The City of Onkaparinga Council met on Tuesday 18 August – below are some key outcomes.
Livestreaming of Council meetings
You’ll be able to watch Council meetings live online from September.
The council recently upgraded the chamber’s audio-visual equipment with support for livestreaming, while also seeking quotes, reviewing its policies, and investigating other councils’ approaches to livestreaming.
Council decided not to resume filming of Audit and Risk Committee meetings, which ceased in October 2024 following a notice of motion and Council resolution.
Mayor Moira Were said the decision was based on the fact the committee provides advice rather than making decisions like Council.
Advocacy – cats and community safety
Council will write to the state government on other key issues to advocate on the community’s behalf, following motions from Councillor Marion Themeliotis.
The mayor will write to the climate, environment and water minister to reiterate Council’s support for a comprehensive and evidence-based statewide approach to cat management that addresses owned, unowned and feral cats.
“We also decided a report will come back to council in October on a cat containment bylaw – the practicalities of what that would take if we went down that direction,” Mayor Were said.
The mayor will also write to the state’s police minister to request public safety improvements at the Noarlunga Centre Interchange amid community concern about violence and antisocial behaviour.
Climate focus
The City of Onkaparinga will advocate for increased support to local government so councils can better tackle climate change misinformation and disinformation.
The council will ask the Local Government Association (LGA) of South Australia to advocate to state and federal governments to provide things such as additional training, resources, guidance and information-sharing networks.
Council approved nominations for Mayor Were to join the Premier’s Climate Change Council, and for Councillor Paul Yeomans to join the LGA’s State Bushfire Coordination Committee, which would provide opportunities for the council to influence decision-making in these areas.
Meanwhile, the council will also provide feedback on state government plans to update flood hazard planning rules, help keep the community safe, and use updated flood hazard mapping.
Planning for McLaren Vale growth
The council has drafted a formal proposal to the state government to change the zoning rules, policies and mapping in McLaren Vale to guide the township’s growth.
The draft McLaren Vale Township Code Amendment aims to deliver better tourism and business growth outcomes – such as additional tourism accommodation and conference facilities – while preserving the things people hold dear about the town.
The draft was informed by extensive community engagement the council undertook in 2021 and 2022 as part of a township planning policy review.
Next steps involve submitting the document to the state government, followed by at least 8 weeks where you can have your say on proposed changes.
Sporting news
Council will seek to enter a 2-year lease with the Southern Tigers Basketball Association for the Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium after an expression-of-interest process.
The proposed 2-year ground lease arrangement will provide continuity for users of the region’s largest council-owned basketball facility, while giving the council more time to plan how a longer-term occupancy might look.
Council also celebrated the completion of its Sport and Active Recreation Plan, which supported more than 1.86 million visits to council-owned recreation facilities, and $47 million invested in sporting projects from 2021–25.
The plan’s review will help inform the development of a new Active Community Implementation Plan.
New strategy approved
The council has a new Community Capacity and Connection Strategy 2026–31, providing a renewed framework for strengthening community wellbeing, connection, participation, inclusion, resilience and active citizenship over the next 5 years.
An accompanying Empowered Community Implementation Plan 2026–31 has been developed alongside the strategy, outlining practical actions to strengthen community development, social justice, equity, inclusion, leadership and participation.
Implementation plans for each of the strategy’s other 3 streams are being developed and will be presented for consideration by Council in due course.
Youth roundtable
The council recently convened a roundtable focused on improving outcomes for Onkaparinga’s children and young people across health and wellbeing, safety, participation and voice, active recreation and physical activity, belonging and education.
Eighty stakeholders and partners attended, including young people, education providers, community organisations, health services and local, state and federal agencies.
Next steps involve refining and prioritising initiatives with the greatest potential for local impact.
Sellicks Beach Historic Motorcycle Races
The Sellicks Beach Historic Motorcycle Races will return in 2027, with Council approving the organisers’ event application following community feedback and submissions received from relevant agencies.
The event – which has been held every 2 years since 2017 – will take place on Saturday and Sunday 20–21 March, and organisers must follow strict community safety, and environmental and cultural protection measures.
Council CEO marks 6 months
Onkaparinga Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sharon Mason has passed her 6-month probationary period, after a review from an independent advisor.
The review was aimed at measuring how Sharon was meeting key performance objectives, and so the council’s CEO Performance Management Committee could decide whether a salary increase was warranted following her probation period.
In SA, the minimum and maximum amounts council CEOs can be paid are determined by the independent South Australian Local Government Remuneration Tribunal, with the City of Onkaparinga classified as a “Band 1” council due to its size, operating revenue and population.
Council approved a 3.7 per cent increase of Sharon’s remuneration to $420,000 per year – approximately 92.5 per cent of the amount allowed under the remuneration tribunal band limit. This salary will be reviewed annually.
Onkaparinga is SA’s largest council by population – home to 10 per cent of the state’s population.
Election update
SA’s local government elections take place in April 2027, and the council’s “caretaker period” will begin when nominations for people to become a councillor close on 12pm on Tuesday 9 February.
The council must avoid actions during the caretaker period that could be perceived as intended to influence voters or otherwise to have a significant impact on, or unnecessarily bind, the incoming Council.
For all the key election dates, visit councilelections.sa.gov.au