Seven months on, the new City of Port Adelaide Enfield has received wide community support. The merger of the two former Councils occured on 22 March.
“Significant rate reductions have been delivered for residential areas and people are noticing a general improvement in response times, as well as greater flexibility in service delivery,” said the Mayor Hans Pieters.
The former Cities of Port Adelaide and Enfield were amongst the first South Australian Councils to voluntarily merge under the current restructure process.
Hans Pieters said that with a budget of $68 million, the new Council has much more flexibility for what it can do and how to do it. However, he added that it will probably take at least three years for the organisation to be properly bedded down, and for residents to become completely familiar with the City as a larger entity.
Major projects to date include the reconstruction of the Esplanade at Semaphore and Langs Bay, which is nearing completion, and a $600,000 development resulting in new football and cricket clubrooms at Kilburn. Council is also working closely with the State Government on a feasibility study for a third river crossing which would allow for the rerouting of heavy traffic out of commercial areas.
Currently all 32 elected members from the former two Councils comprise the new Council. In October, Hans Pieters former Mayor of Port Adelaide will hand over his Mayoral responsibilities to Mike Stock, former Mayor of Enfield, who will hold this position until the election of the new Council which is scheduled for May next year.
The new Council will have five Wards each with two councillors, and two Wards with three, plus a popularly elected Mayor.
