About Mount Barker

Mount Barker District Council is experiencing significant growth which is expected to continue over the next 20 years, resulting in the doubling of the district's population.

Council estimates that $2.8 billion of investment will occur over the next 20 years to support this growth including for roads, water, sub-divisions, housing, retail, commerce and industry.

Council has established an Economic Development Strategy (EDS) in order to consider and plan for its role in achieving the following objectives:

• Encourage and facilitate a vibrant and sustainable local economy

• Maintain a low unemployment rate

• Increase the number of local jobs, thereby reducing the need for residents to commute outside of the district for work

• Increase employment opportunities for young people.

Council's Economic Development Strategy is currently being updated and a revised strategy 2020-2025 will be available mid-2020. For a summary of the 2014-2019 strategy, please download the following document:

Economic Development Strategy Brochure

Economic Profile

The Mount Barker District Council is located between 20 and 45 kilometres south-east of Adelaide. The District is bounded by the Adelaide Hills and Mid-Murray Council areas in the north, the Rural City of Murray Bridge in the east, the Alexandrina Council in the south and the City of Onkaparinga in the west.

The area is characterised by rural and rural-residential with rapidly growing urban areas. Key economic indicators for the region include:

• Gross Regional Product: $1.21 billion
• Population: 31,950
• Local jobs: 10,882
• Largest industry sector: Retail
• Number of local businesses: 2,664
• Employed residents: 16,803

(Source: Economy i.d.)

For further information regarding demographics for the region, please visit the demographics page.