In July 2026, Activating Bridgewater made a submission to the Adelaide Hills Council regarding its Draft Annual Business Plan 2026–27 and Budget. Our submission set out a range of local priorities for Bridgewater and Mount George, including footpath connections, the Bridgewater Skatepark, the Bridgewater Netball Club toilets, stormwater maintenance, and broader planning for our township.

We have now received a formal written response from the Council. The letter, dated 16 October 2026 and signed by Roberto Bria, Acting Chief Executive Officer, addresses each of the matters we raised.

We are publishing the Council's response in full below so that our community can read it directly.

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Council's Response:

16 October 2026

To: Michael Cornish Treasurer, Activating Bridgewater.

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your feedback on our Draft Annual Business Plan 2026- 27 submitted on behalf of Activating Bridgewater.

At the Council Meeting on the 14 July 2026, Council endorsed our revised Annual Business Plan 2026- 27. Following community feedback, the revised plan reflects a rate increase of 6.8%, made up of May CPI of 4.4% plus an additional 2.4% to manage the Council's $800 million portfolio of infrastructure assets, deliver $2.2 million in new capital expenditure and continue the process of ensuring long term financial sustainability.

I appreciate your patience while I have sought feedback from staff members across our different teams regarding the requests you submitted. The responses below have been prepared with assistance from members of our Civil, Open Space, Sport and Recreation and Region and Place teams.

Council forward budget planning processes

Council has begun updating our Long- Term Financial Plan (LTFP). This document provides the opportunity to look at Councils long term sustainability. The Draft LTFP will be released for community feedback in late 2026.

Bridgewater Township Masterplan

We are currently developing the Township and Precinct Planning Framework which will enable us to make evidence based and informed decisions about where and when we do master and precinct planning for our townships. This broader project is called Our Homes in the Hills, and you can find out more information on Adelaide Hills Engagement Hub.

Following the meeting you had with James Szabo our Manager Region and Place earlier this year, he is open to facilitating further discussions and actions to promote placemaking outcomes and build momentum for future investment in and around the Bridgewater township.

Bridgewater Skatepark

As identified in Council's 2024 'Your Place, Your Space' Strategic Plan, spaces for youth have an important role and function in the Adelaide Hills Region, and we acknowledge their importance to the community.

Considering Council's current financial position, there is no funding allocated to the Bridgewater Skate Park election promise in the 2026/27 Annual Business Plan & Budget.

However, Council is undertaking some important projects during the 2026- 27 FY to put the structure in place to allow us to plan for future spending on sporting, recreation and community infrastructure. We anticipate this work will allow us to identify the way forward regarding the management, maintenance and renewal of our recreation assets. It is anticipated that skate facilities in the region will feature in the priorities.

Environment and Biodiversity Grants Officer

Council acknowledges the benefits that can be achieved through grant funding and will continue to explore grant opportunities for our district. Funding bodies are moving away from piecemeal projects. They want to see integrated plans that look at the whole ecosystem. By building integrated expertise, our project designs will be stronger, making our applications much more compelling and likely to succeed.

As a result, the AHC Environment and Infrastructure directorate is currently undergoing a review, with a new structure proposed to assist in delivering on our strategic goals and serve our residents and ratepayers in a more integrated way removing niche roles and introducing more landscape scale project planning and grant applications.

Council is also reviewing its asset management plans, with new open space management plans being developed to assist with identifying and prioritising project opportunities.

Local Infrastructure

Footpath Requests

Council endorsed a Footpath Renewal Policy in 2018. We are in the process of developing a footpath priority program that includes a list of drivers that will determine the order for new footpath requests and footpath renewals.

These drivers include:

• Connection / proximity to central Business Districts

• Linkages to bus stops / shelters

• Connection to key community infrastructure - doctors, aged care, churches, community facilities, schools, reserves and playgrounds

• Road hierarchy, traffic volumes and logistical linkages.

The community will be engaged on the relevant locations for improved or renewed footpaths based on this priority process as part of the Asset Management Planning process.

Here are the updates on the specific locations outlined in recommendation 5 of your letter:

Wembley Avenue (Aldgate Primary School to Mount Barker Road)

Status: Construction has commenced on a new footpath link during the current financial year.

Timeline: Project completion is anticipated within a two- to- three- year construction phase.

Shannon Road Footpath Infrastructure (Near Bridgewater Primary School)

Status: There are currently no capital plans to upgrade the existing rubble path on Shannon Road.

Details: Civil works at this location present significant complexities due to native vegetation, steep gradients, and intersecting private access points.

Alternative Routing: The Trenouth Street footpath remains the primary recommended asset, offering safe pedestrian access to networks serviced by Fielding Road and Onkaparinga Road, while providing a more direct route to eastern Bridgewater residential zones.

Morella Grove: The existing sealed footpath on Morella Grove is structurally sound and will not be impacted by upcoming road resealing works.

Bridgewater Oval Footpath Connection (Northern Side)

Status: This proposed alignment has been earmarked for future budget submission considerations.

Timeline: Forthcoming Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) projects are expected to increase demand for this link. Consequently, construction scheduling should ideally follow the completion of the DIT pedestrian crossing.

Carpark Access: Current pedestrian access across the existing carpark is deemed sufficient and functional.

Bridgewater Netball Club Toilets

As identified in Council's 2024 'Your Place, Your Space' Strategic Plan, sport infrastructure and the clubs who utilise play an important role and function in the Adelaide Hills Region, and we acknowledge their importance to the community.

Considering Council's current financial position, and current lease obligations placing responsibility on lease holders to undertake such works, there is no funding allocated to the Bridgewater Courts Club Toilets in the 2026/27 Annual Business Plan & Budget; but Council is supporting the associated clubs in line with lease arrangements and general maintenance obligations at the site.

Stormwater Drainage and Maintenance requests

Regarding the minor works identified in recommendation 6 of your correspondence, please find Council's update below:

Stormwater drain clearance (Mount Barker Road, east of Honeysuckle Grove intersection):

This asset falls under the jurisdiction of the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). Council does not have the authority or responsibility to maintain or upgrade this infrastructure. However, Council will formally report the issue to DIT for their action.

Stormwater drain clearance (Onkaparinga Road, between Third and Fourth Avenue):

The identified drain is a DIT asset. As Council lacks the authority to undertake maintenance or upgrades on this network, we will lodge a report with DIT requesting remediation.

Footpath remediation (Corner of Wembley Avenue and Mount Barker Road):

Council staff will conduct a site inspection to investigate suitable corrective actions for the displaced footpath, considering any underlying utility services.

Gradient reduction and accessibility improvements (Mount Barker Road, between Bridgewater and Aldgate at the Charlton Street corner):

Altering the path alignment at this location is heavily constrained by local native vegetation and the natural topography. Council can, however, investigate the feasibility of installing a level rest pad partway up the incline. This option will be subject to assessments regarding vegetation impact, required cut- and- fill earthworks, accessibility, and conflicts with existing services.

Yours sincerely

Roberto Bria Acting,

Chief Executive Officer.

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What This Means for Our Community

We thank the Council for providing a detailed response to the matters raised in our submission. While some requests have been acknowledged or earmarked for future consideration, including funding for the Bridgewater Skatepark and the Bridgewater Netball Club toilets, this time they have not been allocated funding in the 2026–27 budget.

We will continue to advocate for these important local priorities and keep our community informed as further opportunities for engagement arise, including the upcoming Draft Long-Term Financial Plan and the Council's broader township planning work.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our submission and who continues to support Activating Bridgewater's efforts to represent our community's voice.