Connect - 18 June 2021

Offshore osprey safety

Not only do we have a significant role in the safety of the South Australian community through construction and maintenance of roads and infrastructure, our road safety policy work, legislation and marine services, but we also contribute to species conservation. In this case, ospreys, which have been in decline over the past 20 years.

The relocation of an onshore osprey nest to a new purpose-built offshore nesting platform near Port Gawler is helping to protect the endangered species by removing the threat of land-based predators.

Well done to Marine Services staff who collaborated with the volunteer protection groups (Southern YP Landcare Group, Birdlife Australia and Birds SA) to ensure the new platform met safety standards for boaties by carrying the required red marking and navigation light. Another five structures, will be installed in waters around Yorke Peninsula.

T2D team engages

Community engagement around the Torrens to Darlington Project has been ramping up with a new website, the launch of community surveys and a series of roadshows and displays at key locations now under way.

Interest in the project has been reflected by more than 1400 survey responses in the first week and a half. It has been encouraging to note that over 73% of respondents have been positive towards the project.

The effort behind the extensive community engagement program is significant and greatly appreciated.

Lauren Gardner and Matt Leek at Westfield Marion.

Road safety week appreciation

President of the Safer Australian Roads and Highways group, Peter Frazer, recently returned to Adelaide to show his appreciation for our role in hosting National Road Safety Week, an initiative he created in 2013 following the death of his daughter the year before.

Road Safety Week launched on Sunday 16 May. South Australian bridges, buildings and icons were lit up in yellow and we had a week-long presence in Rundle Mall with our road safety marquee.

Mr Frazer was particularly complimentary of the way the Road Safety, Policy and Research directorate worked with the Communications teams. Collaboration is a core departmental CHEER value and it’s encouraging to see it displayed so effectively.

Peter Frazer with Sarah Clark, Director Road Safety, Policy and Research, Road and Marine Services.

Staff spotlight is on ...

Yolanda Zhao joined the Department via the Graduate Program in 2019, following three years in the private sector.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering as well as a Masters in Electronic Engineering, Yolanda wanted to develop her career by working on broader, larger-scale projects, which she is certainly doing.

Currently working in Engineering Services at Grenfell Street, Yolanda will soon move to the Traffic Management Centre in Network Management Services as an ITS Engineer for six months.

Friday Flashback

Today’s Friday Flashback shows an early version of the web, with tram wires in abundance along King William Street. The photo appears to be from the ’50s or ’60s.