The City of Onkaparinga, established in July 1997, is South Australia’s largest Council. It combines the former Councils of Happy Valley, Noarlunga and most of Willunga. Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Tate, said there have been many benefits stemming from the amalgamation, not least being the opportunity to reduce rates by three percent. In addition to savings, he said the amalgamation has allowed for improved planning for the area as a whole.
“We can now consider planning on a sub regional basis,” he said. “The area has enormous potential. It is highly diverse, including dormitory suburbs and industrial areas through to the popular Willunga wine growing region and farming districts. The booming wine industry, spectacular topography and coastline attract many visitors.”
He said that restructuring has given Council the opportunity to harness much of that potential through a greater emphasis on policy and strategic planning so resources can be focused on areas of greatest need. It has also led to improved environmental management and provision of infrastructure.
At an immediate level, he said infrastructure projects which were too costly for one Council to undertake can now come off the drawing board and become a reality. Jeff Tate believes the amalgamation was made easier by the fact that the new Council was elected at the same time as the new administrative structure was put in place.
“From day one, staff and Council worked together to develop a sense of one single organisation,” he said.
Regardless of the benefits to be gained, he believes amalgamation is not an easy process and he recommends that if an organisation is undertaking change it does so quickly because of the difficulties uncertainty creates.
“Our new structure was set up by December but, in spite of this, six months of uncertainty was very difficult for people,” he said. “We are still bedding down the new organisation but are much further down the track than I expected.”
For further information contact Jeff Tate, telephone (08) 8384 0550.
