GAWLER Council is set to push on with its boundary reform plan, despite a survey of Hewett residents showing only one-in-10 want to become part of the expanded local government area.

The survey, conducted by Gawler councillor Nathan Shanks and Light Regional councillor Simon Zeller, saw the pair doorknocking across the suburb and asking residents “You are now a Light Council resident, would you like to be a Town of Gawler resident?”.

Of the 107 responders, only 11 said they would like to become a Gawler Council ratepayer, while 78 were against the proposal.

A further 18 people were unsure or were unbothered which council they resided in, with the majority of those respondents saying they would reconsider if switching councils meant a change in service levels or rates.

Speaking during last week’s Gawler Council meeting, Cr Shanks said while the pair failed to reach as many residents as they wanted, the results were a bad look.

“I’m wanting the community as a whole to be brought along with this journey and we’ve got neighbouring councils who are saying they feel blindsided,” he said.

“We could’ve avoided that with just some simple surveys and a little more engagement, but instead what we’ve done is follow the Boundaries Commission process and thrown money at it.

“What people are questioning is now ‘is this a money grab for council?’ and ‘is this in the best interests of the council or the community?’.

“We can around the table be talking about what each elected member feels, but with all due respect I’m not really interested in your opinion of it.”

Speaking to The Bunyip, councillor Zeller expected Gawler Council and the commission to find similar results to his survey.

“They (Hewett residents) like Light Regional Council,” he said. “They like that we’re a country council and they like their service levels.

“The other things which were clear as well is they had a problem with the functionality of Gawler Council.

“If the people want to be a part of Gawler then I’m all for that.  But if they want to stay in Light, then I’m all for that too.”

At the meeting, Gawler elected members voted to proceed to a public consultation phase of council’s boundary reform proposal.

It will be the first time the public gets a say on the proposal and will be followed by independent consultation by the Boundaries Commission if Gawler’s plan proceeds further.

The motion passed five-to-four, with councillors Shanks, Brian Sambell, Ian Tooley and Jim Vallelonga voting against proceeding.

Councillor Paul Little, in supporting boundary reform, said it was time for Hewett to come under Gawler Council’s control.

“It’s no secret I opposed building Hewett where it is when I was on council before and I’ve always supported, eventually, it coming under our town,” he said.

“They (Hewett residents) use our postcodes and amenities… I don’t think it will be much of an impost on them to be part of Gawler.

“I was involved in a realignment to Gawler from the (former) Munno Para (Council). I got a hell of a shock when I got my rates notice and suddenly I was in Gawler.

“At least Hewett residents are getting their chance to have a say.”