Representation Review
Section 12 of the Local Government Act 1999 requires Council to undertake a complete review of all aspects of its composition and the division (or potential division) of the Council area into wards, at least once in each relevant period that is prescribed by the regulations (determined by the Minister – approximately every eight (8) years).
Adelaide Plains Council completed its most recent review in September 2021, in accordance with the Local Government Act and as determined by the Minister.
Council engaged Mr Craig Rowe of C L Rowe & Associates to facilitate the representation review. Work commenced in September 2020 and has included workshops, public consultation on a Representation Options Paper from late 2020 to early 2021 and, on 22 February 2021, the making of in principle decisions regarding Council’s preferred composition and ward structure:
- Retain a Mayor, elected by the community
- Abolish wards
- Composition of 9 area councillors and 1 Mayor
Council, at its Ordinary Meeting on 22 March 2021, then considered, and endorsed for public consultation, a Representations Review Report pursuant to section 12(8a) of the Local Government Act. Public consultation was undertaken from Wednesday 24 March 2021 until Wednesday 21 April 2021 and a total of four submissions were received, representing 0.06% of eligible electors. Council considered the submissions, and a Second Submissions Report, at its Ordinary Meeting on 28 June 2021, and reaffirmed its in principle decisions set out above.
A Final Report was prepared and submitted to the Electoral Commissioner on 28 September 2021. On 11 November 2021, the Commissioner wrote to Council’s Chief Executive Officer, confirming that he had assessed Council’s Representation Review Report and determined that the requirements of the Local Government Act were met. The Commissioner’s letter serves as the necessary certificate and the necessary notice was published in the Government Gazette on 9 December 2021, completing the Council’s Representation Review.
In accordance with section 12(18) of the Local Government Act, the revised representation arrangements will take effect after the first day of the first periodic election held after the publication of the notice in the Government Gazette, being the 2022 general election.
A copy of each report considered by Council during the Representation Review is available within the relevant meeting Agenda. For ease of reference, links are provided below:
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 28 September 2020 – Item 15.5 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review – Update
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 23 November 2020 – Item 14.2 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review – Draft Representation Options Paper
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 22 February 2021 – Item 14.4 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review – Submissions Report and Preferred Ward Structure and Composition
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 22 March 2021 – Item 14.3 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review Report and Public Consultation
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 28 June 2021 – Item 14.1 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review – Second Submissions Report
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 27 September 2021 – Item 15.3 – Representation Review Final Report
- Ordinary Council Meeting – 22 November 2021 – Item 15.3 – Adelaide Plains Council Representation Review Update – Certification by Electoral Commissioner – November 2021
For more information regarding the elector representation review, please contact Sheree Schenk, General Manager – Governance and Executive Office on (08) 8527 0200 or email info@apc.sa.gov.au.