About Adelaide Plains Council

Adelaide Plains Council represents a proud community with vibrant townships and remarkable landscapes. We represent an estimated population of 10,932 people (2023 estimate) across 935 square kilometres.

Our council area covers a rural area with a large tidal coastal region facing the Gulf of St Vincent. Our main townships are Dublin, Mallala and Two Wells, our coastal settlements include Middle Beach, Thompson Beach, Parham and Webb Beach, and we have a large residential area in Lewiston.

Formerly the District Council of Mallala since 1937, our name changed to Adelaide Plains Council in 2016.

Adelaide Plains Council acknowledges that we are located on the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land and we acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

On this page: How council works / Electoral information / Learn more about our council area

How council works

Adelaide Plains Council is established to provide for the government and manage our area at the local level. Our role is to make informed and responsible decisions in the interests of our community.

In particular, we provide and coordinate services and facilities to benefit our community. We support socially just and environmentally sustainable development, promote initiatives to maintain our enviable lifestyle, protect our remarkable landscapes, and represent community interests. In addition, Council’s role is to exercise, perform and discharge the powers, functions and duties of local government under the Local Government Act and other applicable legislation.

Making decisions

Decision-making is our most important function.

Council is currently represented by a Mayor and 9 area councillors, who are elected by the community. The Mayor is the ‘principal member’ and leader of Council. Council Members represent the views and interests, and make decisions on behalf of the community.

Council Members can only make decisions by resolution, in a formal council meeting and by majority vote. Council Members formally convene at least once each month to consider items to be discussed (listed as an ‘agenda’) and make decisions. Special meetings are typically called to address urgent or specific matters, but may be called for any item at the request of Council.

As Council Members cannot make decisions outside of a council meeting, resolutions are made that give direction and instructions to the CEO, these are documented as ‘minutes’. The CEO is responsible for implementing resolutions and the day-to-day operations of Council. The CEO is also delegated certain powers to make decisions on behalf of Council.

We also have committees to support Council decision-making. Each committee is established to provide advice to Council on specific topics and functions by making recommendations for Council’s consideration. These are also documented as ‘minutes’.
Council and committee meetings are open to the community and anyone may attend to observe. Sometimes we may need to receive, discuss, or consider an item in confidence. The agendas and minutes of both Council and committee meetings are available on our website.

We also work with other councils and bodies to make decisions and deliver our services. When we collaborate with other councils we call these ‘subsidiaries’.

What we do

Councils are responsible for much more than roads, rates and rubbish. In addition to mandated responsibilities under various Acts and regulations, we are required to provide services and facilities for the benefit of our region and community, plan for the future and care for the environment.

Each year, we publish an annual report that summarises our work for the year, and our annual business plan describes the services and projects we deliver to our community each financial year, and sets out what we plan to achieve over 12 months.

Electoral information

State

We are in the South Australian electoral district of Frome. In the 2026 State election, we will be in the electoral district of Ngadjuri.

Learn about the Frome electoral district on the Electoral Commission of SA (ECSA) website.

Federal

We are in the Grey electorate for Federal elections.

Learn about the Grey electorate on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.

Learn more about our council area

Last updated 23 September 2026