RESIDENTS affected by Gawler Council’s push to expand its boundaries will be able to have their say on the proposal from today.
After first introducing plans to grow its jurisdiction in May last year, public consultation will open today on council’s boundary reform plans.
As part of the plan, the suburbs of Hewett, Kalbeeba and Gawler Belt and portions of Concordia, Evanston Park, Reid and Hillier would come under Gawler Council’s control.
The areas suggested to be removed from Gawler’s jurisdiction are Bibaringa and Uleybury.
Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said the proposal had been developed with the “intent of forming one community with one council”.
“Council needs to understand our community’s views on the current proposal and its desires with regard to embracing our entire community, some of which happens to sit outside our current council boundaries,” she said.
“It’s important for us to understand where people feel connected to, what community means to them and whether they agree with the idea that, from a community, social, economic and environmental perspective, changing Gawler’s boundaries just makes good sense.”
Light Regional and Barossa councils have both condemned Gawler’s push to expand its boundaries, with Hewett in particular proving an area of contention.
The suburb – part of Light Regional Council – is a major population centre for the Kapunda-based council and Mayor Bill O’Brien has previously stated it would create a financial problem if ceded to Gawler.
A small survey by Gawler councillor Nathan Shanks and Light Regional councillor Simon Zeller conducted throughout this year also showed only one-in-10 Hewett residents want to join Gawler Council.
Following the 2018 State Election, the independent Boundaries Commission was formed to decide on councils’ jurisdiction change proposals, with Gawler currently in the second of three phases of evaluation.
Gawler CEO Henry Inat said council wanted to “appropriately prepare” for its future.
“Gawler is a major regional hub and is also one of the fastest growing local government areas in South Australia,” he said.
“Rapid population growth brings with it change and places considerable pressure on infrastructure and services due to increased demand.
“Boundary reform will enable council to appropriately prepare for this growth and ensure that the community has appropriate representation in shaping Gawler’s future.”
The public consultation period will run for six weeks and will include two community forums on September 21 and 28 – both Monday nights and both starting at 7pm.
Submissions can also be made to council’s online consultation forum portal at https://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/your-council/boundaryreform.