The Town of Gawler produces a range of publications including our Annual Report, Master Plans and Strategies.
The Gawler Activation Strategy is a strategic response to the identified aspirations of Council and the broader community, for an increasingly activated and vibrant local environment.
The Ageing Well Framework will guide Council, helping to enhance the quality of life for people as they age, by providing opportunities that promote positive health and wellbeing, participation and security outcomes.
This will be achieved by improvements to the physical environments, which support how residents move around the Township.
It will also help identify how to increase social inclusion and community participation and support investments in public services and infrastructure for the benefit of older people.
Our Annual Business Plan is a key document in Council’s overall Planning Framework. It sets out Council’s proposed projects, services, and programs for the 2026–2027 financial year.
The Town of Gawler's annual report serves as a comprehensive record of the town's activities and achievements throughout the year. It provides detailed insights into financial allocations, executed projects, and community development.
2024 & 2025 Annual Report - Attachment 1 - Audit and Risk Committee Report
2024 & 2025 Annual Report - Attachment 2 - Financial Statements
2024 & 2025 Annual Report - Attachment 3 - NAWMA Annual Report
2024 & 2025 Annual Report - Attachment 4 - GRFMA Annual Report
2023 & 2024 Annual Report - Attachment 1 - Audit and Risk Committee Report
2023 & 2024 Annual Report - Attachment 2 - Financial Statements
2023 & 2024 Annual Report - Attachment 3 - NAWMA Annual Report
2023 & 2024 Annual Report - Attachment 4 - GRFMA Annual Report
2022 & 2023 Annual Report - Attachment 1 - Financial Statements
2022 & 2023 Annual Report - Attachment 2 - NAWMA Annual Report
2022 & 2023 Annual Report - Attachment 3 - GRFMA Annual Report
The Town of Gawler developed its Arts and Culture Strategy with the community and for the community.
A range of consultation sessions took place and a survey conducted to find out the community’s ideas, preferences and feedback regarding arts and cultural activities and resources, now and into the future.
The Gawler Arts and Culture Strategy outlines Council’s commitment to the Arts over the next ten years. The Strategy highlights a vision that promotes the Arts as being accessible to everyone, connects people, places and perspectives, and builds a welcoming and vibrant community.
Downloads
This Plan is a collaborative regional public health response for the Adelaide Plains, Barossa, Gawler, and Light Regional Councils. A number of key challenges were identified through engagement with community, Council staff, Council Members, and other key stakeholders. The following were identified as being the most significant across all four council areas:
- Improving mental health and reducing psychological stress.
- Access and inclusion (services, transport, digital, disability access).
- Youth engagement and wellbeing.
- Supporting an ageing population.
- Encouraging healthy lifestyles.
The Regional Public Health Plan outlines strategies, collaborative projects, and governance arrangements to address these challenges and to improve regional outcomes.
The Town of Gawler Beautification Plan is intended to identify and prioritise strategies to improve the overall appearance of the Gawler Township over time. These strategies include maintenance initiatives and capital works upgrades.
Strategies and opportunities identified in the Plan are intended to assist Council's strategic planning for future projects and programmes aimed at beautifying the Township
A Building Asset Management Plan sets out how Council will manage, maintain, renew and improve its buildings and facilities over their lifecycle. It helps Council plan for future maintenance and investment, ensuring buildings remain safe, fit for purpose and financially sustainable.
This document is intended as a key tool for understanding, valuing, managing and improving the natural biodiversity of the Town of Gawler.
The Gawler Town Centre Car Parking Strategy 2023-2028 is the Town of Gawler’s strategy for the management and provision of car parking in the Gawler Town Centre.
The Town of Gawler Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) has been prepared in response to the scientific alarms being sounded all over the world, warning us that our failure to act will result in irreparable damage and an unsustainable pathway for emerging and future generations.
The Gawler Community Plan 2035 is Council’s highest level strategic document and a reflection of our future aspirations for Gawler.
The Plan has been developed through extensive engagement with our community. The outcome reflects the community and organisations shared aspirations for Gawler as our town grows and evolves, while we continue to strive and deliver our vision for a ‘liveable, cohesive, active, innovative, and sustainable community’.
The Gawler Community Plan 2035 continues to focus on the five pillars of:
- Our Identity (Goal 1 – A Uniquely Identifiable Township)
- Our Growth (Goal 2 – Managed and Sustainable Growth)
- Our Community (Goal 3 – A Healthy, Active, Safe, Engaged Community)
- Our Environment (Goal 4 – To Respect, Protect and Nurture the Environment)
- Our Leadership (Goal 5 – Provide Strategic Leadership)
This strategy outlines the Town of Gawler’s formal approach to digital marketing. It provides direction on goals and objectives, guiding principles, key messages, stakeholder requirements, content development, operational guidelines and future considerations.
The Town of Gawler Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2026-2030 aims to improve access to appropriate services and supports, expand opportunities for participation, and create a welcoming and inclusive community for people with disability who live in or visit Gawler.
The DAIP can be accessed here:
Town of Gawler Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2026 - 2030
For further information or assistance, please contact the Community Development Team on 8522 9208, 0488 995 910 or email community@gawler.sa.gov.au
Gawler's Economic Development Strategy outlines a structured plan for the town's financial growth. It identifies key sectors for investment, encourages entrepreneurship, and fosters innovation.
This strategy aims to enhance employment opportunities, attract businesses, and ensure sustainable economic prosperity for Gawler and its community.
The Town of Gawler has developed its Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to guide environmental performance within Council’s operational practices and planning activities. The EMP also provides a framework for Council to support environmental improvements through collaboration with community and business stakeholders.
The Environmental Management Plan establishes Council’s environmental vision, objectives and actions to guide practical and feasible environmental improvements. The five core focus areas include:
- Built Environment
- Resource Management
- Climate Change
- Riverine and Natural Environment
- Community Culture
Council engaged Jensen PLUS to undertake a land use plan for Gawler. The Gawler Growth Framework Land Use Plan (G2046) sets out Council's strategic vision for future planning and land use outcomes within Town of Gawler.
After extensive community engagement (seven months) Council adopted the Growth Framework in September 2024. The Gawler Growth Framework is provided click here to view.
Gawler is the major regional centre for the wider Barossa and Lower Mid North Region of South Australia. We are the fastest growing Local Government area in South Australia. Growing at a rate of nearly 2% per annum, which is twice the State average, many families and newly retired people are choosing to settle in our town.
Town of Gawler's vision for the community is a 'liveable, cohesive, active, innovative and sustainable community'. To achieve this vision, Council has identified critical infrastructure and other initiatives that will build a strong, regional economy.
These strategic projects deliver on regional, state and national social and economic policies that focus on creating jobs, a skilled workforce and strong community. Leveraging of existing investments, these projects will realise more than $670 million of economic benefits and create hundreds of jobs just in the construction phase.
Gawler’s Rural Zone plays a significant role in the town’s identity, as it acts as a buffer between the City of Playford and the more urbanised areas of Gawler.
This DPA is ultimately designed to ensure the Rural Zone continues to act as a buffer (point of visual and physical separation) between the City of Playford and the more urbanised areas of the Town of Gawler, by encouraging primary production were viable, consolidating rural living housing choices and formalising economic and employment opportunities in appropriate localities
Gawler Rural Land Use and Infrastructure Investigation - Report 1
Gawler Rural Land Use and Infrastructure Investigation - Report 2
Rural Areas Statement of Intent
Formal Response from Minister Knoll Concerning the Rural Areas Statement of Intent - Letter
The Gawler Urban Rivers Project was initiated in 2009 with a goal to improve Gawler’s urban waterways, with a focus on the protection of river health, the conservation of biodiversity, and the provision of an interconnected and accessible parkland network.
This project was managed by the Town of Gawler with funding contributed by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government under the Better Regions Program. The Gawler Urban Rivers Project has delivered to the Gawler community:
â–ª 8km of shared bicycle and walking paths (to be known as Tapa Pariara, or the Gawler Rivers Path - see Figure ES.1);
â–ª five new bridges and river crossings;
â–ª weed removal and revegetation works;
â–ª stream stabilisation works; and
â–ª this Master Plan.
The Gawler Urban Rivers Master Plan has been formulated to provide the Gawler community with a guiding tool for the future management of Gawler’s river corridors. The Master Plan provides a review of river health, biodiversity, heritage and recreation studies, an analysis of key management issues, indentifies opportunities and recommends actions to maintain, improve and complement the unique attributes of Gawler’s urban rivers.
The objective of the Gawler Town Centre Design Framework was to build upon previous strategic level investigations and after a comprehensive community engagement process, document new urban design thinking, structure plans, design guidelines and associated implementation actions for various precincts across the town centre.
The purpose of this Walking and Cycling Plan is to enable people of all ages and abilities across the Town of Gawler to choose walking and/or cycling as a regular day-to-day activity for transport or recreation, and further promote the Town of Gawler as a unique, vibrant and accessible tourist destination.
Council engaged SMEC to develop the Gawler Integrated Transport Strategy 2046 (GITS 2046), which was adopted by Council in October 2024.
GITS 2046 sets the vision for the future of transport in Gawler. It brings together an understanding of the current and future transport network within Gawler, and the aspirations of users. The Gawler Integrated Transport Strategy 2046 is provided - click here to view
The Long Term Financial Plan outlines Council's objectives and strategies to maintain financial sustainability, ensuring both the current and future needs of the community are met. Through this process, Council tests its long-term aspirations against financial realities, projecting expenditure and revenue based on key assumptions. Our Plan serves as a guide for developing the Annual Business Plan & Budget, while assessing the financial impact of growth on assets, services, and the community’s expectations.
It identifies the resources required to balance current service delivery with future needs. It also addresses how key commitments such as infrastructure renewal, debt repayment, and strategic projects will be funded. By connecting Council’s financial planning with its broader strategic goals, our Plan helps build financial resilience, ensuring that Council can continue delivering services and effectively respond to future challenges.
The Open Space Asset Management Plan covers open space assets under the care, control and ownership of the Town of Gawler and outlines expenditure required in order to effectively manage asset service levels into the future while providing structured and informal recreation facilities for a healthy, active, safe and engaged community.
Council receives a large number of development applications relating to land divisions in new estates each year which contribute to the urban growth within the Town of Gawler.
Each new land division creates public realm infrastructure that is required to support these new communities. The aim of the Guideline is to communicate standards and requirements (ie quantity and quality of open space and associated infrastructure) for open space areas that aligns with Council’s standard operational service levels.
The Design Manual outlines Council’s standardised materials and furniture suites for use within open spaces and civic areas. The Open Space Guideline and associated documents are available for download below.
A series of Fact Sheets have been created as quick reference for:
- Tree Species Guide
- Roadside Verges
- Steep Creeks
- Bond & Infrastructure Agreements
- Open Space Checklist – Approvals and Handover
Downloads
The Playspace Strategy provides a 25-year plan to guide the design, development and management of playspaces across Gawler. It outlines Council’s approach, service levels, and priorities for upgrading existing playspaces and creating new ones.
The strategy promotes safe, welcoming and inclusive places for play, supporting children and families of all ages and abilities. It encourages play both within playgrounds and across wider park and natural spaces through thoughtful, engaging design. Gawler currently has 21 local and neighbourhood playspaces serving the community.
The Town of Gawler's vision for reconciliation is to build respect, understanding and dialogue between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, with a focus on creating environments where meaningful interactions and relationships can occur.
This is the second Reconciliation Action Plan for the Town of Gawler. It builds on the significant work that has already been done and continues to pave the way for Gawler's continual growth into a place where reconciliation is alive and vibrant.
The Gawler RAP outlines practical actions that Council and its partners are taking to build strong relationships and enhanced respect with Aboriginal people from across the region. This Plan ensures that staff, council members, volunteers and members of the community are able to contribute to the reconciliation process.
The Stormwater Asset Management Plan covers stormwater assets under the care, control and ownership of the Town of Gawler and outlines expenditure required in order to effectively manage network service levels into the future to facilitate the safe stormwater disposal throughout the Council area through its extensive drainage network.
Gawler and Surrounds SMP Stormwater Management Plan - 2 February 2024
Gawler and Surrounds SMP Stormwater Management Plan Draft - Pages 1 to 33
Gawler and Surrounds SMP Stormwater Management Plan Draft - Pages 34 to 57
Gawler and Surrounds SMP Stormwater Management Plan Draft - Pages 58 to 72
Gawler and Surrounds SMP Stormwater Management Plan Draft - Pages 73 to 131
Appendix A - Habitat and Erosion Potential
Appendix B - Hydraulic Modelling Summary Report
Appendix C - Gawler River Levee Bank Discussion
Appendix D - Development Potential Discussion Paper
The purpose of this report is to review the planning and development policies contained within Council’s Development Plan to ensure they are consistent with the South Australian Planning Strategy, Council’s Strategic Plan and community aspirations.
Town of Gawler (TOG) has a tourism vision: To be recognised as a primary destination that offers visitors rich and engaging tourism experiences through its people, places, landscapes and events.
To achieve this tourism vision, we uncovered the Town’s potential for the visitor economy via a thorough consultation with all industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive Tourism Situation Analysis. From this Analysis, a Tourism Plan has been developed which outlines the actions Council will implement to achieve the vision.
The Transport Asset Management Plan covers transport assets under the care, control and ownership of the Town of Gawler and outlines expenditure required in order to effectively manage network service levels into the future to facilitate the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians on its extensive road network.
This report consolidates and builds on the previous reports. It reinforces previous recommendations where appropriate and provides additional guidance where required.
- Application For Community Banners (302 KB)
- Section 221 - Application for Permit to Alter/Occupy a Road
- Application For Use Of Gawler Logo (181 KB)
- Change Of Address Form (90 KB)
- Direct Debit Application Form (Rates) (187 KB)
- EPA Burning Application Form (239 KB)
- Expiation Dispute Form (204 KB)
- 222 Permit Form - Application to use a Public Road/Footpath/Council Land for Business Purposes (265 KB)
- Section 7 Search Application Form (128 KB)
- Rates Payment Arrangement Application