February 2021 Update

Last year as you know, was a difficult one for everyone. We did still manage to have
some community meetings, at the Echunga Golf Club, as it is large enough for social
distancing. We will be holding our first meeting for the year on TUESDAY 23RD
FEBRUARY, at 7pm and everyone is welcome.
We are very happy to see how well our main street planter boxes are doing, through
summer, as members of the association have a roster to water and maintain them.

Woodgate playground, Hagen Street.
The Association applied for and received a “Stronger Communities Programme
Grant” from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to upgrade this
small playground. Late 2019 we had an initial working bee, where we cleaned up
undergrowth, pruned and generally tidied up. Early last year we created a “nature”
pathway for small children to safely ride their bikes.
The District Council of Mt Barker has installed new fencing. We have a solid bench
and seats, made by the Macclesfield Men’s Shed, and some exciting new playground
equipment on order, which will be installed soon. This area will become a safe place
for parents to relax whilst their small children have some fun.

New Community Park opposite the Recreation Ground

“Love your Creek”
The Association also applied for and received a “Grass Roots Grant” from the
Landscape SA and Fleurieu Region, for our “Love your creek” project.
This will go towards revegetating, weeding, removing some pine and ash trees and
slashing. We plan to plant 500 native shrubs at a community planting day sometime
in late autumn

Work has already begun, with Association and volunteer community members,
removing fences from alongside the roadway, tidying up dead branches and slashing
of weeds and high grasses. Special thank you to Geoff Smith, Joe Kuptke (Adelaide
Hills Tree Services) Steve Rowe Spraying and Farmgate services.
Anyone who has some spare time and would like to help with this, please contact
Lyn Wells via [email protected]
The District Council of Mount Barker have also removed some trees and done some
trimming along the boundary near the main road. Through a Federal “Small town
post covid infrastructure grant”. 200 metres of hard rubble pathways will be made
to connect the main street with the Primary School.
In the longer term, plans are underway for a gas fired barbecue shelter, a nature
adventure playground for older children, and an all-important toilet block.
This park is part of the approved upgrade of our township, within the Strategic
Township Plan, that was voted on by the community at town meetings in 2019.
This Township Plan is available to peruse at the District Council of Mount Barker’s
website, under “Echunga Township Plan”.

Fundraising
Each year the Association fundraises towards our ongoing projects and for the
Public Liability Insurance that we need to have to cover our members and
volunteers. Last year was difficult, because of the pandemic, but we did manage to
run a Bunning’s sausage sizzle, (we got the last one before lockdown) and we also
held a hotdog stall at Farmgate’s Christmas party.
Membership

We look forward to gaining a few more members of the Association this year. It is
only $10 a year to join, and this gives you access to our private member’s Facebook
page, input on and the option to vote on any ongoing or new projects and the
opportunity of making friendships by working together towards the continuing
beautification of our wonderful little town.

Membership forms are available on our website www.echunga.org.au
Contact: email [email protected]