News Release

11 April 2013

South Australia seeks inspiration from Super City

South Australia is seeking to learn from the experiences of the new Auckland as it considers the future of local government in the state.

A 16-person delegation from the state’s Local Government Association (LGASA) is visiting Auckland as well as Tauranga and Wellington on a fact-finding tour.

The association has launched a ‘Council of the future’ initiative, with a focus on the future of local government in South Australia, including Adelaide.

The initiative is led by a three-person expert panel chaired by former State Government Minister Greg Crafter along with former District Court Judge Christine Trenorden and Australian local government expert Professor Graham Sansom.

The delegation says the Auckland reforms and the experience of the different elements of the Auckland Council should be invaluable for South Australia.

Among the matters which they are interested in are the governance reform itself, Auckland’s council controlled organisations, the relationship between central and local government, the local boards and the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says the establishment of the super city – the biggest council in Australia or New Zealand - is of real interest to people on both sides of the Tasman.

“Clearly people anywhere considering local government reform must decide for themselves what is right for them, but we are very happy to share what we have achieved during the first two and a half years of the new Auckland.”

The delegation will meet with the Mayor and other Auckland Council representatives tomorrow (Thursday 11 April).

Adelaide has a urban population (1.263m) that is slightly smaller than Auckland’s (1.397m) but with 18 councils, while the total population of the new Auckland (1.508m) is slightly less than the total population of South Australia (1.658m).

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