Project Overview
Our draft 2026-27 Annual Business Plan sets out the programs, services and budget to meet our community's current and future needs. It is guided by our draft Long Term Financial Plan 2026-27 to 2035-36, which sets out a plan that covers the costs of strategic initiatives over the medium to long term.
We want to make sure that everyone in our community can learn about Council’s proposed programs, services and budget and participate in our planning process.
We invite you to view and provide feedback on the two draft plans.
We also invite you to indicate your level of support for six new proposed community projects in the draft 2026-27 Annual Business Plan.
This consultation closed 5pm Friday 8 May 2026.
Consultation Results and Outcomes
How we engaged with you
What we heard
A total of 349 individuals made submissions during the consultation. This is considerably more than in previous years.
- 298 online submissions
- 46 emails
- and 5 letters
Six new community projects were proposed. Community indicators of support were sought in the consultation process on these projects. 298 people completed the survey to indicate their level of support.
There was a majority support for the six community projects in the online survey, even when they required a rate rise to fund them.
Against this, the feedback in the general comments from online, email and letters was more mixed. A small proportion of supportive and constructive input alongside a stronger level of concern about financial decisions and project priorities. Across comments on the general, Annual Business Plan (ABP), and Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP), many respondents acknowledge specific improvements or offer practical suggestions, particularly regarding community facilities, infrastructure, and service delivery.
However, the most consistent theme is concern over rate increases and affordability, particularly amid current cost-of-living pressures. Several respondents strongly object to increases above inflation and question whether these are justified.
Alongside these concerns, there is a clear interest in practical, local improvements, including maintenance of core infrastructure, safety, environmental considerations, and support for community facilities. Many comments include constructive ideas, indicating a willingness to engage where outcomes are seen as relevant and beneficial.
Overall, the feedback reflects a community that is engaged and willing to contribute, but with strong expectations around affordability, fairness and clear communication of Council decisions.
Next Steps
The Annual Business Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan were
endorsed at the meeting of Council on 23 June 2026. The annual program of work,
including the six community projects supported by the community, will get
underway. Council receives quarterly reports on the progress of the Annual
Business Plan.
Read the final Annual Business Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan below:
How your rates are calculated
If you are experiencing financial hardship, Council support may be available.
Six community projects
The 2026-27 Annual Business Plan includes six community projects. As these projects provide new
levels of community service, a 0.2% rate increase would be required to fund all
six projects.
Click the + buttons below to find out about each project.
Brighton Oval is a high-use venue, primarily hosting over 1,100 participants between football and cricket. The oval also supports usage from local schools, School Sport SA, neighbouring sports clubs, and SACA and SANFL events.
This project will deliver oval surface remediation works at Brighton Oval. These works will address issues identified by independent turf management consultants and provide new turf cricket pitch squares, irrigation, drainage and surface water movement outcomes to meet immediate and future needs at the site.
Project timing is anticipated for the summer of 2027 or 2028 and is contingent on attracting external funding. However, planning work will commence in 2026–27 to ensure the alignment of funding with end-of-life irrigation asset renewal requirements.
The proposed project extends the planned works associated with the irrigation end-of-life asset renewal. The project will also include a structured maintenance program to preserve new turf coverage and improve turf density, resulting in longer-term surface provision for all oval users.
Across the City, 10 schools have crossings that vary in design quality, visibility and suitability for current traffic conditions.
The Movement and Transport Plan identifies school crossing safety as a high priority action, recommending a structured assessment framework and targeted upgrades to support safe, active travel for children and families.
Council will undertake a comprehensive assessment of all school crossings to identify high-risk locations and prioritise infrastructure improvements.
This project will fund design work in 2026–27 for the highest priority upgrade, providing the fist stage of a long-term program to systematically improve school crossing safety across the city. Work in future years will depend on final designs
North Brighton Cemetery and St Jude’s Cemetery are historic sites that serve as important cultural and community spaces. However, there have been ongoing complaints about the tidiness and overall amenity of these spaces. Concerns include inadequate tree canopy, deteriorating internal roads, lack of landscaping along fencelines, insufficient seating, and the need for better signage, particularly around heritage areas.
Continuing work commenced in 2025–26, the proposed project will enhance the cemeteries’ aesthetics, accessibility and historical significance, transforming them into well-maintained, inviting community spaces while respecting their heritage value.
Stage one in 2025–26 has focused more on the St Judes site. Stage two in 2026–27 will focus more on North Brighton.
The project proposes the removal of 68 ageing or high-risk trees that need to be removed and the installation of up to 106 new trees over two years.
Following storm events and State Government civil works in 2025–26, six trees have been lost from the Brighton Road median strip. A subsequent risk assessment of the remaining trees has identified the need for a planned renewal approach to ensure public safety and maintain the long-term health of the median landscape. This project will span two years and will remove the 68 trees and replace them with up to 106 new trees to increase canopy cover and enhance the visual character of the corridor.
This project continues work undertaken for traffic improvements, including concept designs developed in 2025–26 and extensive community consultation. Jetty Road, Brighton, is scheduled for road surface renewal in 2027–28. Before this renewal occurs, it is important to ensure the street continues to function safely and effectively for all users. To this end, Council has undertaken a Road Safety Audit and functional review, which identified several opportunities to improve safety, traffic flow, pedestrian connectivity, and compliance with Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements.
During 2025–26, Council prepared the concept design options to address these issues. These concepts were presented for community consultation in March 2026.
The 2026–27 project will complete the detailed design for the preferred concept following consultation. During this period, Council will also pursue external grant funding to support future construction. The final works are dependent on attracting external funding.
Construction of the final design will align with the programmed road renewal works in 2027–28, ensuring an efficient, coordinated approach to delivering improvements.
Verges make up a significant proportion of public space in our urban areas and present an opportunity to improve the liveability, appearance and environmental performance of our city. Enhancing verges with water-wise, primarily local, native plants provides a wide range of benefits for both residents and the natural environment.
A trial Verge Incentive Program would help the community transform standard grass or hard surface verges into attractive, sustainable nature strips.
The project proposes to scope, design and establish a one year trial rebate program that supports residents to install water-wise, native nature strips. This would also include developing clear guidelines, information resources and community support materials to help residents participate in the program.
We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide region and respect their spiritual relationship and cultural beliefs that remain important to the Kaurna people today.
