Sustainability Review

In 2023, as part of a sector review, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) found that the Mid Murray Council’s current financial position was potentially unsustainable, recommending amongst other things that Council identify efficiencies across its operations and service delivery, including considering asset sale or disposal options.

Council had already commenced reviewing its operations to identify financial sustainability measures and cost savings prior to the ESCOSA advice, however this reinforced Council’s commitment to identifying cost savings and efficiencies to improve the financial position of the business in a highly challenging operating environment.

Council is also acutely aware of the financial pressures facing the community, and the need to balance affordability for the community while implementing measures to deliver long-term sustainability, and the provision of services for the community.

Council will be consulting with the community throughout this process to ensure they have the opportunity for input into any changes Council may decide to make.

Facility Review

A component of the Sustainability Review is to assess the operations of facilities that are either owned or operated by Council. The following reviews are being progressed in 2024.

• Morgan Public Library, Morgan Activity Centre and Blanchetown Hub (March-June)
• Swimming Pools (April-June)
• Mannum Leisure Centre (May-August)

Facilities Review – Swimming Pools

As Council works towards improving its financial sustainability, Council is currently considering the future service provision of both the Cambrai and Mannum Pools in the next stage of the facilities review.
Due to the substantial cost of providing these services to the community, Council is considering several alternatives, including rationalisation options. These include, exploring alternative management structures, voluntary staffing, and increased entry fees.
There are many variations, to the options stated in the discussion paper, that could be considered and will be explored through the consultation process.

The Swimming Pools

The Cambrai Pool is owned and operated by Mid Murray Council. The Pool was built in 1962 and funded by the community who raised money to keep it running until the mid-1970’s when it was leased to the former Cambrai Area School. Eventually the care and control of the Pool was returned to Council who has operated it in the interest of the community since.

The Mannum Community College Pool is owned by the Department for Education and Child Development, with Council responsible for operations and staffing outside of school hours to enable community public use.

Current Service Levels:
During the 2023/2024 season Council operated both pools from 1 December until 3 March, with two lifeguards each, opening between 3.30pm to 7.30pm when forecast was above 25 degrees on the following days:
Cambrai – Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Mannum – Monday, Thursday, Saturday

Have your say!

As part of the Facilities Review process, Council has prepared a Discussion Paper outlining the options for the community to consider and provide its feedback on the services provided at Cambrai and Mannum Swimming Pools. Community members are encouraged to review the Discussion Paper prior to completing the survey.

Council is keen to hear the community’s views about the future service delivery of these facilities. Community Engagement sessions will be held at the following times and locations;

Cambrai Council Chambers - Main Street, Cambrai

• Tuesday 30 April, 5.30pm - 6.30pm
• Tuesday 7 May, 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Mannum Leisure Centre (Senior Citizens Room) - 51 Adelaide Road, Mannum

• Thursday 2 May, 11.30am - 12.30pm
• Tuesday 7 May, 6.00pm - 7.00pm

To view the Discussion Paper - Facilities Review - Cambrai and Mannum Community College Swimming Pools - click here.

Have your say by either completing the survey or making a written submission to Council. To complete our online survey click here.

For more information please click on the following link: MEDIA RELEASE - 19 April 2024 - Community Invited to have say on Cambrai and Mannum Swimming Pools

Consultation closes 12.00pm Monday 20 May 2024

Facilities Review - Morgan Public Library, Morgan Activity Centre and Blanchetown Hub - Consultation open

Mid Murray Council is currently considering the future of the Morgan Library, Morgan Activity Centre (MAC) and the Blanchetown Hub to consider alternative delivery options and whether they remain a core service.

Council is keen to hear the community’s views about the future service delivery of the Morgan Library, Morgan Activity Centre and the Blanchetown Hub.

To view the Discussion Paper - Facilities Review - Morgan Library, Morgan Activity Centre and Blanchetown Hub - click here

Due to the substantial cost of providing these services to the community, Council is considering several alternatives, including rationalisation options. These include:

• Closing the MAC in its current location
• Reducing the size of the library to a boutique library
• Incorporate the Morgan Activity Centre and Boutique Morgan Library into the one space in the current Morgan Library
• Close Morgan Library on Saturday mornings
• Close the Blanchetown Hub and Library
• Develop a bookable bus service to transport Blanchetown residents to Morgan to use – Library, MAC, Council office and Centrelink Access Point.
• Develop ‘Little Libraries’ throughout the region
• Close all facilities and services, except for Morgan Council Office services

Council would appreciate feedback on these facilities and services, please complete our online survey by clicking the links below;

Morgan Public Library & Morgan Activity Centre

Blanchetown Hub

Community Engagement begins on Thursday 28 March and closes Friday 26 April 2024.

Community Engagement sessions will be held at the following times and locations;

Morgan Library - Fourth Street, Morgan

• Tuesday 2 April, 10.30am - 12.00pm
• Monday 8 April, 12.30pm - 2.00pm

Morgan  Activity Centre - Cnr  Fourth & Eighth Street, Morgan

• Tuesday 2 April, 12.30pm - 2.00pm
• Monday 8 April, 10.30am - 12.00pm

Blanchetown Community Hub - 3 Shaw Street, Blanchetown

• Thursday 4 April, 10.30am - 12.00pm
• Tuesday 9 April, 12.30pm - 2.00pm

For more information please click on the following link:  Media Release – 28 March 2024 - Community Invited To Have Say On Review Of Mid Murray Facilities

Consultation closes 5:00pm Friday 26 April 2024.

Proposed Revocation of Community Land - Consultation open

To ensure that land is maintained for community enjoyment or benefit, the Local Government Act 1999 requires that all local government land (except roads) that is owned by Council or is under the care, control and management of Council is Community Land, unless it has been exempted through legislation, excluded by resolution of Council or the classification has been revoked.

As Mid Murray Council possesses a number of pieces of land that are currently underutilised, Council is considering the revocation of the community land classification of the land for the purposes of making the land available for disposal in accordance with Council’s Disposal of Land & Assets Policy.

The detailed Proposal to Revoke Community Land Classification Report is available for inspection  -  click here, or at any of Council’s Offices.

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Section 194 of the Local Government Act 1999 and Council’s Public Consultation Policy, that Mid Murray Council resolved at its meeting held 19 March 2024, that the public be consulted over the proposal to remove the Community Land classification of land located:

• Lot 153 Deposited Plan 62821, Schmidt Lane, Bowhill - CT Volume 5903 Folio 38

• Portion of Lot 751 Deposited Plan 89423, Marina Way, Mannum Waters - CT Volume 6097 Folio 295

• Lot 240 Deposited Plan 169989, Government Road, Cambrai - CT Volume 5863 Folio 698

• Lot 222 Deposited Plan 208598, Victoria Street, Swan Reach - CT Volume 5753 Folio 23

• Lot 223 Deposited Plan 208599, Victoria Street, Swan Reach - CT Volume 5804 Folio 853

• Lot 50 Deposited Plan 218027 Collins Road, Tungkillo - CT Volume 5806 Folio 6

• Lot 71 Deposited Plan 42484 Greenshields Road, Younghusband -  CT Volume 5279 Folio 208

• Lot 79 Deposited Plan 10944 Khancoban Place, Younghusband - CT Volume 5546 Folio 266

• Lot 73 Deposited Plan 10943 Tom Groggin Drive, Younghusband - CT Volume 5546 Folio 264

For an indication of future land usage - click here

Community Information Session

To assist the community in understanding the revocation process, and to encourage submissions on the Proposal, a community information session was held:

• Mannum Council Office, 49 Adelaide Road, Mannum,
  Thursday 11 April 2024 at 5.30pm

Written Submissions

Written submissions may be sent to the Chief Executive Officer no later than 5:00 pm Tuesday, 24 April 2024. Persons making a submission should indicate whether they wish to address Council by way of a deputation. Following the public consultation period, a further report will be submitted to Council to enable it to consider the submissions received.

Comments or written submissions can be submitted via:

• Email:
  postbox@mid-murray.sa.gov.au
  The subject of the email should be “Community Consultation – Community Land Revocation Proposal”, or

• Mail:       
  All submissions should be addressed to:
  Community Consultation
  Community Land Revocation Proposal
  PO Box 28
  MANNUM SA 5238