Oaklands Estate Residents' Association

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:14): A week ago last Monday night, I was pleased to attend the AGM of the Oaklands Estate Residents' Association. The meeting was attended by over 40 or so residents and was held in the heart of the area in the beautiful surrounds of the Oaklands Estate Kindergarten. On this particular night, we heard from David about the history of the area and, in particular, the grand old homestead that had been at the centre of this estate for so many years.

This association is a group of local residents with passion, energy and drive to care for and advocate for their local area. They have operated at a local level at all times with the residents top of mind, working with local council to achieve their outcomes. The meeting was filled with energetic conversation based on frank and fearless honesty which I have no doubt is the foundation and reason for the group's successful longevity.

This is a group that was formed in 1952. Membership is open to all residents of the estate and the association is proud that many of the original estate residents from the fifties and the sixties are still living in the area and continue to be active in the association and other community affairs. The area is also home to new families who have moved into the area over the last 20 years or so to enjoy the ambience and amenities of the estate. Residents are of the view that these families are attracted to the area by the family-sized homes on family-sized allotments, situated close to shops, schools, public transport and recreation facilities.

The estate includes around 300 homes and is estimated to house around 1,000 occupants. Oaklands Estate encompasses the triangular area that is bounded by the River Sturt, Oaklands Road, Chambers Street and Minchinbury Terrace. It was originally known as the Oaklands Estate and was officially included in the suburb of Marion around 1966. However, the locals still fondly and generally refer to this area as Oaklands Estate.

The association has an extensive and successful history, finding its origins with concerned residents when they formed the association in response to the rapid transition of the estate from a rural to an urban area. Much of the beautiful character of the estate seen today is due to the hard work in the early years by this group. The establishment of street trees and high-quality reserve areas, as well as building and retaining housing types that complement the character of the area are the group's focus.

The group has always been keen to preserve the estate as a quality residential area to ensure the maintenance of parks and gardens and of roads, footpaths and drainage systems, to encourage neighbourly attitudes, to ensure a quality of life acceptable to all and, importantly, to always be prepared to pursue matters likely to be of benefit to residents of the estate.

The association is active in promoting regular newsletters. They have their website and they also hold an annual barbecue open to all estate residents and information nights on matters of interest. Recent activities of the group have seen them monitoring the environs of the new Marion station and surrounds, being actively involved in the new wetlands on matters such as lighting, plantings and revegetation, and speed signs on access roads. They have been lobbying for the additional two zebra crossings in the Park Holme Shopping Centre car park, which they were successful with, and the group undertook a street tree survey on the estate, with a list compiled where new trees can be planted.

The Oaklands Estate Residents' Association is indeed a model community group of action of robust membership and I am hopeful they will continue to champion their area well into the future and I look forward to continued involvement with them.