Draft Annual Business Plan 2025-26 and Budget

We would like to share with our community our draft Annual Business Plan 2025-26 (ABP) and draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2026-40 (LTFP). Both of these important council documents are currently open for community feedback. Do they cover what is important to you? Are we focusing on the right areas?

The ABP is our way to ensure that we continue to develop and maintain essential infrastructure services such as roads, footpaths, bridges, public toilets and open spaces as well as providing important services including libraries, health, planning, support services and waste collection. Our LTFP integrates the financial implications of all council's plans and helps us to ensure long-term financial stability and resilience.

Our Focus

Council’s focus for 2025-26 is on supporting and strengthening our community, environment and region by developing a responsible budget which recognises our unique limitations and is geared towards delivering essential services, practical resource management, and sustainability.

Some of our highlights for 2025/26 include:

• Pursuing our adopted pathway to achieving net zero corporate carbon emissions
• Trialing alternative kerbside waste collection models to divert more waste from landfill
• Progressing towards financial sustainability through considered planning
• Developing a revised Biodiversity Strategy to conserve native vegetation and habitat on Council land, and protect ecological values along natural waterways
• Developing a Stormwater Management Plan
• Continuing to implement actions from the Our Watch's "Prevention Toolkit for Local Government"
• Expanding the Fabrik Arts + Heritage Hub operations following its redevelopment
• Undertaking a strategic review of all Council owned properties including Council administration accommodation
• Increasing community connections through forums
• Collaborating with Adelaide Hills Tourism to promote and support tourism operators and businesses across our region
• Advocating for key economic development issues in the region with other levels of government
• Commencing the development of a housing strategy that meets community needs and balances character, growth, affordability, and the natural environment
• Increasing resilience and reliability of the Community Wastewater Management System service
• Implementing technology upgrades to the Customer Relationship Management system to enhance the customer experience through easier online services and improved communication and response times

Cost saving strategies:

Council has proposed a range of savings within the 2025-26 ABP and LTFP with the aim of addressing and improving the Council's financial stability. These proposed savings include:

• Delays to playground and public toilet facilities upgrade program
• Reduction in new footpath program and review of footpath priority process
• Delays to trail upgrades program, with focus on maintaining existing trails
• Removal of major event support including Santos Tour Down Under
• Limiting new initiatives linked to priorities within our Strategic Plan - Your Place Your Space

We want to hear from you

We’d like to hear your feedback on both draft documents that are available for viewing under the Document Library.

How can I provide feedback?

Once you have viewed the documents, you can provide your feedback in one of the following ways:

• Completing the online feedback form below
• Sending an email to engage@ahc.sa.gov.au
• Posting your feedback to 63 Mount Barker Road Stirling SA 5152
• Giving us a call on 8408 0400
• Collecting a hardcopy feedback form from any Council Service Centre or Library at Stirling, Gumeracha or Woodside during opening hours.
• Presenting at the public Council Meeting being held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 10 June 2025.

Community engagement closes at 5pm on Wednesday 11 June 2025.

What happens with feedback?

Your feedback on our draft Plans is appreciated, and all feedback received during the engagement period will be considered, prior to the plans being finalised.

Accessibility

If you need assistance to complete the feedback tools or need an alternative format, please email engage@ahc.sa.gov.au or call 8408 0400.

Further information

You can ask us a question by email engage@ahc.sa.gov.au or by using the Questions tab below.