After some years discussing the possibility of amalgamation, the first Mayor of the new City of Playford, Marilyn Baker, says it is good to be one cohesive area. Having served as a Councillor at Elizabeth since I981, including the last two years as Mayor, Mayor Baker was popularly elected the first Mayor of Playford in 1997.
“In meeting the needs of the whole area, strategic planning with community input is vital,” she said. “Council is now much more involved with the community, drawing it together in a sense of completeness.”
Located on Adelaide’s northern fringe, Playford’s population is currently 63,500, with a projected increase to 80,000 by the year 2005. Mayor Baker said now that the amalgamation has finally happened, there are many benefits to be realised for the whole community.
She said that the pattern of discussion that is emerging clearly indicates Council is quickly coming to grips with the ‘big picture’ as previous parochialism breaks down. Council can rationalise available assets, avoid duplication of services, achieve economies of scale and apply better planning for the whole community.
“Playford, has many attributes cementing its place in the future,” the Mayor said. “It is one of the most diverse Council areas in South Australia, with rolling hills, coastal mangroves, extensive horticulture, together with its urban corridor and strong manufacturing sector.”
As the regional centre for Adelaide’s northern suburbs, it also boasts the highest proportion of its urban area (19%) devoted to parks and gardens than any other Council in South Australia. Marilyn Baker is confident that the range of interests and activity that make the Playford community what it is, augur for a bright future.
The increased regional focus that amalgamation has brought will provide a better planned, cost effective and more efficient service delivery to maximise opportunities for everyone.
