Every year Council develops and adopts an Annual Business Plan (ABP), which sets out Council’s key programs, priority actions and budgets for the financial year.

We want our community to help review our draft ABP 2026-27. Feedback from residents, businesses and community groups helps to shape the initiatives included in the final Plan, ensuring they reflect local priorities.

This input comes from consultation on the Draft ABP, as well as community participation in Council’s strategic planning processes and engagement activities undertaken throughout the year.

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.

The draft ABP 2026-27, continues the process of underpinning our long-term financial sustainability while maintaining facilities and services our community deserves.

Community engagement is open until 5pm Monday 6 July 2026.

Draft Annual Business Plan 2026-27 open in new window

Sharing feedback

Share your ideas and feedback

Your feedback on our draft ABP 2026-27 is appreciated, and all feedback received during the engagement period will be considered, prior to the plan being finalised.

Community engagement is open until 5pm Monday 6 July 2026.

How can I provide feedback?

Once you have reviewed the draft plan, you can provide your feedback in one of the following ways:

  • Present

    Present at the public Council Meeting being held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

  • Collect

    Hardcopy feedback forms will be available from our Service Centres / libraries at Stirling, Woodside, Gumeracha and Norton Summit.

    Download form 

  • Post

    Post your written feedback to us at 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling SA 5152.

  • Ask a question

    Visit the FAQs tab and if your question isn't answered there, ask our project team using the Q&A tool.

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.

Face to face engagement opportunities

If you would prefer to provide your feedback in person, the Director Corporate Services (or another member of the project team) is happy to make an appropriate arrangement to meet with individuals or small groups.

You may alternatively like to present at the public Council Meeting on 23 June or to come along to the Mylor Community Forum which is being held on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Quick look

Review some of the key elements of the draft ABP

The key focus in preparing the 2026–27 budget has been to balance financial sustainability with the delivery of essential services and community infrastructure.

Considerations include:

  • Responding to ongoing cost pressures, including increased infrastructure, depreciation and finance costs in a challenging economic environment;
  • Maintaining, rationalising and renewing a large portfolio of community assets;
  • Taking a disciplined approach to expenditure, including reducing new initiatives compared to previous years;
  • Supporting community priorities through targeted investments in safety, accessibility and connectivity;
  • Returning to surplus in the coming years and achieving the goals of the Long-Term Financial Plan.

Council’s focus for the 2026–27 financial year is on supporting and strengthening the community, environment and region through a responsible budget that recognises unique constraints and prioritises essential services, prudent resource management, and sustainability.

Some of the key areas of focus for 2026-27 include:

Natural environment:

  • Continue reviewing waste management service models to find efficiencies and divert more waste from landfill.
  • Adapt Cox Creek rehabilitation project learnings and techniques to prepare for expansion across water supply catchments and improve the health of Adelaide Hills creeks and rivers.
  • Build capacity in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Community wellbeing:

  • Implement the new Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
  • Use a co-design approach to develop a new Youth Action Plan.
  • Explore opportunities to expand visitor and tourism experiences at Fabrik Arts + Heritage.

Built Form and Economy

  • Plan for the future of the Hills by defining what our communities need and value into the future.
  • Advocate for development outcomes for the Woodside Barracks that deliver the best long-term outcomes for the community.
  • Progress a review of Community Land Management Plans and prepare a Strategic Asset Management Plan.

Organisation:

  • Continue to enhance the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to improve customer experience for enquiries, requests and response timeframes.
  • Improve efficiency and service delivery through the implementation of a modern, integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
  • Continue to progress towards long-term financial sustainability by undertaking long-term asset and financial planning.

View a list of the Operating and Capital Projects featured in the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget.

    $12.1 million expenditure on existing asset renewal, down from $14.29 in 2025-26.

    The renewal program is informed by Council’s Asset Management Plans. Sustained investment in renewal is critical to maintaining service levels, managing long-term costs, and delivering safe, reliable infrastructure that continues to benefit the community.

    Below is a list of planned asset renewal spending for 2026-27 by asset type:

    • Bridges - $405K
    • Buildings $140K
    • Cemetries $40K
    • Community Wastewater Management Systems $302K
    • Footpaths $414K
    • Kerbing and road shoulder $565K
    • Sport and recreation $166K
    • Stormwater $150K
    • Roads (sealed and unsealed) $4.874M
    • Plant and fleet $3.088M
    • ICT equipment $166K
    • Project management and contingency $1.280M

    The complete Draft Capital Works Program 2026-27, is available in Appendix F of the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget 2026-27.

    The draft plan reflects a rate increase in line with with the March National Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1.5 per cent to manage the Council’s $800m portfolio of infrastructure assets and deliver $2.2 million in key capital expenditure.

    An additional 1.5 per cent is proposed as the Council continues the process of ensuring long term financial sustainability. This is reflective of the cost of maintaining legacy infrastructure, higher depreciation and increased finance costs against a background of challenging economic and geopolitical conditions.

    The combined proposed rate increase of 7.6% equates to approximately $223 for an average value residential property.

    Note: This draft plan is based on the national March quarter CPI figure (4.6%). Recognising inflation eased in the April quarter, Council will reassess in line with latest CPI data at the conclusion of the consultation period and this may influence the final rate that is adopted.

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    2025/26 achievements

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

    You can hover over the image below to view some of the projects and services achieved during the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year (July 2025 to March 2026).