There are 68 councils across South Australia. Each council area may be divided into wards.  

To access maps of council areas visit the council websites page.

Council boundaries can be changed through a representation review process.

View changes made during the 2021 representation reviews

The following changes were made during the local government representation reviews in 2021. Click on the council link to view the Gazettal notice (and maps if applicable).

Council

Principal member

Wards

Boundary changes

Councillors

Adelaide, City of

Lord mayor

3

No

Reduced from 11 to 9

Adelaide Plains Council

Mayor

Abolished

N/A

9

Alexandrina Council

Mayor

Reduced from 5 to 3

Yes

9

Charles Sturt, City of

Mayor

8

Yes

16

Coorong District Council

Changed from chairperson to mayor

Abolished

N/A

Reduced from 9 to 7

Goyder, Regional Council of

Chairperson

4

Yes

7

Light Regional Council

Mayor

Reduced from 4 to 3

Yes

Reduced from 10 to 9

Mid Murray Council

Mayor

3

Yes

Reduced from 9 to 8

Mitcham, City of

Mayor

6

Yes

Reduced from 13 to 12

Mount Barker District Council

Mayor

3

Yes

10

Prospect, City of

Mayor

4

Yes

8

Local government representation reviews

A representation review is a process to determine whether a council would benefit from an alteration to its current composition or ward structure to meet future requirements.

A council is required to conduct a review of its representation at least once in each relevant period as prescribed by the regulations of the Local Government Act 1999 (The Act).  The Minister for Local Government from time to time will publish a timing schedule for determination of the relevant period.

However, councils may undertake a review at any time into aspects of its composition or ward structure or they may be requested to undertake a review within a specified period by the Electoral Commissioner.

The Act prescribes the process and requirements of the representation review that focuses on all aspects of the composition of the council including:

  • the number of council members,
  • the division or abolishment of wards in the council area, and
  • the number of voters represented by each elected council member.

All reviews must take the principles specified in the Act into account so that:

  • any changes made are to benefit ratepayers,
  • arrangements should reflect communities of interest and should avoid separations of such communities,
  • voters should be afforded effective participation in decisions on local matters, and
  • Council is able to cooperate with other councils and govern effectively.

Stages of the review

The review process is a lengthy, multi-staged undertaking and the Act prescribes opportunities for members of the public to be involved at key times within the review to provide feedback to council and involves the five stages detailed below.

Representation options paper

The first stage of the review is the preparation of the representation options paper. This paper gives councils and their communities the opportunity to review their current structure and composition and prepare alternative composition and structure options available for council to consider. The paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of the options for composition and structure available to the council.

First public consultation

The second stage involves consultation with the public commencing with informing the public of the representation options paper availability. The representation options paper invites persons to make written submissions to the council for a period of 6 weeks.

Representation review report

In the third stage, council considers the written submissions received during the first public consultation period and the options contained in the representation options paper. Following consideration, council determines and endorses an ‘in principle’ position on their future structure and composition. Council then prepares the representation review report that details the reasons supporting their position and must include any reasons for not supporting other options.

Second public consultation

The representation review report informs the public of the ‘in principle’ decision of council and invites persons to make written submissions in response to the council for a period of 3 weeks.  Persons, or their representatives, who made submissions are given an opportunity to speak to their submissions before council.

Final report

Council must consider any submissions received and any representations made by persons who took the opportunity to appear before council and confirm their decision. The report is finalised and council forwards the final report to the Electoral Commissioner for certification.

If the Electoral Commissioner is satisfied that the representation review has met the requirements of the Act, a certificate of compliance will be issued, allowing council to implement changes for the next periodical election.

Guideline for councils

The Electoral Commission SA has produced a publication that outlines guidelines for representation reviews.

Review schedule

The schedule for reviews is determined by the Minister of Local Government

For more information on the representation review process in your area please contact your council.