Charlotte Varcoe
WATTLE Range Council has decided to withdraw its membership from the Limestone Coast Local Government (LCLGA) with other councils questioning a subscription fee hike.
Tensions have remained high between Wattle Range Council and the LCLGA with Mayor Des Noll stepping down from the board earlier this year.
The LCLGA consists of mayors and chief executive officers from all seven councils across the Limestone Coast with an annual subscription fee paid each year.
The fee helps deliver the LCLGA business plan and budget, often consisting of region-based goals including tourism, infrastructure and heritage upgrades.
It had been up in the air whether the council would replace Mr Noll on the board with chief executive officer Ben Gower attending the most recent meeting.
During this month’s council meeting, Wattle Range Council elected members discussed the LCLGA in confidence with the announcement it would be withdrawn being made late Thursday evening.
LCLGA president Lynette Martin said the association was informed by Mr Noll of the decision and although extremely disappointed, all mayors of the remaining six constituent councils acknowledged and respected the resolution.
“We wish them well in their future endeavors as an independent council from the LCLGA,” Ms Martin said.
“The association looks forward to continuing its work with a dedicated group of councils all of whom are committed to promoting the Limestone Coast region and advancing the interests of their communities and will in coming days meet to consider our future direction and model.”
Mr Noll said the decision to withdraw was not one made lightly.
“We have a strong desire to continue collaboration with all regional councils, both individually and as a collective, through a range of alternative formal and informal networks,” he said.
“Likewise we understand that it is vitally important that we continue to provide and advocate for key infrastructure and services across our wonderful region with a united voice.”
Mr Noll said council also acknowledged that despite our decision to withdraw we will honor our 2025/2025 contribution to the association which would ensure that Wattle Range residents continue to benefit from the programs and projects already set out by the regional body over the coming financial year.
“We will continue to have honest discussions with our regional counterparts in regard to our future direction and remain open to returning should we feel the opportunity is right,” Mr Noll said.
During the most recent LCLGA meeting, board members agreed to gather and discuss the future of the association following several changes made within the past year.
According to the LCLGA agenda, the proposed session would provide a “unique opportunity” for board members to engage in “comprehensive discussions” as well as fostering an open and collaborative environment.
It comes following an increase to council’s subscription fees with the City of Mount Gambier’s subscription increase by $11,516.
The District Council of Grant’s subscription has increased by $5100, Wattle Range Council has increased by $8739 while Naracoorte Lucindale Council has increased by $5876.
The District Council of Robe’s has increased by $2729, Kingston District Council has increased by $$2626 with Tatiara District Council increasing by $4977.
This totals to an overall increase in fees of $41,556 with the LCLGA subscription being $915,889 in total.
Tatiara District Council recently discussed the price increases with councillors questioning whether the council was getting its money’s worth.
Elected members agreed it was important for councils to collaborate together with chief executive officer Anna Champness acknowledging the LCLGA had a difficult 12 months.
“The LCLGA has not achieved as much as it could have or in previous years and the board is looking into what are those priorities we want to work towards,” Ms Champness said.
“I think the board will not, in regards to tourism, look at what the role of the LCLGA is in regards to tourism and how to position ourselves for the financial year after this one.”
Ms Champness said there was more work which needed to be done about what all seven councils wanted to achieve long term.
Elected members discussed the future of the LCLGA with councillors expressing concern about whether they would see significant improvements or not.
Councillor Richard Halliday questioned whether to do a low level review into the LCLGA in order to gain informaiton should change needed to be made they would be able to “take it by the horns and drive the change”.
He also stated he believed the LCLGA was “not very Upper South East orientated” and whether council was better spending its tourism dollars itself.
Ms Champness said there were similar discussions happening with the LCLGA board but due to it being a subscription model it was difficult to “pick and choose”.
Elected members agreed things working within the LCLGA included roads programs, sport academies, connecting communities but also that tourism was not as strong in the northern areas as other council areas.
Cr Miles Hannemann stated the LCLGA was not his favourite organisation and wanted it to do more about issues such as rubbish with Ms Champness suggesting the association should focus more on “three or four things” and get going again.
Ms Martin said the LCLGA covered a “broad geographical area” and due to that, potentially not all programs or projects would have the same benefit for each region.
“For instance, the South Australian Coastal Councils Alliance, the LCLGA provides funding to that and yet there are several councils that do not have coastlines,” Ms Martin said.
“The LCLGA has always believed that what benefits one region creates benefit for the whole region.”
She said also due to the geographical location of the Limestone Coast, some areas “may not get as much benefit as others” with each council having different needs yet continuing to work together.
Ms Martin said in regards to examples such as the coastal alliance, many years ago the LCLGA decided it would provide funding to the initiative and understood the coastlines were important to the region as a whole due to its tourism.
“The board will be meeting to discuss the future model of the LCLGA and there are several regional local government associations in South Australia all operating under different models, some more successful than others and so I believe it is time that we have that discussion and the board have certainly committed to having the discussion shortly,” she said.
“I think every council has to evaluate their membership of organisations but with the LCLGA it is a lot more than just programs and projects, it is the profile of the Limestone Coast and the advocacy that results from working together for the benefit of the region.”
Ms Martin said the reason behind the membership hike was to keep up with current consumer price index as per each year.
Tatiara District Council will continue in the LCLGA for the 2024-2025 financial year and reassess the benefits next year.
