Gawler council’s boundary proposal has neighbours up in arms as more than $1bn in rates up for grabs

Regional councils are in arms after a council north of Adelaide has proposed to expand its borders and looks to double its population.

The full map shows the scale of Gawler’s Boundary proposal. Picture: Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

A South Australian council said it stands to lose $1bn in rates over 30 years if a boundary shake up goes ahead.

Gawler Council is currently awaiting an outcome from the SA Boundaries Commission over a boundary change proposal it estimates would give it $5m more a year and largely affect Light and Barossa councils, with a minor impact on Playford.

Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said Gawler Council’s proposed realignment would have a “significant detrimental impact” to the region if they lose Concordia, a 10,000 home master planned development 40km north of Adelaide.

“The current revenue estimates from the development of Concordia alone amount to over $1bn in the next 30 years,” Mr Lange said.

“This is revenue and opportunity lost to the Barossa, an economic base for the state, and funding that will support improved service by the Barossa Council that has a record of delivering outcomes.

“Furthermore, the result of changing the boundary will have a significant detrimental impact on the Concordia development and its success.”

Each region is broken down, with the area of interest in Concordia shown outlined in red. Picture: Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

Maps on the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website show the areas of neighbouring councils affected by Gawler's current boundary proposal. Picture: Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

Gawler Mayor Karen Redman said the people of Concordia already consider themselves “Gawler people”, and once completed, the new residents would approximately double the council’s population.

“Concordia is about 800m from our main street,” Ms Redman said.

“Many people in Concordia use Gawler services, they’re involved in Gawler community groups and also people in Hewett are involved in community groups, sporting clubs, gymnastics etc.

“That tells us that Concordia and Hewett are more aligned to Gawler than they are to Nurioopta or Kapunda.

“Concordia people will come to Gawler … many people who live in Concordia now believe themselves to be Gawler people … everyone would pay their fair share.”

Light and Barossa councils “refused” to provide Gawler with financial information while Gawler prepared its boundary proposal, Ms Redman said, meaning her council wasn’t aware of potential economic impact.

“(That) is their prerogative but the Boundary Commission does have that power,” Ms Redman said.

“We will leave it up to the Boundaries Commission to look into those financials of those other councils.”

The Gawler Council lodged its stage one application in 2019 to include seven new suburbs, and return two areas to Playford Council.

SA Boundaries Commission is conducting an independent inquiry funded by Gawler and budgeted to cost $379,500, which will include community consultations.

Light Regional Council Mayor Bill O’Brien said his council was “vehemently opposed” to the “flawed proposal” that could cost them $3.6m annually from 1429 properties targeted.

“Council has maintained that all councils should be focusing their efforts and energies on providing the best services to their communities and on ensuring that they grow their areas for more affordable housing,” Mr O’Brien said

“The Town of Gawler’s proposal does nothing but distract our hardworking team at Light away from its core functions and require it to direct its resources to providing information to the Boundaries Commission’s investigator.

“This just wastes everybody’s time and effort.”

The Campbelltown Council is currently awaiting the outcome of a similar boundary proposal inquiry that would net them $1.2m in rates annually.

Playford Council were contacted for comment.

Originally published as Gawler council’s boundary proposal has neighbours up in arms as more than $1bn in rates up for grabs