Councils across South Australia are required to periodically conduct Representation Reviews, to ensure their structure and compositions remain fair, equitable and responsive to the evolving needs of communities. The Local Government Act 1999 requires Council must ensure that all aspects of its composition and the issue of the division, or potential division of wards are comprehensively reviewed, every 8 years.

We reviewed our existing composition which includes examining ward boundaries and the number of elected members, while taking into account factors such as demographic trends, population projections and communities of interest. Council’s composition and structure, including an alternative ward boundary realignment option was considered by Council and a draft Representation Review Report prepared for community consultation.

Council at its meeting 17 September 2024 approved in-principle that the structure for consultation include:

• The council area continues to be divided into wards.
• The council area is divided into six (6) wards.
• The elected body of Council be comprised of twelve (12) Ward Councillors, with two (2) Councillors representing each ward and a Mayor elected by the community as a whole.
• A ward boundary realignment Map V 1

The next steps in the Representation Review process include Council consideration to the community engagement feedback and finalisation of the Representation Review Report at its meeting of 10 December 2024.

Following Council approval of the structure and composition, a final Representation Review Report will be submitted to the South Australian Electoral Commission for approval and certification.

Any changes will come into effect at the next periodic election, scheduled for November 2026.