Shortly after its formation in 1997 by the amalgamation of four smaller councils, the Adelaide Hills Council consented in 1998 to the excision of the Adelaide Foothills suburbs of Skye and Auldana and their transfer to the neighbouring Burnside Council District. This was in conformity with the local government legislation of the time, which required that both council districts jointly propose such a transfer.
The matter was comparatively uncontroversial and involved suburbs with fairly small populations, who in the majority saw Burnside as providing easier access to council services.
It has been a different story since 2019, when local government legislation changed and allowed a council to unilaterally propose a transfer of territory from a neighbouring council. The Campbelltown City Council took the opportunity to argue a claim for the Foothills suburb of Woodforde and part of its neighbour Rostrevor, both lying with the Adelaide Hills Council. Campbelltown has persisted with this claim. The decision ultimately will be made by the Minister for Local Government.
There are more than 700 properties involved, with a substantial sum in council rates to be collected each year. Polls have suggested that the majority of the affected inhabitants of Rostrevor and Woodforde are content with the status quo. Where there is division, a major factor seems to be whether people prefer a life in a conventional suburb with all its amenities and conveniences, or in a semi-bush setting.
The Adelaide Hills Council does not permit housing blocks as small as those allowed in Campbelltown. The intensive Hamilton Hill development at Woodforde, which began in 2018, was imposed by the State Government.
Meanwhile, in a remote and sparsely populated region in the northwest of the Adelaide Hills Council District, the upper reaches of the Gawler River catchment send water out of the District. The Adelaide Hills Council is obliged to pay an annual sum for flood mitigation in the lower reaches of the catchment, outside its district, which it sees as unfair and argues should be waived.
It has been said that, at all levels, there are no ideal boundaries. There are always
anomalies.
Sources: Courier, 19 August 1998, 22 December 1998, 18 June 2025;
https://www.dit.sa.gov.au/local-government/documents/office-of-local-government/boundaries/campbell-city-council/Letter-for-Boundaries-Commission-to-accompany-Stage-2-Proposal-Attachment.pdf
City of Campbelltown Boundary Change Proposal;
https://www.ahc.sa.gov.au/assets/downloads/Boundary-Change-Submission.pdf Adelaide Hills Council
If you have recollections, knowledge or further information that you would like to share about the people, places or events described here, then please contact us at mldhs@mtloftyhistoricalsociety.org.au
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