event to be held in Adelaide .

The recently introduced clean shaven policy for mine workers at Olympic Dam was recognised as a good opportunity to bring atten-tion to the cancer cause, and raise vital awareness for the Little Heroes Foundation.

BHP Billiton Manager of Commu-nications Anita Mitter said the visits were inspirational for local workers and school children alike.

Now weve got the school saying whens she coming back, whens she coming back? Anita said.

To Annas point it was just the synergy of it all coming together, Mrs Mitter said.

What we wanted to try and drive was almost a deeper level of engage-

ment. So youre doing this for health and safety, which is a priority for us, but hey, wouldnt it be also great if we linked it to shave for a cause and Little Heroes.

I do feel the team at the mine has embraced it.

Meares said she was glad to help and was glad that other people were also getting behind the cause.

Sometimes an external force can cause other people to jump on board as well, because sometimes our care for others is greater than the care for ourselves, she said.

Find out more about Meares recent Glasgow experience in our sport section today.

The Roxby Council will release a report on the ndings from recent Future Roxby public consultation sessions, with copies available to the community at another meeting at The Dunes tomorrow night.

The report, compiled by Natalya Boujenko and the team of independ-ent facilitators that ran the earlier ses-sions, will be made available in both hard copy and online.

No recommendations have been made in the report, but suggestions will be considered and could be imple-mented into the upcoming budget, or longer term plans could be introduced in future budgets.

Roxby Downs Town Administrator Bill Boehm said he hoped the report helped show the community their views would be heard.

I will be looking at every part of the report and things that can be included in the budget, Mr Boehm.

Where possible, actions will be in-cluded in this years business plan.

If the actions are larger scale or longer term, consideration will be giv-en to including them in the 2015-16 Annual Business Plan or beyond.

Th ere are a lot of long term things, but we will include anything we can in the upcoming budget.

We feel happy with the report, Mr Boehm said.

He said the community has been very patient throughout the process.

Th e consultation session tomorrow would give the Roxby Downs com-munity a rst look at the report, and enable locals to hear more about their suggestions.

Th is (meeting) is to give the com-munity an opportunity to hear a sum-mary of their feedback as well as hear councils response and intended actions going forward, Mr Boehm said.

The consultation meeting at The Dunes will start at 7pm.

BY PATRICK GLOVER

Future Roxby report released tomorrow night

Olympian and world champion cyclist Anna Meares visited Roxby Downs last Thursday.

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Volume 11, Wednesday, October 1, 2014www.themonitor.com.au Phone (08) 8671 2683 Fax (08) 8671 2843

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A bumper year for BHP Billiton

Letters to the editor - now back!

Have your say

COMING SOON

Need staff? Need work? TALK TO US. Call on (08) 8671 4622Visit at 6-10 Richardson Place

WorkPacGroup

www.workpac.com

TRADES - MINING - CONSTRUCTION - MANUFACTURING - ELECTRICAL

Great PeopleMany options. Only one choice.

WRITTEN BY PATRICK GLOVER

I t has been disclosed that out of the 175 Heading Contractor workers affected by the company going into liquidation only six will be receiving redundancy packages.

169 out of the 175 were employed as casual sta members and hence redundancy packages did not apply.

However, a McGrathNicol spokesperson told Th e Monitor last

week there was a support package in process.The support package is in effect the work being done to

transition those casual workers into roles with any replacement contractors engaged by BHP Billiton, the spokesperson said.

Local contractors MPS Building and Electrical has also come to the rescue and o ered a handful of ex-Heading Contractor employees positions.

We have picked up a handful, around six, guys, MPS Managing Director Kym Elliot said.

We have picked them up to help with some work on site.We are happy to help where we can, especially when it comes

to local workers.Along with MPS, WorkPac has been appointed to service the

main contract vacated by Heading and has begun receiving appli-cations from former Heading employees to work on the contract.

Meanwhile BHP Billiton is looking for new contractors to replace Heading Contractors, as well as personnel to take over a number of service contracts vacated following Headings liquidation.

Th is may also, it was stated, open up job opportunities for ex-Heading workers.

BHP Billiton and WorkPac were unavailable for further comment at the time of going to press.

Further, McGrathNicol advised late on Friday in a statement that they wont be commenting further on the Heading Contractors situation at this point. Th ey are working toward a resolution of outstanding matters and will provide an update in due course.

A rst for Roxbylink LibraryThe Roxbylink Library blew out candles last Wednesday as it celebrated the rst birthday of the new facilities.

Community Librarian Kimberley Hargrave, who has overseen the transition from the old to new library, said library amenities have grown signi cantly since the upgrade, which marked its first anniversary on September 19, 2014.

Having recently collated the statistics for the 2013/14 nancial year (July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014) for the State Library of South Australia and the National Library, the Roxbylink Library has shown signi cant growth, due of course to the new library, Ms Hargrave said.

Th e librarys collection currently contains 10,102 items for the community to use.

Th ere are 1406 members who are actively using the library compared to 711 in 2013/14.

Th e amazing news is that the new library has been so popular, that the loans for this period have increased to 18,125 with the previous year being 7432 (with over half (10,163) being childrens resources).

Internet bookings have also increased, with 3012 bookings taken (excluding external), with the previous year being 1823.

Th e introduction of the One Card System in December 2012 has brought 1457 reservations while sending 2829 items for people to utilise across the state.

Ms Hargrave said having this new facility has enabled her and her team to promote all the wonderful services and programs they have to o er.

We still have visitors to the library who are amazed at the building and services as they do not expect to see such a facility in the middle of the desert, she said.

Th e past year has been a challenge. Ive enjoyed seeing the community, especially the

children delight in the new library. The colourful furniture, and spaciousness of the

library has been a big hit.Th e reactions of the community seeing the new library

for the rst time is still Ms Hargraves favourite memory from the new library but she said it is getting harder to name just one with the o cial opening and the library recently being named as the recipient of the Jim Crawford Encouragement Award also right up there.

Th e Roxbylink Library, through the new One Card system, has access to over two million resources - not just limited to books and can be viewed on their online catalogue at www.libraries.sa.gov.au/roxbydowns.

Th e library also o ers online databases, e-books and encyclopaedias. BY PATRICK GLOVER

Lifeline for some Heading employees post liquidation

Library emplo

141217 themonitor

Documents

mr perks

mr cuzzubbo

harry perks

roxby central

roxby council

local retailers

important thing

new year