Council and Politics

04 Jun 2025

Parking plan quashed

A $2.9m proposal to turn a council-owned Hahndorf site into a public car park has been withdrawn because Heritage SA did not support the demolition of a building on the site. The proposal was submitted to the Mt Barker Council by the Wolf Blass...

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04 Jun 2025

Opposition calls for freeway action

The State Opposition has slammed the Government for failing to implement all of the freeway safety improvements recommended in a review handed down almost three years ago. A third arrester bed, 40km/h slow zone for heavy vehicles and real-time...

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Call to reject land-grab bid

The Adelaide Hills Council is calling on residents to speak out against a neighboring council’s controversial proposal to annex more than 700 properties, warning that it would impact the council’s financial sustainability and services. It comes...

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Council denies culture issue

Remaining Adelaide Hills Councillors have denied that the chamber has a culture issue, after the shock resignations of three councillors in the past week. Second-term councillor Pauline Gill and first-term councillors Louise Pascale and Melanie...

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Mass exodus: three councillors quit

Three Adelaide Hills Councillors have quit in less than a week, with two blaming their experiences “inside” the embattled council, while a third looks to focus their attention on next year’s State election. Louise Pascale and Pauline Gill...

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Political blame game over cashless centre

Shadow Transport Minister Ben Hood said it was “disappointing” that the State Government only became aware that the Mt Barker Service SA centre didn’t accept cash when informed by The Courier

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Council to rethink rooster ban

The Mt Barker Council will review its ban on keeping roosters at properties within a town following a push by Councillor Rebecca Hewett, who said “sensible” restrictions should be considered. The ban, which came into effect in March, also...

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Barossa on board with pathway extension

With the $5.7m Amy Gillett Pathway extension to Birdwood due to be completed by late August, a neighboring council wants to extend it even further to Mt Pleasant. The Barossa Council has included $100,000 in its draft 2025/26 budget to clear shrubs...

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Mayo still in Liberal’s sights

The president of the SA Liberals says Mayo is “still very much in the Liberal Party’s sights” after the recent Federal election, despite Liberal candidate Zane Basic falling to third place behind Labor in what was once a safe Liberal seat...

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Fin Dunford

Deputy Mayor still considering options

A Mt Barker Councillor claims he felt pressured to withdraw a motion that condemned bad behavior, while the council’s Deputy Mayor is still considering her options after announcing she would resign because of a “toxic” council culture. Deputy...

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14 May 2025

More Federal funding sought for freeway bypass project

The State Government will continue to seek an 80:20 split funding model for the $1 billion greater Adelaide freight bypass in the wake of the Federal election, while the State Opposition has re-affirmed its $211m commitment to the project. Ahead of...

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Fin Dunford

14 May 2025

Bin collection changes to affect some residents

Waste collection days are set to change for some Mt Barker Council residents when new waste collection boundaries come into effect next month. At Mt Barker, properties east of Wellington Road, between Adelaide and Sims roads and in the Aston Hills...

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