Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan open for feedback

Council’s draft budget and program of works for the coming 12 months, detailed in the Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan, is now out for community consultation and feedback.

To ensure that everyone in the community knows about Council’s proposed programs, services and budget, and can take part in our planning process, a summary brochure of the full plan is being delivered to every household in Holdfast Bay in the coming days.

“Over the last year, we’ve heard that we need to be more direct in how we share information with the community and one of the actions we have taken is to produce the summary brochure for the community consultation process,” Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson said.

“We believe this is important so everyone has access to the information and can help shape our plans for the years ahead.”

A new feature of this year’s plan and consultation process involves asking the Holdfast Bay community to indicate their level of support for six new proposed projects, which cover the areas of pedestrian safety, disability access and improvements for Jetty Road, Brighton.

The six projects, which together are worth more than $589,000, are:

• Adelphi Terrace Pedestrian Crossings - $120,000
• Jetty Road, Brighton street improvements (design and consultation) - $50,000
• Paringa Park Primary Active Transport Stage 2 - $50,000
• Bowker Oval disability access pathway - $40,000
• Cemetery upgrades - $256,000
• Fairy Lights Jetty Road, Brighton - $73,280

As the six community projects are new initiatives for this coming financial year, we are seeking the community’s level of support for the projects and the 0.15% increase in rates that would be required to fund and deliver them.

The Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan also demonstrates Council’s commitment to infrastructure improvements and maintaining its assets worth more than $889 million. In 2025-26, more than $12 million has been allocated for the renewal and improvement of many of these assets, including civic facilities, sporting clubs and community centres.

Two new playground upgrades - at Partridge House, Glenelg and Wattle Reserve, Hove – are also budgeted for in the coming year.

“Less noticeable but vitally important is stormwater infrastructure. This infrastructure reduces the risk of flooding and damage to property, lessens the impact on the environment, improves the health of our waterways and can help reduce urban temperatures,” Mayor Wilson said.

The draft budget includes $1.18 million to deliver more of the Stormwater Management Plan for the catchment between Glenelg and Marino. This will include places like Gilbertson Gully, Byre Avenue at Somerton Park and High Street at South Brighton. Over the past five years, Council has spent $11.1 million on improving underground drainage, water quality devices like gross pollutant traps and associated kerbs and drains.

To fund Council’s full program of works, services, programs and renewals, the provisional rate increase for the 2025-26 financial year is 4.95%. This equates to about $95 for the average household.

The proposed rate increase of 4.95% comprises of:

• 2.5% (which aligns with Adelaide CPI at December 2024) to allow Council to deliver on its current program of services, renewal works and community activities and events
• 2.3% for Transforming Jetty Road, Glenelg (year 2 of 3)
• 0.15% to fund and deliver up to six community projects previously listed
  

To ensure people have all the information they need about the Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan, three community drop-in sessions will be held. Anyone is welcome to attend to talk with Council staff about the draft budget.

The drop-in sessions will be held on:

• Monday 2 June, 4pm – 6pm at Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club, 248 Esplanade, Seacliff
• Thursday 12 June, 4pm – 6pm at Holdfast Bay Community Centre, 51 King George Avenue, Hove
• Monday 16 June, 4pm – 6pm at Glenelg North Community Centre, Kibby Reserve, Alison Street, Glenelg North

The Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan can be read in full online at www.yourholdfast.com/abp25-26, which is where an online survey can also be completed.

Printed copies can also be viewed at the Brighton Civic Centre and at the Brighton and Glenelg libraries, where hard copy surveys can also be collected.

Feedback to the Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan can also be submitted in writing, via email to abp@holdfast.sa.gov.au or through Australia Post addressed to Draft Annual Business Plan, PO Box 19, Brighton SA 5048

A verbal submission (deputation) can also be made to Council at its meeting on Tuesday 10 June 2025 at 7pm at the Glenelg Town Hall.

If you’d like to make a verbal submission, please provide notice via abp@holdfast.sa.gov.au or drop a written notice into the Brighton Civic Centre by 5pm on Friday 6 June 2025.

The Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 is also open for community consultation and feedback via the website mentioned above.

All feedback on both plans - the Draft 2025-26 Annual Business Plan and Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025-26 to 2034-35 - must be received by 5pm on Friday 20 June 2025.