A LIGHT Regional councillor will fight to keep the expanding Roseworthy township within his council’s borders, following suggestions Gawler Council could attempt to take control of it.
Gawler Council voted last Tuesday to proceed with its proposal for boundary reform, which would see the Light Regional Council (LRC) suburbs of Hewett and Gawler Belt come under its jurisdiction.
The report also suggested elected members discuss including Roseworthy in its expansion plans, but a decision on whether to add the growing township into a formal submission to the newly- formed Boundaries Commission was not made on the night.
The proximity of future Roseworthy residential developments to Gawler was touted by council staff as one reason to include the town in its boundary reform, but the financial impact it would
have on LRC was also noted.
Light Regional councillor Peter Kennelly, whose ward of Laucke covers the Roseworthy township, said he would fight to ensure it stays part of the council.
“I’ve spoken to people in my ward here, predominantly rural people but also residential people in Roseworthy, they want to stay where they are,” he said.
“How many millions of dollars would it cost Gawler Council to buy Hewett?
“Gawler Council has quite enough problems of its own financially, without being committed to that.
“I think it’s just flying a kite in the wind; my opinion is it won’t succeed and it will be a darn nuisance in the process.”
LRC is also facing a move from the Barossa Council to bring Greenock and Seppeltsfield inside its borders, with Barossa mayor Bim Lange saying the towns fit into his council’s “geographical index”.
Barossa Council discussed its own boundary reform plans at a meeting yesterday, held after The Bunyip’s print deadline.
Light Regional mayor Bill O’Brien was “disappointed” in the way the two neighbouring councils had made plans to take territory away from his region.
“Both our neighbouring councils treating us in this matter is pretty ordinary; if both of these proposals were taken out to their full extent, we would almost be non-existent,” he said.
“We don’t want to give this any oxygen at all, we’re just very disappointed.”
Mr O’Brien added Gawler Council considering including Roseworthy in its expansion plans “took him by surprise”.
However, Mr Lange said councils were just “dipping their toes in the water” with their boundary reform plans.
“I fully understand Gawler would take those steps, we’re also looking at some boundary reform in our own areas, so everyone is doing what they believe is right,” he said.
“I guess the Boundaries Commission will be the umpire.
“We still see it (Concordia) as a natural barrier with the North Para (River), we see it very much sitting in our geographical index.
“With Kalbeeba, I can only go on some comments I’ve had from some residents, and they very much see themselves aligned with the Barossa.”