Robert Street: 4 Years of Talking, 10 Years of Tripping.

Robert Street Upgrade – “Flagged”

The following post appeared in the February issue of “Maitland Matters” put out by the “The Maitland & District Progress Association”
Reading it resurrected the following memories of the Upgrade’s tortuous journey!

This trite communique reveals the importance the YPC placed on the distress and anxiety the neglect of Robert Street has inflicted upon the community. In 2022/2023 thousands of dollars were spent (not invested), for an Architectural Proposal; entailing public reviews, hiring surveyors to locate services, then deftly reframing the street’s problems as “Plane Tree Root Control”. Re-framing shifted the focus, leading to many years of delay to ponder over funding, and allow more time for the community (stakeholders) to forget who orchestrated the street’s decline. The Minutes on the YPC website attest to the scant attention, the “potential beautification works”, or “plane tree root control”, as acquired in the last four years. Though it is indisputable who planted and poorly managed the invasive behaviour of the species, despite it being flagged as a “future problem” in this 2016 report:

Council-Meeting-Agenda-8th-March-2017
Chief Executive Officer : Da/Item 6.1 – 2. Road Service Review
“Council has for some time been looking into ways to improve the services provided to the community, with a high priority placed upon the road network within Council’s area.  As a result of this focus, a consultant was engaged, with expertise in road construction and maintenance, to undertake a review of the current methods utilised for road construction and maintenance within the Council district.”

The review highlighted numerous findings and a long list of recommendations… Funding constraints will never go away, so we will need to examine these options and find ways to deliver greater value for money. …
The review of Council’s work practices and methodologies for road construction and maintenance was carried out in accordance with Council’s commitment to continuous improvement, public safety and sustainability. A more sustainable, fit for purpose road network is likely to contribute to minimising the risk of incidents and maximising value for money.
(Item 6.1   Pages 58-60)

*** Curiously as ratepayers, we see road construction and maintenance as a council area of expertise. ***

Experts, “Terry Alford Consulting et al” were commissioned to advise on how to be more efficient (do less work), during which the Report raised the following item of interest for Robert Street :-

Review Of Road Maintenance Arrangements
Prepared by: Terry Alford Consulting Pty Ltd & Sholto Consulting — 30th November 2016

Feature Streetscape – Trees
Tree Planting Plane trees in Maitland [is] causing pavement and kerb damage and annual leaf drop is a problem. Tree Planting is normally scheduled for Autumn and this coincides with Final Quarter of Budget each year. Currently team spends 1 month (2hrs -3 days per week) picking up leaves and clearing drains.

• What is the long term plan for these trees?
•  Are they appropriate?
• Should they be replaced in a staged way?
• Review requirements and check if there is capacity to provide adequate budget for new tree purchases so that these are less frequently deferred or limited.
  
  (DA-6.1-R2-Review-of-Road-Maintenance-Under-Separate-Cover  Item 9  Page 35)

These consultants were engaged for their expertise in road construction and maintenance, to undertake a review of the current methods utilised within the district; in the process they identified the Plane trees in Robert Street to be a future problem, if not dealt with appropriately. So council having installed the trees decades ago, were advised by a paid expert, ignored pleas from ratepayers and disregarded all cues, causing the economic contraction of the Street through structural neglect.

Seven years on the following statement is found in :-
Council Meeting Agenda 28 June 2023
The changing of the season has brought with it the shedding of the leaves from the plane trees in Robert Street, Maitland. As is the case every year, Operations staff from Council’s Maitland depot have adjusted their work practices to attend to the leaf clean up twice a week. This is done to avoid any major inconveniences to the public and traffic during this period.
(Item 18.2 Page 70)

So in June 2023 the trees are referred to as an operational problem requiring “…each year…an adjustment of work practices to attend to…leaf clean up…“. With time and money wasted tinkering with the problem at a cost of $36,000.

According to the Council 2018/19 Annual Business Plan budget funding, a sum of $38,000 was allocated for the renewal/replacement of “Maitland Plane Tree Root Control” (page 30).

During the last five years whilst occasionally pruning roots and branches of the trees, the road surface as also deteriorated, further endangering the “Health and Safety” of those who have to use the street. It as been pointed out in an earlier post that Maitland’s population of around 1250, has a majority of elderly or infirm residents as recorded in a previous census

“Plane Tree Root Control” New Proposal

Another round of “consultation” seems to be looming so that 10% of the community (see What Can We Expect below) can again express some form of acceptance of the “potential beautification works” involving “replacement kerbing early in 2026“, which in turn can then be asserted that “there has been a great deal of interest from the community”. Even though this new proposal is being keenly promoted by the Mayor, it does feel a lot like we’re getting an offering of “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.”

Sarcasm aside, what is in this notification?

The problem trees are to be chopped down leaving stumps to be removed whenever SA Water replaces the aging water mains; which may occur in the next two months? But hopefully before DIT’s new road surface is laid. And to be replaced with a less vigorous species.

Council, SA Water and DIT will be doing what they do best; i.e. meeting regularly Engaging with and Planning Working Parties, whilst Conceiving potential disruptions to the Project, until something Physical emerges from their deliberations.

This project (whatever form it may take) has been “a long time in the making”, but in actual fact the community interest since the 14th October 2021 has been far from favourable. Any day of the week, locals or visitors will express disgust, annoyance, anger, vexation and frustration at the way council has allowed the damage to happen. The most angst directed at the wholesale damage to roadway, kerbs, footpaths, watermains, storm-water drainage and flooding of properties that has been tolerated. This includes local businesses that have had to deal with the damage and flooding created by the Plane Trees. Property owners reluctant to improve commercial properties damaged by the poorly planned and maintained urban infrastructure, leading to cycles of business closures, some buildings standing empty for years.

Finally, of the $1.5m proposed, $610,000 is for resurfacing Robert Street mostly benefitting access for grain trucks to and from the silos, rather than ameliorate street safety or revitalisation. In turn bolstering the ‘service’ centre perception in the comment “strengthening Maitland’s important role as one of the key ‘service’ centres on the Yorke Peninsula”. This shows the relevance with which the YPC community views the town. However this is an artefact of council amalgamation, because Historically Maitland was a large thriving community, the commercial HUB of the Peninsula.

So What Can We Expect

From Maitland’s 1250 residents no more than 10% were involved in the 2021-2023 Wax Concept Study which hardly represents a consensus of interest. The very first October 2021 meeting reported in the Country Times was attended by 9 people, and 5 were council representatives.
At this point the Maitland community has no clear vision of what is the 2026 proposal. Is it the §70-2023 “Wax Design Concept” for which a few had input and viewing before it was put on ice for four years; or is it the §60040- Maitland Plane Tree Root Control (Robert Street Concept Design); or some ham-fisted concoction the Party Planners up Lizzy Street have dreamt up and renamed the §PC0127-“Streetscape-Robert Street, Maitland”. But, reading between the lines one gets the feeling that to placate us, we will have the “usual relevelling and patch up” foisted upon us. It will definitely not be what we want and more than likely not what we NEED.

Our Town

If you have found this article of interest along with our earlier posts addressing the same or similar issues, Press Follow or Subscribe. Share the Blog with friends and neighbours to increase circulation whilst we explore how the town has been systematically run-down in favour of the rest of the Peninsula. Earlier posts in this Blog show that Maitland historically thrived because local farmers required a dense network of local township skills—blacksmiths, mechanics, independent stock agents, churches, banks, bakers, public houses, police, courts, undertakers etc. to be a commercial hub (CBD) for the Peninsula. This was aided by its geographic location being in the middle, of the top, of the Peninsula as it was closer to other settlements. As an aging local sign proclaims “Heart of the Peninsula”. But now when we look down the main street, we see the physical manifestation of what community groups call “death by a thousand cuts”—declining retail, reduced street level services, and an undeniable lack of visible town investment, all while millions of dollars roll out the door to finance the infrastructure of farmers, tourism and other late arrivals.

…oOo…

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Timeline of Robert Street Devolution

For those who are interested, Council’s deliberations of the Robert Street odyssey, aliased “The Plane Tree Root Control” are catalogue below, the first available appearance in the 2018 Minutes has been mentioned earlier:-

Business Plan Performance Report published in the Annual-Report 2018/19 stated for budgeted capital projects (pages 42-43) that the actual expenditure for the year had only been $4,800 with an approximate difference of $32,800 to be carried over to the 2019/20 budget.

The Performance Report for Budgeted Capital Projects Annual-Report 2019/20 went on to highlight that the actual expenditure for the following year had only been $6,750 out of $50,000 budgeted, with no explanation nor reference to the future use of the residual $47,250.
(page 47)

Council Meeting Agenda 8 July 2020 
Footpath rework has been completed within identified streets in …, Maitland ….The clean-up of the leaves being dropped by the plane trees in Robert Street, Maitland continues to absorb the resources of operations staff, with work practices during this period adjusted to minimise any major inconvenience to the public and traffic.
( Item 18.1 Page 29 )

Council Meeting Minutes 12 August 2020 (l) Stormwater Infrastructure Upgrade – Elizabeth Street and Robert Street – Maitland   ($20,000); and approve an exemption for open tendering under PO058 Purchasing and Procurement Policy for the abovementioned projects, delegating authority to the CEO.
(Page 6)

 Council Meeting Agenda 9 December 2020 
Sections of unstable pavers within Robert Street, Maitland are being repaired.
(Item 18.1 Page 38)

Council Meeting Agenda 10 November 2021
The CEO Activities October 2021 : Meet with Consultants / Councillors / Staff – New Concept Plan – Robert Street – Maitland – 7 October 2021.
(Item 16.2 Page 14)

Then during 2022 some activity was recorded in the minutes for §60040 – Plane Tree Root Control (Robert Street Concept Design) :

• Council Meeting Agenda 10 August 2022 –
  §70 :-
  Maitland Robert Street Concept Design Capital 2021-22
  $184,475 $24,952 $159,523
  Budget includes $0.108m proceeds of Glen Street Maitland sale – In Progress .
  (Item 23.1- Attachment 1 Page 59)

• Monthly Capital Projects Update as at 31 August 2022 –
  §60040 :-
  Maitland Plane Tree Root Control (Robert Street Concept Design)
  Act $2,090; Com $4,030; YTD $6,120; TotBud $159,523; RemBud $153,403
  Awaiting design changes arising from public consultation from consultants.
  (Item 23.4- Attachment 2 Page 187)

• Monthly Capital Projects Update as at 31 October 2022 –
  §60040 :-
  Maitland Plane Tree Root Control (Robert Street Concept Design)
  Act $3,362; Com $1,939; YTD $5,301; TotBud $159,523; BudRem $154,222
  Survey quotes received and being evaluated.
  (Item 23.1- Attachment 2 Page 97)

• Council Meeting Attachments 9 November 2022 –
  §CEO Message :-
  Development planning was progressed for Robert Street Maitland Concept Plan … and other major projects …
  Our community can look forward to seeing further progress on these initiatives in the future.
  (Item 22.2- Attachment 1 Page 103)
  Projects 2021/22 :-
  Maitland Robert Street Concept Design 2021/22 :
  Act $24,952; AdoBud $24,952
  (Item 22.2- Attachment 1 Page 155)

• Monthly Capital Projects Update as at 30 November 2022 –
  §60040 :-
  Maitland Plane Tree Root Control (Robert Street Concept Design);
  Act $3,362; Com $20,419; YTD $23,781; TotBud $159,523; BudRem $135,742
  Engaged contractor for detailed survey of Robert Street.
  (Item 23.5- Attachment 2 Page 210)

• Council Meeting Agenda 28 June 2023 –
  The changing of the season has brought with it the shedding of the leaves from the plane trees in Robert Street, Maitland. As is the case every year, Operations staff from Council’s Maitland depot have adjusted their work practices to attend to the leaf clean up twice a week.
  This is done to avoid any major inconveniences to the public and traffic during this period.
  (Item 18.2 – Page 70)

• Council Meeting Agenda 12 July 2023 –
  Quarantine all proceeds after costs for the Robert Street, Maitland upgrade
  (Item 25.3 Page 184 )
  • Proceeds from the sale will be quarantined for the Robert Street, Maitland upgrade.
    (Item 25.3 Page 185)
  • Proceeds of $35,000, less any admin costs, to be quarantined for the Roberts Street, Maitland upgrade.
    (Item 25.3 Page 186)

• Council Meeting Agenda 8 November 2023
  Maitland Robert Street Project – capital renewal expenditure – $35,000 increase to project budget based on quarantine of future anticipated proceeds from sale of Osmond Street Road Reserve to Maitland Lutheran School which is dependent upon positive outcome in relation to road process order.
  (Item 23.8 Page 223)

• Council Meeting Agenda 8 November 2023 – Agenda Confidential
  27.5 Robert Street Maitland Concept Design Report Recommendation
  Section 90 Order:
  That pursuant to Section 90(2) and (3)(b)(i),(d)(i) of the Local Government Act 1999, the Council orders, that the public be excluded from the meeting relating to Item 27.5 Robert Street Maitland Concept Design Report, with the exception of the following persons:
  • Chief Executive Officer
    Executive Assistant to CEO and Mayor
    Director Corporate and Community Services
    Director Assets and Infrastructure Services
    Director Development Services
    • The Council is satisfied that, pursuant to Section 90(2) and (3)(b)(i),(d)(i) of the Act, the information to be received, discussed or considered in relation to report Item 27.5 Robert Street Maitland Concept Design Report, is confidential information relating to: 
      • (b)(i) information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting, or proposing to conduct, business, or to prejudice the commercial position of the council
      • (d)(i) commercial information of a confidential nature (not being a trade secret) the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied the information, or to confer a commercial advantage on a third party.
  • Accordingly, on this basis, the principle that meetings of the Council should be conducted in a place open to the public has been outweighed by the need to keep the information or matter confidential.
    (Items 27.5 Page 257)
    
• The Minutes 11 September 2024 : Robert Street Maitland Concept Design Report
  Recommended Document #: 24/78889:
  The retention of the agenda report, attachments, minutes and supporting documentation relevant to Yorke Peninsula Council Confidential Agenda Report Item 27.5 Robert Street Maitland Concept Design Report from the confidential meeting held on 8 November 2023.
  To be kept confidential for another twelve months.
  (Item 27.10 Page 206)
  
• Meeting Attachments 12 Nov 2025 :
  Confidential Items During 2024-25,
  Council held 50 in camera closed sessions to discuss Confidential Items in accordance with Sections 90(2) and (3) (a) (b) (d) (j) (k) of the Local Government Act 1999. A list of information is provided below.
  Robert Street Maitland – Concept Design
  Formerly Maitland Plane Tree Root Control
  (Item 22.2- Attachment 1 Page 142-145)
  
  Legend :-
  Act= Actual Expenditure; Com= Committed Expenditure; YTD= Year to Date;
  TotBud= Total Budget; BudRem= Budget Remaining; AdoBud= Adopted Budget

Contact

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