Electoral Districts

There are 68 councils across South Australia. Each council area may be divided into wards.  

To access maps of council areas visit the council websites page.

Council boundaries can be changed through a representation review process.

 

View changes resulting from the 2024 / 2025 representation reviewsClick on the council link to view the Gazettal notice (and maps if applicable).

Council

Changes Made?

Principal member

Wards and boundaries

Councillors

Adelaide Hills

Yes

Mayor

Increased 2 wards to 3

Retained 12 councillors

Barossa

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 11 councillors

Barunga West

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 9 councillors to 8

Berri Barmera

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 8 councillors

Campbelltown

No

Mayor

Retained 5 wards

Retained 10 councillors

Ceduna

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 8 councillors

Charles Sturt

No

Mayor

Retained 8 wards

Member cap exemption granted for 16 councillors

Clare & Gilbert Valleys

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Cleve

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 7 councillors to 6

Copper Coast

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Elliston

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 8 councillors to 7

Franklin Harbour

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 6 councillors to 5

Goyder

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Reduced 4 wards to 2

Reduced councils from 7 to 6

Grant

Yes

Mayor

Abolished Wards (3 to 0)

Retained 9 councillors

Kangaroo Island

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Karoonda East Murray

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 6 councillors

Kimba

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 7 councillors to 6

Kingston

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 7 councillors

Lower Eyre

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 7 councillors

Loxton Waikerie

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 10 councillors

Mount Gambier

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 8 councillors

Mount Remarkable

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained 2 wards

Reduced councillors from 7 to 6

Naracoorte Lucindale

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 10 councillors

Northern Areas

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Abolished wards (4 to 0)

Reduced 9 councillors to 8

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters

Yes

Mayor

Reduced 6 wards to 4

Reduced 13 councillors to 11 (1 ward with 2 councillors, 3 wards with 3)

Onkaparinga

No

Mayor

Retained 8 wards

Retained 12 councillors

Orroroo Carrieton

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 6 councillors to 5

Peterborough

Yes

Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 8 councillors to 7

Playford

Yes

Mayor

Reduced 5 wards to 4

Reduced 15 councillors to 12 (3 for each ward)

Port Adelaide Enfield

No

Mayor

Retained 7 wards

Member cap exemption granted for 17 councillors

Port Augusta

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Port Lincoln

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Renmark Paringa

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 8 councillors

Salisbury

No

Mayor

Retained 7 wards

Member cap exemption granted for 14 councillors

Southern Mallee

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 7 councillors to 6

Streaky Bay

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained 2 wards

Retained 8 councillors

Tea Tree Gully

No

Mayor

Retained 6 wards

Retained 12 councillors

Victor Harbor

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Walkerville

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 8 councillors

West Torrens

No

Mayor

Retained 7 wards

Member cap exemption granted for 14 councillors

Whyalla

No

Mayor

Retained No wards

Retained 9 councillors

Wudinna

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained No wards

Reduced 7 councillors to 6

Yankalilla

Yes

Chairperson to Mayor

Retained 2 wards

Retained 9 councillors

 

View changes resulting from the 2021 representation reviews

Click on the council link to view the Gazettal notice (and maps if applicable).

Council

Principal member

Wards

Boundary changes

Councillors

Adelaide, City of

Lord mayor

3

No

Reduced from 11 to 9

Adelaide Plains Council

Mayor

Abolished

N/A

9

Alexandrina Council

Mayor

Reduced from 5 to 3

Yes

9

Charles Sturt, City of

Mayor

8

Yes

16

Coorong District Council

Changed from chairperson to mayor

Abolished

N/A

Reduced from 9 to 7

Goyder, Regional Council of

Chairperson

4

Yes

7

Light Regional Council

Mayor

Reduced from 4 to 3

Yes

Reduced from 10 to 9

Mid Murray Council

Mayor

3

Yes

Reduced from 9 to 8

Mitcham, City of

Mayor

6

Yes

Reduced from 13 to 12

Mount Barker District Council

Mayor

3

Yes

10

Prospect, City of

Mayor

4

Yes

8

 

Local government representation reviews

A representation review is a process to determine whether a council would benefit from an alteration to its current composition or ward structure to meet future requirements.

A council is required to conduct a review of its representation at least once in each relevant period as prescribed by the regulations of the Local Government Act 1999 (The Act).  The Minister for Local Government from time to time will publish a timing schedule for determination of the relevant period.

However, councils may undertake a review at any time into aspects of its composition or ward structure or they may be requested to undertake a review within a specified period by the Electoral Commissioner.

The Act prescribes the process and requirements of the representation review that focuses on all aspects of the composition of the council including:

  • the number of council members,
  • the division or abolishment of wards in the council area, and
  • the number of voters represented by each elected council member.

All reviews must take the principles specified in the Act into account so that:

  • any changes made are to benefit ratepayers,
  • arrangements should reflect communities of interest and should avoid separations of such communities,
  • voters should be afforded effective participation in decisions on local matters, and
  • Council is able to cooperate with other councils and govern effectively.

Reform to the Act has changed the representation review process. Refer to the following instruments for up-to-date information on council responsibilities and the Electoral Commissioner’s role:

  • Local Government Act 1999
  • Local Government (General) Regulations 2013
  • Local Government (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2021
  • Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Act 2021

 

Guideline for councils

The below Representation Review Guideline provides general information for councils conducting a representation review. This should be read in conjunction with the requirements under the relevant legislative instruments.

Review schedule

The schedule for reviews is determined by the Minister of Local Government. 

For more information on the representation review process in your area please contact your council.

2023 APY Lands Boundary Review ELEMENT 391x119

As the next general elections will be held in 2024, a review of the APY Lands electorates was conducted from late 2023.

The Aṉangu Pitjatjantjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (the APY Act) requires that the review included consultation with APY members and the APY Executive Board.

The Electoral Commissioner also invited submissions from the APY Community Councils and other parties or individuals with an interest in the APY Lands.

Additionally, the Electoral Commission of SA visited the APY Lands during October 2023 to discuss the boundary review.

At the conclusion of the review, no written public submissions were received. The Electoral Commissioner did not make any recommendation to change the current electorate boundaries.

The full report is available here:

Audio explanations

English

 


AUDIO file only:

 

Pitjantjatjara

 


AUDIO file only:

 

Written Submissions

Written submissions were to be addressed to the Electoral Commissioner, and made by:

  • email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
  • post to GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001.

The closing date for submissions was Tuesday 14 November 2023.

 

Enquiries

Any boundary review enquiries were directed to the ECSA APY Boundary Review Project Manager, Olivia Hanna. 


Community visits held in October 2023

Dates Locations
Monday 23 October 2023 Marla 2pm-4pm, across from roadhouse
Tuesday 24 October 2023 Kanpi 9am-11am, Verandah next to general store
Pipalyatjara 12pm-2pm, Pipalyatjara TAFE
Indulkana 12pm-2pm, Indulkana TAFE
Mimili 3.30pm – 5.30pm, Mimili TAFE
Wednesday 25 October 2023 Amata 9.30am-11.30am, Amata TAFE
Kaltjiti 10am-12pm, Kaltjiti TAFE
Umuwa 12.30pm-2.30pm, APY Rec shed
Thursday 26 October 2023 Pukatja 10am – 12pm, Pukatja TAFE

The Electoral Commissioner has completed the review of APY electorates required under section 9(8) of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights act 1981.

The review began in late 2019 and was pulished in January 2020.

The report is available for download from the link below.

Download the report on the review of APY Electorates (PDF, 3.1MB)

The review of APY electorates will commence with the calling for submissions on the constitution of community groups within each electorate and, following consultation, culminate in the Electoral Commissioner preparing a report for the Minister.

The reviewed electorates may then be prescribed by regulation, bringing them into effect for the general elections commencing May 2020.

Specific information regarding the review can be found in the links below.  Further information will be added as the review progresses:

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