GAWLER Mayor Karen Redman says survey results from a previous public consultation on boundary reform show a “clear indication” the majority of Gawler residents support the proposal – despite the validity of the survey being questioned.

During a special meeting last month elected members reviewed the results of Gawler Council’s Boundary Reform Consultation Survey, which received 158 completed surveys and 44 partial-completed surveys.

Of the responses, 89 identified as being from Gawler, 68 from Light Regional, 36 from The Barossa Council, seven from the City of Playford and two identified as being from another council area and as past Gawler residents.

Overall, 42 per cent of respondents support council’s boundary reform proposal, nine per cent were neutral and 45 per cent opposed:

Gawler Council: In support 68 per cent Opposed 20 per cent

The Barossa Council: In support 19 per cent Opposed 74 per cent

Light Regional Council: In support 15 per cent Opposed 69 per cent

Areas of interest for boundary realignment include Concordia, Hewett, Kalbeeba, Gawler Belt, Evanston Park, Reid and Hillier, while areas to be removed include Bibaringa and Uleybury.

Ms Redman said council was happy with the overall consultation process and survey results.

“The survey results have provided council with a clear indication that the majority of respondents from the Gawler LGA are in favour of submitting a proposal for boundary change to the Boundaries Commission for its consideration,” she said.

“Council undertook an extensive community consultation process providing six weeks for the community to engage with council on boundary reform through a written submission, responding to a survey and/or attending two open forums on boundary reform or presenting a verbal presentation to the council at the November 3 special council meeting.

“So, council will consider all aspects of the consultation, not only the survey, when the matter returns to the chamber for further debate.”

Speaking on a submission, Gawler Belt ratepayer Allan Moulds questioned the validity of the survey statistics and the potential use of aliases.

Councillor Ian Tooley similarly questioned the survey’s validity and alleged certain questions were “leading”.

He also claimed the report presented to council from Square Holes was “biased”.

“You only quote those in support and make no summary of the significant numbers who are opposed,” he said during discussion.

“You don’t make any statement that the majority of respondents disagree.”

Linley Bertram from Square Holes responded that the original report did focus on the total sample.

“We were then asked to only focus on the Town of Gawler, because this was the focus of the report,” she said.

Cr Tooley fired back, “You had the data but you were asked by this administration not to include it, I want the public to hear that.”

Ms Redman said allegations of the report being biased were incorrect.

“The initial draft report presented to council staff by Square Holes provided the same data as the final report,” she said.

“The difference between the initial draft report and the report provided within the attachments to the special council meeting agenda relates to the way in which the data was presented.

“As the primary purpose of the consultation was to garner the opinion of Town of Gawler residents first and foremost, council staff requested that this information be featured within the report, with the overall summary data still present.

“All the facts and figures from the survey are in the final report presented by Square Holes. “

“Council staff requested this to occur to make it easier for both council and its community to understand what existing Town of Gawler residents thought of the proposal, whether or not is was supported by them and, therefore, whether council should proceed to submit the Stage 2 proposal to the Boundaries Commission.”

Meanwhile, councillor Nathan Shanks expressed frustration at the lack of survey responses.