The City of Onkaparinga Council met on Tuesday 16 June – below are some of the key outcomes.
New community food hub for Seaford
A new Onkaparinga Community Food Hub to address food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures will be established at Seaford’s Hastings Street Community Hall after detailed city-wide investigations, community engagement and the securing of key state government funding.
The Onkaparinga Community Food Hub is a partnership between the City of Onkaparinga; The Food Centre, Gepps Cross; Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, and it will also include a weekly food outreach service at the Aldinga Institute Hall.
A community food hub is a community centre with a focus on food. A key focus of the community food hub is about building connections with and between community, and it will offer:
- skill-building activities and support programs tailored to local needs, including cooking classes for those on a budget, financial counselling and referrals to other supports
- low-cost groceries and essentials in a store-like setting.
The community food hub model is explained through this The Food Centre, Gepps Cross video. A similar hub is located at Old Reynella’s Vine Street Centre, delivered by The People’s Platter.
The Onkaparinga Community Food Hub will provide people with dignified access to affordable, nutritious and low-cost food – and a way for people to connect – during a cost-of-living crisis. All will be welcome to use the service, with no assessment process.
The 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report identified that 33 per cent of Australian households experienced food insecurity, while a University of Adelaide-analysed council survey found 40.4 per cent (of 1,132 Onkaparinga residents surveyed) experience some level of food insecurity.
The project will receive a one-off $196,409 Department for Human Services (DHS) grant, and an in-kind City of Onkaparinga contribution of approximately $35,700, to establish the hub.
DHS will also provide operational funding of $982,860 over 4.5 years, while the council will provide ongoing in-kind community development support for program and service delivery, and $4,600 in annual maintenance support.
The Food Centre will run day-to-day food operations, and Good Shepherd will lead the wrap-around social services (such as onsite financial counselling, access to no-interest loans, and referrals to housing and family supports), with the 2 organisations leasing the council’s Hastings Street Community Hall until June 2030.
Council food security investigations identified Seaford and Aldinga as experiencing some of the region’s highest levels of food insecurity, with limited services unable to meet demand.
The council investigated several possible hub locations across the city, with Hastings Street Community Hall’s location within the priority area, in the heart of the community, and its accessibility by public transport being important factors in its selection as the preferred site.
A neighbourhood reference group will be established to understand and respond to any immediate concerns from residents who live near the hall as quickly as possible.
The hub is anticipated to open in September 2026, with the Aldinga Institute Hall outreach service to open in October.
Pro golf boost in Willunga
The Webex Players Series South Australia event – run by Professional Golf Association (PGA) of Australia at the Willunga Golf Course – will get a $15,000 boost after securing a council Destination Activation event attraction grant.
The council launched the new grant in 2025, seeking iconic tourism events that showcase South Australia’s premier wine and coastal region, and generate significant direct economic benefits to the region.
The Webex Players Series South Australia – SA’s first professional mixed golf tournament – was first held in Willunga in 2023, and will be held there for the fourth time from 19–25 October 2026. It’s expected to attract close to 4,000 people to the region.
Strengthening SA’s food and wine workforce
Council approved a submission to the state government, which is developing a workforce strategy to strengthen South Australia’s agribusiness, food and wine sectors.
The council submission advocates for strengthening locally delivered education and training pathways, improving availability of seasonal and affordable worker accommodation, and enhancing transport connectivity across the region.
New inclusivity plan
The City of Onkaparinga has a new Inclusive Communities Action Plan 2026–30 following community engagement.
The plan outlines the council’s commitment to – and measurable actions for – building a fair, respectful and inclusive community, with a focus on inclusion for people with disability, and it aims to create a place where everyone can take part in all aspects of community life.
Council rates
Council agreed on the fixed charge – one of the components that will form your council rates for 2026–27 (see here for an explainer on how your rates are calculated).
Elected members also debated the council’s proposed rating structure and implications more broadly ahead of next Thursday’s Special Council meeting, where elected members will make their final decision on the council’s Annual Business Plan and Budget 2026–27.
More information
As always, you can delve further into meeting outcomes – which in June includes other topics such as a potential speed limit reduction in McLaren Vale and attendance at the National General Assembly of Local Government 2026 – via the agenda, full meeting recording and the minutes at onkaparingacity.com on Thursday.
Onkaparinga Now’s Council meeting updates are published following ordinary – and some special – Council meetings, providing a broad overview of some of the key outcomes. Not all Council decisions will be mentioned each month due to the size and scope of the meeting agendas.
You can find information on registering your interest to attend Council meetings, and how to raise concerns about issues in your area via petitions and deputations, at the council’s website.