Are you interested in how your Elected Members represent you?

Council is reviewing its representation structure and is proposing to maintain its current composition and structure of 1 Mayor and 16 Ward Councillors, with two elected to each Ward. A small adjustment to the boundaries of the Semaphore Park and Grange Wards is also proposed to meet requirements under the Local Government Act 1999.

• Read more about Council's Proposal below; and
• Share your thoughts and tell us if you agree with the proposed representation structure by Monday 3 March 2025 using the submission form below.

Representation Review - Background and Process

Council undertook a Representation Review between June 2020 and June 2021. The final outcome was considered and ultimately endorsed by the Electoral Commission of South Australia to maintain the current composition of 8 wards, 16 Council Members and a Mayor (17 members). A minor amendment was also made to the Semaphore Park and Grange ward boundaries to ensure there was equitable representation across all wards.

Recent changes to the Act have resulted in the requirement for all councils to have a principal member (a Mayor), appointed or elected as a representative of the area as a whole, as well as imposing a limit of 13 Elected Members (including a Mayor) a council may be comprised of (the Member Cap).

Council must undertake a ‘Transitional Review’, as set out in the Local Government Act 1999 to address the Member Cap provisions. This can be achieved by either reducing the number of Members from 17 to 13 or by seeking exemption from the Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA).

As part of its Representation Review, Council intends to apply for an exemption certificate. To do so, it must conduct a full Representation Review, addressing all matters set out within the Act. The Electoral Commissioner may grant a certificate, unless exceptional circumstances exist that justify a refusal.

Another key aspect of the review is to ensure ward representation meets the ward quota. The number of electors represented by each Council Member must not vary from the ward quota by more than 10%. Based on population statistics the Semaphore Park Ward falls outside of this tolerance and therefore a boundary realignment is required.

The outcome of the Representation Review must be published before 1 January, ahead of the next periodic elections (i.e. 1 January 2026), to take effect at polling day of that election.

At the Council meeting of 26 February 2024, Council endorsed the appointment of Kelledy Jones Lawyers to prepare a draft Representation Review Report for the Council's consideration. A workshop was held with the Council Members on 27 May 2024 for the Members to receive information regarding the amendments to the Local Government Act 1999 on the member cap. Kelledy Jones Lawyers then prepared a draft Representation Report in December 2024 for Council's consideration.

Council's Proposal

Council proposes to:

• Continue with its current composition and structure, being:
  • the Principal Member of Council continue to be a Mayor, elected by the Council areas as a whole (this is now mandatory under the Local Government Act); and
  • maintain an eight ward structure; and
  • the elected body of the Council to continue to comprise of a total of 16 Ward Councillors, with two elected to each Ward.
• Realign the boundaries of the Semaphore Park and Grange Wards to ensure all Wards remain within the 10% tolerance for the next Local Government periodic elections. The proposed change is to move a small portion of Tennyson along Military Road and around Lakeside Court from the Grange Ward into the Semaphore Park Ward, resulting in 122 electors moving wards.

Click the "Start" button above to complete your online submission - it is quick and easy!

Alternatively, you can submit a written submission by downloading the hardcopy submission form in the Document Library on this page, or prepare your own written submission, and submit using one of these methods:

• Post to: Chief Executive Officer - Representation Review, City of Charles Sturt, PO Box 1, Woodville SA 5011
• Email to: kjackson@charlessturt.sa.gov.au (refer to Representation Review)
• In person: Chief Executive Officer - Representation Review, City of Charles Sturt Civic Centre, 72 Woodville Road, Woodville.

All submissions must be received by close of business on Monday 3 March 2025.