Council takes reins as Board completes tenure

The Board will conclude its role at its final meeting on 4 December 2024, as the terms of all independent Board members near their expiration on 30 December 2024. This decision reflects the Council’s growing internal capabilities and its commitment to continuing the Park's success and growth.

The Board, established in January 2020 under Section 41 of the Local Government Act 1999, has guided the development and operations of the SSRP to reflect the evolving needs of the Park.

Mayor David Leach acknowledged the Board’s significant contributions to the success of the Park and Iain Evans’ role as Chair of the Board as a further demonstration of his considerable leadership skills.

“The SSRP Board has played a key role in steering the governance and operations of the Summit Sport and Recreation Park. Among its many achievements was the part it played in securing the AFL Gather Round games at the premier oval in 2023 and 2024,” Mayor Leach said.

“These events have helped raise the profile of our region and demonstrated the value of the SSRP as a premier sporting facility.”

Summit Sport and Recreation Park Board Chair, Iain Evans said that the Board members were pleased to work with Council and sporting groups to bed down the facility in its formative years.

“We are proud of showing what the facility is capable of with events like the Gather Round bringing much economic activity to the Mount Barker region and helped put Mount Barker on the tourist map. The facility is well placed to bring more events to Mount Barker in the future.”

With the expiration of the Board members' terms, the council was required to consider the future governance of the Park. As a result, it has determined that the SSRP Board’s responsibilities will be brought back in-house, as a result of the council's increased internal capacity.

“Since the establishment of the SSRP Board, Council’s internal resourcing has matured, and we now have the capability to directly manage the agreements and operations of the Summit Sport and Recreation Park. This allows us to take control of the Park’s future direction and build on the strong foundations the Board has established,” Mayor Leach said.

The council continues to explore opportunities for increasing community access to the SSRP for both informal and organised use. This includes reviewing the fees for use of the facility and developing an activation plan to guide the future of the SSRP. The plan will focus on attracting major events, improving infrastructure, and securing sponsorships to promote tourism, economic development, and community well-being.