https://www.facebook.com/100427615153757/

Yorke Peninsula Media, Minlaton (2025)

16/10/2025

A THORNY PROBLEM EMERGES FOR THE NEW MAYOR

It all centres on what is a confidential item and what is not a confidential item on the Yorke Peninsula council's monthly agenda.

There's some community angst about the confidential section of the agenda and how it is being used.

Before we get into the thorny problem for the mayor we must understand this basic premise.

The CEO or senior administrators put items in the confidential section of the agenda for various reasons, citing the Local Government Act.

But that doesn't mean they have to remain confidential in the meeting.

Prior to discussing the confidential section councillors must consider if an item should remain confidential or not.

If they think it shouldn't be there because the community should know about it, then they vote to remove it from the confidential section so it can be debated in open council.

It's that simple.

Councillors have the right to take items out of this section if they want to.

Now to the problem that fits nicely into the section we have just covered.

A ratepayer, Heinrich Weichers has written to the Mayor and all councillors complaining about the withholding of documents by the CEO Andrew Cameron that have been requested by multiple councillors from as far back as 2020.

The issue revolves around council's construction of South Coast road in 2017 on part of Heinrich's property without the necessary planning, surveying and consent notices.

In 2018 Hoyle Agriculture Pty Ltd bought the property that adjoins Bellbird road on the eastern side.

Heinrich owns the land on the western side.

In his letter Heinrich says in February the following year access to Bellbird road was blocked by a gate and structure installed without authorisation across the road and padlocked by Hoyle Agriculture Pty Ltd.

"In December that year, a day declared "Catastrophic Fire Danger" the gate across Bellbird road was padlocked again which prevented access for emergency services from gaining entry to my property placing my family at severe risk," he said.

To overcome the entire problem Heinrich Weichers has offered on numerous occasions to give the land to council for free as long as the CEO fulfils his statutory obligations and releases the documents the councillors have been asking for over the past 5 years.

Council is now spending thousands of dollars to compulsorily acquire the land in question even though Heinrich is still offering it to council for free.

"Rather than accepting the donation the CEO is pressing ahead with compulsory acquisition thus avoiding acting on previous requests submitted by elected members for the documents," Heinrich said.

This courageous challenge has been led by Councillor Meyer who was temporarily booted from council for asking too many questions.

A lot of the material is buried in confidential items.

Heinrich Weichers has asked the councillors and the Mayor to again reach out and accept his donation of land for free as long as the CEO releases the documents requested by councillors.

He said it could finally answer Councillor Meyer's question.

"Why are the documents that are being requested by Multiple Elected Members being withheld from the Elected Members."

12/10/2025

IS WALLAROO THE TESTING GROUND FOR FERRIES?

It appears Spencer Gulf Searoad which runs the ferry service between Wallaroo and Lucky Bay has come in for severe criticism from the community.

In a recent press article the company claimed it is looking to secure a replacement ferry so it can resume its operations after November 30th.

The previous ferry the Aurora V which previously serviced the route has been contracted for sale to the Samoa Ports Authority for a price of US$5 million.

It is the second time that the Wallaroo ferry has been sold to offshore interests.

Community members haven't held back in their comments about the company's tactics and the lack of oversight by the Copper Coast Council in preventing the continued sale of the ferries.

One resident, Brian Penny says on the local ratepayers group page that he feels the ferry service is being used as a sales yard for ferries, because every time they get one, the for sale sign goes up.

Helen Bull says there's been many excuses over the years but she thought the council should have cancelled their contract years ago.

"It's become quite obvious this is what they are doing and council should have a clause in their contract that stops them from doing it or impose significant fines on them," Jeanette Stevens said.

Gaynor Crosby gets right to the point by claiming there are many umbrellas to this company.

"Parent company designs boats, built off shore, give them sea time in Australia for approval for on selling.

"Chances are when the ferry goes to the Harwood Slip for maintenance, it is not coming back to Wallaroo.

"They're just using us as a testing ground," she concluded.

07/10/2025

COUNCILLOR BEHAVIOUR COMPLAINTS LISTED FOR COUNCIL MEETING.

The Yorke Peninsula Council Ratepayers Association is extremely concerned that the council agenda for tomorrow's meeting has several councillor behavioural complaints listed in the confidential items section.

As such the Association has sent all councillors a letter of concern.

The Association's chair Deborah Lewis said while the association is unaware of the content or details of the complaints, it is deeply concerned that history is not repeated, and we trust Council will take a conciliatory approach to resolution of these matters.

"Maybe the matters are minor in nature but due to the confidential overlay, we don’t and won’t know until it is all too late.

"We note both appear to be quite historic in nature and are surprised they continue and have not been resolved or dismissed in a timelier manner.

One YPM reader from Point Turton said seeing it is the first meeting with a new mayor, surely the items haven't been put there as a trap for young players.

"Otherwise why haven't they been dealt with way prior to this.

"Little hand grenades ring a bell, so watch out Kylie," the reader said.

Deborah Lewis said the association's members and the broader community are of the strong view that we have absolutely no appetite for any more Councillors being hung out to dry through any form of public humiliation at personal and/or financial cost.

"I’m sure we agree we have moved on from medieval times of public hangings.

"Rather we expect any representatives to conduct mediation processes that seek resolutions and that are not driven by perceived retribution or vindictive processes.

"To do otherwise risks putting a chilling effect on democratic processes and questioning," she said.

"This also potentially discourages future generations as it would give pause for thought of potential risks for anyone considering standing for Council, in the future.

"Equally we will not tolerate the use of ratepayers’ funds to finance any form of legal pursuit through the weaponisation of the Behavioural Standards Board or any other local government mechanism – not past, present or future.

"We support Kylie Gray.

"She has been given a clear and unequivocal mandate by the community to effect change, in her role as Mayor.

"Changes in behaviours, accountability and transparency that facilitates good governance," Deborah said.

30/09/2025

YOU WONT CATCH ME TWICE....YA WANNA BET

Four drivers were caught drink driving on the Yorke Peninsula over the weekend, with one of the drivers caught twice!

About 10.45pm on Friday 26 September, Yorke Mid North Highway Patrol stopped a white utility on Jetty Road at Marion Bay for a mobile driver test.

The driver, a 57-year-old man from Marion Bay, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.152.

He was issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence, and offered a lift home, which he declined.

Then, just after 11.30pm, police observed the same white ute driving on Jetty Road at Marion Bay and again stopped it for a mobile driver test.

The same driver recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.138 and he was issued a further six-month instant loss of licence.

He was reported for two counts of drink driving and driving while suspended.

He will be summonsed to appear in the Maitland Magistrates Court at a later date.

About 7.15pm on Saturday 27 September, Yorke Mid North Highway Patrol stopped a 17-year-old boy from Minlaton driving a black station wagon on Blue Crab Court at Ardrossan for a mobile driver test.

The teenager recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.093.

He was issued with a six-month instant loss of licence and reported for drink driving and breaching a condition of his Provisional 1 licence.

He will be summonsed to appear in court.

Just before 6pm on Sunday 28 September, Yorke Mid North Highway Patrol stopped a white ute on Elizabeth Street at Maitland for a mobile driver test.

The driver, a 52-year-old Maitland man, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.077 and was issued with a $980 fine and four demerit points.

About 7.30pm on Sunday, Yorke Mid North Highway Patrol stopped a black sedan on Taylor Street, Kadina for a mobile driver test.

The driver, a 50-year-old Kadina man, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.058.

He was issued with a $980 fine and four demerit points.

24/09/2025

KYLIE GRAY BOLTED IN

Kylie Leanne Gray has absolutely smashed the election result for the supplementary election for Mayor of the Yorke Peninsula Council.

The provisional result was declared yesterday afternoon, and now there is a 72 hour wait whereby the defeated candidate Michael O'Connell can request a re-count.

If he fails to do so Kylie will be officially declared the Mayor.

There were 3,685 (38.95% return rate) envelopes returned with a voter participation rate of 38.33% of the total enrolment.

The result :-

O'CONNELL, Michael 996 votes which was 27.58% of the total

GRAY, Kylie Leanne 2,615 votes which was 72.42% of the total and provisionally elected.

One YPM reader from Warooka said this is a show of total strength and a sign of community support for transparency and open government.

"This sends a clear message to the CEO Andrew Cameron that you'd better start taking community concerns seriously otherwise you're out.

"As for the remaining members of the Rubber Stamp gang, your days are numbered, so think of a career change," he said.

With there still being more than 12 months before the next general council election there may well in deed be a by-election for Kylie's councillor seat.

21/09/2025

PORT PIRIE P PLATER POUNCED ON

A P plate driver has been detected drink driving at Kadina early yesterday morning.

At 1.30am on Saturday 20 September, Kadina police stopped a Holden Ute on South Terrace for the purpose of a breath test.

The driver allegedly produced a blood alcohol reading of 0.174.

A 19-year-old man from Port Pirie was reported for drink driving and contravening his provisional licence conditions.

He was issued with a 12-month immediate loss of licence and his car will be impounded for 28 days.

He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

19/09/2025

HEY BILL....YOU'RE A FAKE!

Police are warning business owners to be on the lookout for fake money after numerous incidents in the Yorke Mid North area.

There have been multiple reports of counterfeit $100 and $50 notes being used between 21 August and 12 September to purchase various items at service stations, hotels and supermarkets.

Police urge business owners and retail staff to be vigilant when receiving cash and advise consumers to take a little extra time to check their notes when making purchases and receiving change.

If you suspect you have a counterfeit note, please report it to the Police Assistance Line on 131444.

Handle the note as little as possible and store it in an envelope.

Please be prepared to tell police the time and place where you believe you were passed the fake bank note and a description of the person or people you believe passed it to you.

If you are a business proprietor and believe the fake bank note was passed by a customer, note the person’s description and details if they leave the premises prior to police arrival.

Please also note any other relevant information such as description of the suspect, anyone else they were with, and their vehicle.

If you have CCTV, please check the footage for the suspect to assist police.

Police recommend that anyone accepting money check the texture of the note, other in-built security features and printing.

To determine if a suspect note is counterfeit, it is best to compare it with a note that is known to be genuine.

17/09/2025

HEY! HAVE YA VOTED?

If you want change, then the time is now.

Postal ballots for the supplementary election for the position of mayor with the Yorke Peninsula Council must be with the state electoral commission by midday next Monday otherwise all late entries will be discarded.

So with the hopeless delivery service from Australia Post, we'd suggest you get those ballots posted today or at least tomorrow by the latest.

REMEMBER, change comes from your vote.

15/09/2025

WE CRASHED THROUGH THE 100,000 BARRIER.......THANKYOU.

Time for a little bit of self indulgence here...hope you don't mind but we're so excited.

One of our stories this week was read by a record 101,000 readers on our YPM site so we say a massive thankyou for your ongoing support.

Our readership is on a massive up curve because we're providing current news that matters to you from the Yorke Peninsula.

We strive to make the decision makers accountable with professional well researched journalism and hope to continue delivering such news well into the future.

So once again a big thankyou.

12/09/2025

EXTREME SPEED....YOU'RE DONE

A driver has lost his licence after he was caught travelling at an extreme speed at Wallaroo yesterday.

Just before 10am on Thursday 11 September, police were conducting speed detection duties on Cornish Terrace when they detected a Ford SUV travelling at 121km/h in a 50km/h speed zone.

Police stopped the vehicle and subsequently reported the driver.

A 46-year-old Kadina man was reported for extreme speed, issued with a twelve-month instant loss of licence and his vehicle was impounded.

He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

09/09/2025

A DRUNK ALMOST TAKES OUT A COP CAR

A drunk driver has lost his licence after being stopped at Coobowie yesterday afternoon.

Just before 5pm Monday 8 September, a Yorketown patrol was driving on Hickeys Drive when a Toyota ute travelling in the opposite direction allegedly crossed the centre line into the path of the police vehicle.

The officer took evasive action to avoid a crash and when he turned around to intercept the Toyota, it was detected speeding at 75 km/h in the 50 km/h zone.

Police stopped and spoke with the driver, a 55-year-old local man, who underwent a breath test, recording a result of 0.223 - over four times the legal limit.

The man was reported for drink driving, speeding and failing to keep left of the centre line.

He was issued with a 12-month instant loss of licence and will be summonsed to court later this year.

07/09/2025

AN AMAZING FEAT FOR MURDOCK OF WAROOKA.

A massive congratulations to Adam Murdock on winning his 20th A Grade Club Championship in a row at Warooka Golf Club.

The last thing on Adam Murdock's mind when he won the Warooka A grade golf championship at the age of 13, was that he would be accepting the trophy again in 2025 after a further 19 consecutive years.

An outstanding sporting achievement in South Australia for a young man whom has been described as laid back, laconic, and a bit of a larrikin.

His achievements are state wide winning the South Australian Sand Greens golf championship on many occasions going back to back at Warooka and Tintinara in 2017-18 following his success at Cleve in 2015.

On any golf club honour board on the Peninsula you'll see Adam's name in gold lettering under Open Champion.

The Murdock family have been an integral part of the Warooka Golf Club with the whole family through the generations being not only good golfers but good club people.

Adam works in the family transport business and spends hours of his time volunteering at the Golf club along with his mates.

Congratulations Adam, that's one helluva achievement.

(Photo courtesy Warooka Golf Club)

Yorke Peninsula Media

16/10/2025

12/10/2025

07/10/2025

30/09/2025

24/09/2025

21/09/2025

19/09/2025

17/09/2025

15/09/2025

12/09/2025

09/09/2025

07/09/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category