October 2026 Council meeting update
Published on 15 October 2026
The City of Onkaparinga Council met on Tuesday 13 October – below are some of the key outcomes.
Cats by-law drafted for community feedback
The council will seek the community’s feedback on a draft by-law to help manage cats in Onkaparinga, including a 24/7 requirement for owners to keep cats contained at home, ownership limits, and registration requirements.
The draft by-law aims to promote responsible cat ownership, minimise nuisance and environmental impacts, protect community amenity and native wildlife, and provide the council with a framework to manage cat-related issues.
The City of Onkaparinga has long advocated for a consistent statewide approach to avoid a patchwork of different cat rules applying across SA’s 68 council areas, but the state government hasn’t indicated when it will release its draft Cat Management Strategy.
The council’s draft by-law planning was informed by neighbouring councils that have introduced or debated introducing cat by-laws, and by community engagement the City of Onkaparinga undertook in 2024.
The draft by-law and information – including the potential benefits, limitations and costs – are expected to go out for community engagement at the council’s Your Say page in November.
Investment and Commercialisation Strategy
The council has a new strategy aimed at strengthening long-term financial sustainability and diversifying revenue sources, helping to reduce reliance on rates and meet the needs of future generations.
The strategy involves establishing a future investment reserve, funded mainly by additional money from the sale of surplus council land above the City of Onkaparinga’s annual $3 million target.
Initial investments will focus on the council’s existing commercial operations and other opportunities within the council, while longer-term investments could expand into more sophisticated investments such as property or equity.
Any investment usings reserve funds would require a robust business case, assessment against the strategy’s principles, engagement when required, and approval from Council.
Draft plans for informed and creative communities
The community will soon be asked to provide feedback on 2 draft plans aimed at fostering informed and creative communities.
The draft Informed Community Implementation Plan 2026–31 outlines actions related to libraries and the council’s communications and customer interactions; while the draft Creative Community Implementation Plan 2026–31 includes actions relevant to the council’s arts, creative and cultural services.
Both plans sit under the council’s overarching Community Capacity and Connection Strategy 2026–31, which was adopted by Council in August.
New funding model for surf life saving clubs
The council will provide operational assistance funding to Onkaparinga’s 5 surf life saving clubs for the next 3 years under a new funding model.
The council has provided annual funding to the clubs since 1998, but the new 3-year rolling funding model is aimed at providing the clubs with greater certainty to deliver their significant, life-saving contributions to the community.
Water advocacy
The council is advocating for improved outcomes for the region’s community wastewater management system (CWMS) and communities that rely on it.
Several areas within Onkaparinga don’t have access to SA Water’s wastewater network, instead relying on the council’s CWMS networks to collect, treat and reuse wastewater.
The council is providing submissions for state government and Essential Services Commission investigations, advocating for – among other things – fairer funding for local governments that operate CWMS schemes, keeping costs down for customers, and more clarity on potential transitions to SA Water’s network.
The council will also write to relevant ministers, SA Water and the EPA seeking advice about the region’s wastewater, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure capacity amid continued development and population growth.
Focus on housing outcomes
The council will continue advocating to the state government for better outcomes around infill housing development, following a petition from residents.
Infill is residential development that’s built within already established urban areas. The council acknowledges its importance amid housing affordability challenges, while sharing community concerns around things such as density, infrastructure and parking.
The council will also provide a submission to the state government on short-stay accommodation, supporting the introduction of a statewide register and code of conduct, while advocating for appropriate funding, clear governance arrangements and defined responsibilities for councils.
Meanwhile, a report will come to Council in December detailing the history of Moana Beach Tourist Park as a mixed-use site for tourists and long-term residents, to ensure this background is factored into future park planning.
More information
As always, you can delve further into meeting outcomes – including the council’s submission to the state government on removing red tape; and progress on the council’s Economic Growth and Tourism Strategic Plan – via the agenda, full meeting recording and the minutes at onkaparingacity.com.
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.