Regional ratepayers will be feeling the sting of the Weatherill Government’s disastrous energy policies after the Local Government Association (LGA) warned councils will pay 30-50 per cent more for electricity in 2017.

Like any business of scale, local government isn’t immune to electricity price cost pressures and two new energy (electricity) supply contracts negotiated by LGA Procurement on behalf of councils will see costs increase by 30-50 per cent in 2017. These escalating costs will put pressure on council rates. (LGA: State Budget Submission 2017-18, p. 33)

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick is encouraging people in Hammond to get behind the Liberal Party’s statewide consultation on the future of natural resource management in South Australia.

“Our online survey, launched today, aims to gauge community satisfaction with the state’s eight Natural Resource Management Boards with topics including regional boundaries, board membership and the methods used to raise levies being consulted on.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick, has welcomed the draft determination of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding SACOME’s joint electricity purchasing group, which included major industry stakeholders in the Hammond Electorate.

“I submitted a letter to the ACCC in support of SACOME’s joint electricity purchasing group, as I can see the benefits it will provide the involved businesses,” said Mr Pederick.

The Hammond Electorate has suffered a population drain impacting on the local economy, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the 12 months, between 2015 and 2016, the Murray Mallee lost 131 people, raising concerns about the impact of high unemployment and challenges in providing career opportunities for youth in the region.

As the communities in Hammond face significant challenges in the battle against drugs, the Weatherill Government this week blocked legislation that would have allowed parents, police and child protection officers to apply to a court for mandatory treatment orders for a child addicted to illicit drugs.

The Controlled Substances (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill would have led to the establishment of a vital facility for the treatment of young people struggling with drug addiction.

The State Liberals have introduced legislation to give lasting peace of mind to shack owners across the Hammond electorate.

If passed, the legislation will allow lessees of ‘life-lease’ shack sites to enter into permanent arrangements, fulfilling the State Liberal’s longstanding commitment to allowing South Australian shack owners to enjoy their properties for generations to come.

Adrian Pederick, Member for Hammond last week questioned the Minister for Transport on sections of the Mallee and Dukes Highways, which extend alongside the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park development.

“During the biggest harvest we have had in South Australia, the Department of Transport reconfigured intersections of the Tailem Bend Motorsport Park with the Mallee and Dukes Highways,” said Mr Pederick.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick was advocating in Parliament last week regarding the condition of roads within the Langhorne Creek region, due to the severe damage to the roads because of flood events.

“On 02nd of March I asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure when the Langhorne Creek region would be receiving the much needed road maintenance to fix flood damage to local roads which occurred over six months ago,” said Mr Pederick.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick is taking action to assist landowners affected by the November hailstorm.

“I am of the understanding there are recovery assistance grants of up to $10,000 for eligible primary producers in the Riverland who were impacted by the hailstorm which occurred in November,” said Mr Pederick.

Member for Hammond, Adrian Pederick is concerned about recent event’s that saw Mobilong Prison go into lockdown.

“Mobilong Prison was originally built in 1987 with the capacity of 160. Now in 2017 the number of beds has expanded to over 460,” said Mr Pederick.