Community and Civic Hub Investigation
We are working with you, our community, to create a strategic vision for the region’s community facilities of the future – facilities that meet the needs and aspirations of a growing community for years to come. Being one of the fastest growing local government areas in South Australia brings a change in expectations of how we deliver services, what facilities we provide, and how we accommodate more residents, visitors, and staff.
Mallala and Two Wells have a proud history and strong community, with several historical Council buildings. However, our population is soon to outgrow these, and our facilities are ageing. As time passes it becomes more costly to ensure they provide adequate access to Council services, meet compliance, and provide enough administrative workspace.
Jump to: Vision / Key facts / Background / Next steps / Documents
Vision
Creation of a community and civic hub which provides for the growing needs of the community in an open, welcoming and sustainable facility with adaptable and flexible spaces, while improving the efficiency, effectiveness and functionality of Council’s community, administrative and civic operations through building design and service delivery development.
A possible future Community and Civic Hub must:
- Optimise community and staff outcomes
- Improve and expand community facilities and services
- Provide seamless customer service
- Seek best practice building and environmental outcomes
- Optimise floor space usage and maximise efficiency
- Provide future-proof flexible/adaptable/shared spaces
- Free up existing Council sites and repurposes where possible
Key facts
- Adelaide Plains Council commissioned an independent third party to review Council’s current community and civic facilities, to understand their suitability to meet the needs of our fast-changing population. The report, received in late 2022, identified a critical need to improve the efficiency, functionality, and space availability of our community and civic facilities.
- The key recommendation we received was to undertake a ‘Community and Civic Hub Investigation’ to establish a project vision, guiding principles, scope and plan for our future facilities. The investigation also looked at locations, potential costs, risks, project governance and a service delivery model.
- Following the evaluation of floorspace requirements and location assessments in the investigation, the Two Wells Office and Library site was endorsed as the preferred location for the development of a future Community and Civic Hub at the 26 February 2024 Council meeting.
- Further advancement of a Community and Civic Hub has been paused to revisit in 2025 following the development of our Strategic Plan 2025-2028 and other related projects.
Background
Being one of the fastest growing local government areas in South Australia brings a change in expectations of how we deliver services, what facilities we provide, and how we accommodate more residents, visitors, and staff.
In recognition of this growth, we commissioned an independent third party, Holmes Dyer, to review our current community and civic facilities so we can understand their suitability to meet the needs of our fast-changing population. The report received and endorsed on 27 June 2022 identified a critical need to improve the efficiency, functionality, and available space to meet the expectations of a rapidly growing population. It was determined that our current facilities would not accommodate the needs of our future community.
Following consultation with our community and stakeholders, a project vision, guiding principles and scope of required community and civic facilities were developed. This report was received and endorsed by Council on 24 July 2023.
These investigations do not represent a commitment by Council to proceed with developing a Community and Civic Hub in the immediate future. Rather, they provide the necessary basis for us to make an informed decision about the delivery of such facilities in the future.
The Accommodation and Service Review Discussion Paper identified a critical need to improve the efficiency, functionality, and available space to meet the expectations of a rapidly growing population. It was determined that our current facilities would not accommodate the needs of our future community.
Following consultation with our community and stakeholders, a project vision, guiding principles and scope of required community and civic facilities was developed.
The next phase of the investigation looked at locations, potential costs, risks, project governance, a service delivery model and recommended next steps. The Phase 2 Report does not represent a commitment to a specific amount of funding, rather, information was provided to ensure informed future-planning.
Following the evaluation of floorspace requirements and location assessments in Phase 2, the Two Wells Office and Library site was endorsed as the preferred location for the development of a future Community and Civic Hub. Further advancement of a Community and Civic Hub was paused to revisit in 2025 following the development of our Strategic Plan 2025-2028 and other related projects.
Next steps
Further advancement towards a Community and Civic Hub has been paused to revisit in 2025 following the development of our Strategic Plan 2025-2028 and other related projects.