Hills residents plead with Campbelltown Council once again to abandon boundary realignment plan

Adelaide’s eastern turf war has reignited after a council was given a green light towards snatching land worth $1m in extra rates, despite large opposition.

Adelaide Hills Council has expressed deep disappointment after Campbelltown City Council’s proposal to aquire two Hills suburbs and more than $1m in rates revenue was progressed to the next stage.

Adelaide Hills Mayor Dr Jan-Claire Wisdom said the council would put their all into the formal inquiry process to prevent plans to claim large parts of Rostrevor and Woodforde by Campbelltown.

“Adelaide Hills Council is deeply disappointed for the communities involved given the large majority of them have expressed opposition to being taken over by Campbelltown,” she said.

“This is not the determination we had hoped for, but it has now been made and we will immediately pivot to focus our efforts on the formal inquiry process.”

The Local Government Boundaries Commission met on July 20 to consider Campbelltown’s Stage 2 proposal, along with Adelaide Hills Council’s letter in response to plans provided by Campbelltown.

In a letter to the Adelaide Hills Council, the commission chairman confirmed the proposal did meet requirements and an inquiry ahd allowed the proposal to proceed.

“We hope the ‘new’ Campbelltown City Council who will inherit this situation will rethink the impact that an investigation will have on the wellbeing of the communities they wish to annex,” said Mayor Wisdom.

“They feel connected with the Adelaide Hills environment and are concerned about any potential future push for changes to zoning.

“Adelaide Hills Council has a good reputation for valuing the open space and ambience that comes with retaining appropriate property allotment sizes consistent with the living standards desired and enjoyed by its residents.”

The saga, which has been ongoing for more than three years, has seen a number of surveys conducted, including a $14,000 survey, independently commissioned by Campbelltown last year, which found that 62 per cent of residents surveyed did not support a boundary realignment. It mirrored a similar result to a survey conducted by the Adelaide Hills Council in 2019.

Rostrevor resident Steve Swann said after the most recent survey, he was shocked by Campbelltown’s decision to push ahead.

“The survey was very clear. The overwhelming majority of residents do not want this boundary change … so why isn’t Campbelltown listening?

“We will continue to fight this as they can’t just ignore the wishes of the community.”

The Commission has invited Adelaide Hills Council to provide comment on the inquiry brief by August 29 2022.

“I believe that our Council is well-placed to respond to the Commission’s determination through our recent resolution to establish a Boundary Change Committee in response to the Campbelltown claim,” Mayor Wisdom said.

“We will also send a letter to all affected residents informing them of developments.”

The Boundaries Commission publishes information about current proposals at: www.dit.sa.gov.au/local- government/boundaries-commission/current-proposals