As 2023 commences, Town of Gawler continues with its delivery of community services and projects.
It is an ‘exciting’ year for the community, with a number of projects already in the pipeline and some to be undertaken for the first time. There’s a broad range of projects across the board, from improving the area’s sporting precincts to maintaining council’s basic amenities like roads and playgrounds, and everything in between.
Mayor Karen Redman said council will deliver a range of projects and services during the next year. “From implementing the cost effective Public Lighting Upgrade project, to enhancing local areas and safety through improved recreation precincts, playgrounds and pedestrian infrastructure, Council will be delivering a range of projects and services over the coming 12 months,” she said.
“The voice of our community remains integral to our service delivery and Council is once again offering its participatory budgeting initiative straight into the community’s hands to decide what that funding will be used for. We look forward to hearing your ideas as we continue delivering for Gawler in 2023.”
Acting chief executive David Barrett said that the level of upgrades to Gawler’s sporting and recreation facilities were ‘substantial. “With thanks to contributions from both the State and Federal Governments, Council can continue implementing its recreational precinct Master Plans, develop improved local walking and cycling connections, and retain and upgrade its ageing infrastructure,” he said. Here is a selection of projects council expects to undertake this year.
Key projects to be undertaken this calendar year include:
Gawler Public Lighting Upgrade (include latest completion plan image)
Council is leading the way in the region to implement community-wide climate action and energy efficiency measures. The $1.3 million Public Lighting Upgrade Project is a practical measure to address climate change that creates jobs and growth, protects the environment, and supports community wellbeing. The Project replaces current vapour type lighting with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps along roads and streets across Gawler. Approximately 2,650 lamps are being replaced, resulting in better quality of public light, significant reductions of electricity use, and operation costs savings of approximately $127,000 per year considering the project costs of capital and depreciation.
Princes Park Community Recreation Hub
Work is well underway to transform an underutilised area of Princes Park into a vibrant open space that encourages recreation, enhances connectivity to other open space areas and creates opportunities for the community to come together. Supported by a State Government grant ($356,500), the $768,000 project is a key deliverable of the Essex Park and Gawler Showgrounds Regional Sporting Precinct Master Plan and will create a unique and high-quality community recreation and play space that will increase the range of unstructured recreation opportunities at Princes Park.
Redbanks Road Roundabout Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian safety concerns have been raised around the Redbanks Road roundabout in Willaston. Council has been considering options for formalising a footpath across Dawkins Avenue to connect into the footpath network across the Redbanks Road bridge, including a new pedestrian crossing over the Redbanks Road bridge. Council has been working with the State Government’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) to develop conceptual designs for the pedestrian safety improvements. Council has developed the overall concept design and engaged with nearby school, Xavier College to capture their input into the student safety requirements. The Pedestrian Safety project has been fully funded by a State Government Community Infrastructure Grant ($760,000) and is due for completion in early 2023.
Tertiary Hub
According to the 2016 Census data on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ website, only 5.1% of Gawler’s population had attended a university or tertiary institution and only 3.6% of Gawler’s people aged 15 years and over had attained a bachelor degree or above (2.2% below the national average). Online learning is a valued educational resource and effective substitute for face-to-face learning in many instances however, accessing and participating in such courses requires stable, high-speed internet connectivity. A tertiary hub within the Gawler Civic Centre provides stable, high-speed internet that students can access to effectively participate in online learning. Its central location also gives easy access to public transport and parking. Council is running a pilot project offering membership for any students studying at a tertiary level to the Gawler Tertiary Hub.
Playgrounds
Council’s investment in playgrounds provides locations for children of all ages to engage in play. Through play, children experience emotional, social, and physical growth. Increased self-esteem, improved collaboration skills, enhanced critical thinking skills, and a strengthened immune system are just some of the high-level benefits children gain by being able to play. Council has recently committed to improvements at Aspire Estate Playspaces ($40k), Gawler West Playground ($176k) and Calton Road Playground ($175k). In addition, the State Government has provided Council with a Community Infrastructure Grant ($600k) to deliver a playground within Reid Reserve. During 2023, Council will be undertaking design and community consultation for the Reid Reserve playground with a view to it being constructed in 2024. What is particularly exciting is our whole of town playground strategy that I am hoping many people will get involved to ensure we get the right play spaces for our growing community.
Gawler Cycle Way Project
Linking the Stuart O’Grady Bikeway to The Barossa Trail ($1,815,672), this initiative is subsidised by a State Government grant ($678,269) and The Barossa Council ($504,396). The Gawler Cycle Way Project is nearing completion and delivers a carefully planned cycle route that considers social connection, ease of use, safety and access. Completing this Project will result in a continuous cycle route from Adelaide to the Barossa Valley, which will have benefits for cyclists, tourists, businesses, and the whole regional community. The Project formally connects the two regional cycle paths and the existing shared path network capitalising on both Town of Gawler and The Barossa Council’s significant investment in cycling infrastructure.
Karbeethan Reserve Stage 1
Delivery of Stage 1 upgrades to Karbeethan Reserve incorporated within the site’s Master Plan will progress in 2023. The upgrades include delivery of a Division 1 standard baseball diamond, a softball diamond, improvements to shared turf spaces and a premiere pitch for soccer. Complete with new irrigation, LED sports lighting and player shelters, this project seeks to improve the high liveability of Gawler and the Northern Region. The Stage 1 redevelopment project has benefited from contributory funding by the State Government’s Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program ($0.9m) and Sports Infrastructure Grant ($1m) with Council contributing the balance of funds to complete the project (currently estimated at approximately $2.5m).
Gawler Aquatic Centre Infrastructure
First opened over 60 years ago, the Gawler Aquatic Centre is a popular venue for swimming lessons, carnivals, birthday parties, group fitness, squad, lap and recreational swimming. The main 50-metre pool structure and associated water treatment plant are the original facilities constructed by volunteers in the early 1960s and Council is investing in this long term infrastructure which is highly valued by our community. A new pressurised filtration system for the 50-metre pool will be procured during 2023 providing for improved water turnover rates and compliance with South Australian Public Health Regulations.
Road Reseal Program
Every year Council invests in resealing roads that have reached the end of their economical life. Council’s annual road reseal program is due for completion by May 2023.
Pioneer Park Heritage Wall
Pioneer Park, a State Heritage listed place, with its significant Heritage Stone Wall adjacent to the Murray Street footpath between the Cowan Street intersection and the Exchange Hotel, has recently been moving and requires remediation.
A State Heritage Approved Engineer reviewed the wall and reported that the structural design and integrity of the wall was at risk due to the volume of soil being retained. The wall has been temporarily propped to avoid risk to our community while Council investigates options to improve the wall. The wall was erected in 1875 to prevent earth from the cemetery in Pioneer Park that closed in 1870 falling onto Murray Street. Works to preserve the Heritage Wall will be undertaken during 2023 ensuring that it remains in place for many more years to come.
Playground and Inclusivity Strategy
Council’s Open Space Guideline identifies a purpose, to develop high quality open spaces through recognising that parks and playgrounds balance the needs of the community. This is strengthened by Council’s overarching vision identified in the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, “to ensure that the Town of Gawler is a healthy, active, safe and engaged community and is a place that is accessible and inclusive to all.” To align with this strategic vision, Council is commissioning a Playground and Inclusivity Strategy to better understand the current and future use, design and management of its playspaces, to provide an informed renewal program of existing playspaces, and guide proposed new playspaces, to accommodate and be inclusive of the existing and future growth of Gawler and its community.
Youth Development Plan Review
Youth Development is about providing all young people with positive experiences and opportunities.
These experiences and opportunities must enhance young people’s strengths and capacity, and affirm
them as contributors to the Gawler community, as well as shapers of their own future. Through Youth Development, Council recognises, values, supports, and encourages young people’s contributions, recognising that youth are leaders today and leader in Gawler’s future. Council’s Youth Development Plan will be reviewed during 2023 to reflect the youth services that Council currently provides and guide its future provision.
Participatory Budgeting
Following on from the success of its inaugural Participatory Budgeting process, Council is again offering the community the opportunity to nominate and vote on various initiatives within its 2023/24 Annual Budget. The Participatory Budgeting program is a two-phase approach to community participation. The first seeks open feedback from the community regarding their ideas as to what the draft funding allocation can deliver. The second phase asks the community to vote on a shortlist of Council endorsed projects, with the project or projects that receive the highest amount of support being delivered. The projects that received support in the 2022/23 Annual Budget are solar lights for Apex Park and drinking fountains near the playgrounds at Clonlea Reserve and Apex Park. These projects will be completed prior to 30 June 2023.
Boundary Reform
In August 2022 Council advised the Local Government Boundaries Commission (Commission) of its intention to proceed to the investigation stage of Council’s Boundary Change Proposal noting the cost estimate to undertake this investigation is $379,500. The next step in the process is for the Commission to seek suitably qualified investigators to undertake the investigation and thoroughly assess the proposal. This includes public consultation with affected councils and communities. The investigation is expected to commence in 2023 with the outcome being recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Local Government. The Minister will then decide if any changes will occur and subsequently gazetted.