THE Barossa Council has put a hold on its boundary reform proposal that was seeking parts of Greenock, Seppeltsfield and Gomersal from neighbour Light Regional.
At last week’s meeting, Barossa Council’s elected members moved to not undertake a formal general submission to the SA Local Government.
Barossa Council submitted its ‘notification of a potential boundary proposal’ to the SA Local Government Boundaries Commission prior to Christmas, subsequently receiving a response advising it may proceed to the next stage.
Barossa chief executive Martin McCarthy, in his report to council, said that while the strategic intent of the reform proposal has merit, it is also clear in the correspondence from the Commission that significant work is required.
“The response from the Commission increases the risk of the strategy and is a clear signal of the extensive level of work, time, resources, community investment and financial cost required,” he said.
Neighbour, Light Regional Council, had given Barossa Council a deadline of February 28 to withdraw its boundary reform proposal, claiming it would otherwise be forced to make its own submission seeking a new combined Light Regional, Barossa Council, under a new name.
Mr McCarthy said there is an opportunity to engage with Light Regional Council on their idea and discuss it over the long term, as well as resolve small boundary anomalies, as in Nuriootpa, through discussion.
Council is also subject to the ongoing boundary reform proposal of Gawler Council, seeking Kalbeeba and the Concordia Growth Area.
“There may come a time in the future that the formal processes should continue, however given the drive of industry and the strategic direction of Brand Barossa it would seem prudent to focus on those strategies and align our collaboration around these industry initiatives and reform,” he said.
“There may also be approaches to address anomalies such as those in Nuriootpa which are simple to achieve and provide more insight and knowledge into the costs and benefits of reform without the risks and costs associated with the large reform proposed.
“Council will also be involved in the Town of Gawler proposal, and if nothing else no action should be undertaken until it is understood what the Commission’s views are in relation to their reform proposal.
“Council’s ability to adequately resource two large boundary reforms at once simply does not exist within existing resources.”