Mount Barker leading the way in wastewater but left to carry the can
A decade and a half after the State Government’s rezoning of Mount Barker, the council continues to fund and deliver its own wastewater infrastructure, while SA Water and the State Government invest heavily in comparable projects across metropolitan Adelaide.
“Mount Barker residents are paying the price for the State Government’s failure to fund the infrastructure it promised,” Mount Barker District Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Stuart said.
“Our community has been left to carry a multimillion-dollar burden that should be shared across the state.”
“Mount Barker is doing the heavy lifting on growth infrastructure, but the State isn’t backing it.
“Our community is paying twice: once through SA Water bills and again through local wastewater charges. That’s simply unfair.”
The council has been forced to borrow heavily to deliver critical wastewater treatment and network upgrades to support new housing and population growth - debt that limits what can be invested in other community priorities such as roads, recreation, and environmental projects.
To manage wastewater operations the council has established a wholly owned Section 42 subsidiary—GMB Water. The new entity is governed by an independent, skills-based board, with expertise spanning utility operations, finance, governance, legal and risk.
The council’s wastewater service has become a state leader in water recycling and wastewater management, providing high-quality reclaimed water for agricultural and industrial use. But Mr Stuart said the inequity in state support is unsustainable.
“The State Government’s own planning decisions created this growth. Yet Mount Barker is being punished for delivering on it,” he said.
“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but no other community is being asked to fund infrastructure of this scale on its own.”
Council warns the funding imbalance risks slowing land releases and worsening South Australia’s housing crisis. Developers in Mount Barker make mandatory wastewater contributions not required elsewhere, adding costs to new homes and slowing supply.
“Mount Barker is tired of being treated like a second-class growth region when it comes to infrastructure funding,” Mr Stuart said.
“Council has formally sought $48 million from the State Government to help deliver the Laratinga Water Recovery Plant and trunk sewers. That request has been repeatedly ignored.
“That is not partnership. It is cost-shifting.
“It’s time for the State Government to step up and partner with us, just as it does with SA Water in other regions.
“This is about fairness for our residents and the future of affordable housing in South Australia.”
“We’ve built one of the most sustainable wastewater systems in the state - now the State needs to stop dodging Mount Barker and fund the infrastructure it promised.”
