Download the Town Hall Audio Here

On the 19th of February 2026, the Bridgewater community gathered at the local hall for a pivotal “Meet the Candidates” event ahead of the upcoming South Australian State Election. Hosted by Activating Bridgewater, the town’s community progress association, and broadcast live by Lofty Community Media, the evening provided a vital platform for residents to hear directly from those seeking to represent the electorate of Heysen.

The event was moderated by Michael Cornish, Treasurer of Activating Bridgewater, who emphasised the association’s commitment to grassroots advocacy and respectful community dialogue.

Meet the Candidates for Heysen

Four candidates presented their visions for Bridgewater and the broader region:

• Josh Teague (Liberal Party): The sitting member and a 20-year Bridgewater local, Teague highlighted his track record in improving school entry/exit points and Oval lighting. He advocated for a Bridgewater master plan, a “park and ride” at Verdun, and continued infrastructure investment.

• Marisa Bell (Labor Party): An intensive care nurse and local of nearly 30 years, Bell focused on safety and community care. She made a significant announcement regarding a $1.5 million commitment from a Labor government to deliver a dedicated pedestrian crossing in Bridgewater.

• Genevieve Dawson-Scott (South Australian Greens): A local parent and educator, Dawson-Scott’s vision cantered on “thoughtfully designed, connected community”. She championed passenger rail restoration, 50-cent transport fares, and using “right to buy” policies to bring heritage buildings into community hands.

• Gregory Davis (Animal Justice Party): Davis emphasised “compassion as a foundation for a civilised society”. He expressed strong support for e-bike infrastructure to connect townships and proposed “VetiCare,” a means-tested pet healthcare program.

Addressing Local Priorities: The Carey Gully Road Intersection

According to the Activating Bridgewater pre-election survey, the top priority for residents is the Carey Gully Road and Mount Barker Road intersection. Candidates were asked for their specific plans to address this bottleneck:

• Josh Teague labelled it the “number one infrastructure priority” and suggested a roundabout as the likely solution, integrated with a town master plan.

• Marisa Bell linked the intersection's safety to her broader commitment to a pedestrian crossing, noting the history of “near misses” in the area.

• Genevieve Dawson-Scott endorsed the funding commitment but stressed the need for “stronger checks and balances” on planning to prevent Mount Barker’s growth from overwhelming Bridgewater’s infrastructure.

• Gregory Davis shared his personal experience with the traffic backing up onto the railway line and called for data-driven modelling that includes better access for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles.

Investing in Our Youth

The community also raised concerns about youth engagement. All candidates expressed support for local initiatives:

• Marisa Bell advocated for a skate park and pump track, relaying a personal request from a local student, Liam, to the Premier.

• Josh Teague highlighted the “generational change” at the Bridgewater CFS as a model for youth service and noted his support for a pump track.

• Genevieve Dawson-Scott proposed a youth studio for music and podcasts, similar to successful models in other councils.

• Gregory Davis reiterated his support for the “Pump” (pump track) to get kids outdoors and engaged with nature.

Your Voice Matters

This town hall demonstrated the power of a connected community. Activating Bridgewater continues to advocate for the town’s best interests, ensuring that whoever is elected remains accountable to our local needs.

To view the full list of community priorities and survey results, visit: bridgewater.au/pre-election.

Stay informed, stay engaged, and make your vote count for Bridgewater.

We are fortunate to have received a generous donation from the Stirling Markets Inc., and we are looking to bring Bridgewater's first mural commission to life!

Key details:

• View the artist's brief here.

• Submit your EOI to activatingbridgewater@gmail.com by responding to the brief. We do not expect sketches or drawings at this stage, though preliminary ideas are welcome.

• We are interested in hearing from artists who have a connection to Bridgewater. Artists can elaborate on this connection in their EOI.

• Shortlisting will take place by a panel including a Council staff member, Activating Bridgewater volunteer and a local experienced arts worker. Shortlisted artists will each be paid $500 to develop some concept designs.

• The final commission is $5,000 and should be completed before winter sets in.

• EOI closes COB 31 March, 2026.

• Upgrade of Carey Gully Rd/ Mt Barker Rd intersection

• A central community bike track

• Development of a masterplan for Bridgewater’s Town Centre

• Public transport connections

• Active transport connections

These priorities were identified via our 2025 community survey (80 responses) and years of community engagement which ultimately led to Activating Bridgewater becoming an incorporated association.

Seperately, we became aware late 2025 that a large group of (mainly) parents had experienced a number of scary near-miss incidents involving their children, cars, and crossing Mt Barker road. Further, a child was hit by a car and hospitalised. We engaged with these residents and supported them in their decisions to write to their Local Member, Council, meet with Council staff, and raise complaints with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. A representative of the community also raised concerns direct to the Premier at the Country Cabinet held in December 2025.

Frustrated with a lack of action, these community members organised a march on Saturday 14 February 2026, to demonstrate the lack of safe routes across our town centre. This march was picked up by The Advertiser, who ran a story on Friday 13 February 2026.

On the morning of Saturday 14 February, the Labor candidate Marissa Bell announced an election commitment for a pedestrian crossing and associated stormwater and road works of estimated $1.5 million in Bridgewater town centre. The candidate and current MP Josh Teague has indicated he will make an announcement on the issue at our Meet the Candidates Event.

Greens, Labor and Liberal candidates all joined approximately 60 community members on a march of the Bridgewater Town Centre. (cover photo)

Activating Bridgewater remains focussed on advocating for a masterplan for the town centre which is wholistic, community-led, and takes all needs and users into account.

In 2025, we met with all three announced candidates and provided them with a pre-election survey to consider and respond to. Our intention was to share these responses with the community ahead of our Meet the Candidates Town Hall Event on Thursday 19 February, 2026. As of 20 February, 2026, we have now received responses from all known candidates.

Read the Animal Justice Party Response

Read the Greens Survey Response

Read the Labor Party's Response

Read the Liberal Party’s Response

On Thursday 19 February our Meet the Candidates event was held at Bridgewater Hall. A range of topics were explored - local and global - to an audience of about 40 people. Of note was the respect the audience and each candidate gave to each other. Each candidate really had the opportunity to put their best foot forward. Thank you to the Bridgewater Hall for hosting us, Lofty 88.9 Adelaide Hills for broadcasting the event and Belly Dance Amethyst for giving up their regular booking for us.

Ellen - Bridgewater Primary School Parents Representative

So this is a real culmination of a team effort to highlight a really pressing, important issue to the community of Bridgewater and surrounds, and it is about the safety of our community, the active transport in our community, and making choices and raising our voices so that we could be heard and get some really great action happening. So firstly, we're here today because, um, things have become so busy in Bridgewater. The roads have a lot more traffic on them. Than years ago. People are driving faster cars, everyone's in a rush, they want to get to places, and so today is about stopping, taking a look, and just slowing down for a moment. So we need to first of all slow down on the roads. Second of all, we need our kids and all people of diverse mobilities and ages to be able to walk around Bridgewater, cycle around Bridgewater, with clear pathways, safe ways to cross the road, safe footpaths to walk on, and feel that, you know, great energy of being able to have active transport. And so I'd like to thank everyone who has organized today and organized the advocacy that's been running for, um, since last year on the issue. And we've also We've got some special guests here today, and we have the Member of Parliament Josh Teague from South Australian Liberal Party. We've got the candidate for the Greens, Genevieve Dawson-Scott, and the candidate for Labor, Marissa Bell. We've also got Adelaide Hills councillors here as well with us. So there's been some big announcements today, and I thought we— while we're all gathered here, it's not a political issue, it's a community-led issue, but there's a chance to just have a hear from each of them about I guess how they're engaging with this issue and what they see could be done or that's important to get active safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and community members in Bridgewater. Would anyone like to go first?

Josh Teague - Liberal Candidate

We could all step out together.

Marissa Bell - Labor Candidate

Yeah.

Josh Teauge - Liberal Candidate

We're starting to get used to being in a room together a bit lately as well. Today's the day I think where we're all able to come together and say well done to this fantastic school community and everybody who's been out surrounding this campaign for safer streets, safer crossings. And there's more to do, but it is absolutely tremendous to have this confirmed that there's this pedestrian crossing. I know that it's been announced by the government on behalf of your Labor candidate, and we are absolutely 100% on board. And so that'll absolutely happen, and it's part of so much more that needs to be done to continue to define this greatest of all of those parts of the Hills. So as a Bridgewater local, I'm constantly aware that I've got to be careful not to be too parochial about calling for absolutely everything to be done here, but it's home, it's my backyard, and I'm absolutely delighted that this is announced and confirmed today. So thanks for having me along and good to be together.

Marissa Bell - Labor Candidate

Hello everyone, I'm Marisa Bell. I want to acknowledge too that we meet on Kaurna and Peramangk land, the beautiful lands and waters that we're meeting. I love the sound of the, of the wind through the leaves of the trees, and I'm sure you do. This is a beautiful place. And yes, that's right, um, we made an announcement this morning. I was here 8:30 this morning. Uh, I want to congratulate all of you for the work that you've done in advocating for your community. Um, and, uh, um, you know, I've been out and about since June, and I've been on the doors, I've been taking calls and making calls, uh, and I've met with many, um, community stakeholders and local government, and you made it loud and clear that your priority is obviously the roads and road safety for your families and children and community generally. So this morning at 8:30, we made an announcement, and look, you prompted that, I have to say. So you added to that advocacy yesterday by that article that was in the paper, uh, and you know, I've been speaking to the Premier directly, relaying all your information speaking to the ministers, relaying your information, and that they saw that article and they acted on what I've been asking for you on your behalf. So we've announced a $1.5 million, um, new pedestrian— or a pedestrian crossing, which you don't have, uh, which we will build here should the Malinauskas government be reelected. Uh, and that's going to be obviously the crossing, the lights, and some stormwater. So I want to congratulate all of you on that, uh, because it's your work. You own that. Uh, you just, you know, you, you just, um, spoke to me and I, and, and I highlighted that for you to the government. So well done.

Genevieve Dawson-Scott

Thank you, Marissa. And I just like to say I'm so proud to be a member of this community as well, and I'm so proud to be part of what might be some people's first protest here. Put up your hand if it's your first protest. Ever? Cool, because community pressure works and your voice is really powerful and the right to protest is incredibly important. We can get things done when we work together and we can have a big loud voice all together to make our community safer and better for everybody. If we're— if I might be your representative come march, if the election goes the Greens' way, then we'll have an active transport commissioner we're going to be pushing for as one of our policies we're taking to the election. So cycling and pedestrian transport, those active transport methods will be really something we're going to be charging ahead with and trying to get some more advocacy there for you. Yeah, I think everyone here should be really, really, really, really proud of your work, and we should go make a big hullabaloo together now, don't you think, to celebrate?

We warmly invite you to Christmas Eve at The Oak, hosted in partnership with Bridgewater Uniting Church. This event is for anyone seeking a welcoming, relaxed, and heartfelt way to celebrate the holiday.

Whether you have family nearby, are new to the area, or simply wish to enjoy the company of your community, this gathering is for you. Come for the lunch, stay for the carols, and leave with your heart full of festive cheer.

Event Details 📅

• What: Christmas Eve Community Lunch & Carols

• When: Wednesday, 24 December 2025

  • Community Lunch: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  • Christmas Carols: In the church following the lunch

• Where: Bridgewater Uniting Church, 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater

• Hosts: A community-led initiative supported by Activating Bridgewater and Bridgewater Uniting Church (bridgewateruc.org.au)

• Bring: A plate of food to share if you are able (all contributions welcome!)

• RSVP Essential: Please email activatingbridgewater@gmail.com to help us plan for numbers.

A relaxed, inclusive, and family-friendly atmosphere. This is an alcohol-free event and is specifically designed to be kid-friendly. Everyone is welcome.

How You Can Help?

The best community events are built by the community itself! We would love some helping hands to make this celebration shine.

• Setting the Scene: Can you help us decorate The Oak on Tuesday, 23rd December? Let us know your availability.

• Post-Event Pack Down: A few extra hands after the carols on the 24th to help pack up would be immensely appreciated.

If you can assist with set-up or pack-down, please let us know when you RSVP.

Helping Us Reach Everyone: We will be printing a limited number of flyers for this event. Do you have a neighbour who isn't online that you'd like to invite? Please reach out to us, and we can arrange to get a physical invitation to you.

A Special Thanks

The beautiful event artwork for 'Christmas Eve at The Oak' was lovingly created by local community members Janet Bridgland and Genevieve Dawson-Scott. Thank you for adding such a festive touch to our event promotion!

Let’s come together to share the spirit of the season. RSVP today, and we look forward to celebrating with you.

• Nathan Daniell (Chair)

• Michael Cornish (Treasurer)

• Alyssa Hill (Secretary)

• Rhys Jarrett

• Jasmin Strickland

• Mark Fitzgerald

A Peoples’ Choice vote decided on the three winners of $200 grants.

• A community Christmas dinner for anyone who may like some more company and connection this Christmas.

• Audiovisual equipment to run youth movie nights.

• Commencing a history trail/ subgroup.

We have put our 2024/25 achievements and highlights into an Annual Report which you can view here.

The State Government was recently undertaking public consultation on the Small Central Lofty Parks Draft Management Plan and Activating Bridgewater undertook to draft a submission.

Key elements of our submission were:

• the need for increased resourcing to control invasive weeds,

• Cox Creek riverbank requiring stabilisation to prevent further erosion, and

• a community desire to reinstate public toilets at Mount George picnic grounds.

You can read our submission here.

When: Halloween Night, Friday 31 October 2025 Where: A.L. Vincent Playground Reserve, Bridgewater O Streets Key Event: Costume Parade & Competition kicks off at 5:30PM sharp!

Whether your little one is a cute little vampire, a mighty superhero, or a glittery unicorn, we want to see their fantastic costumes. Gather at the reserve for the parade and a chance to win a spook-tacular prize!

A Spooky Social & A Sizzling Fundraiser

The fun doesn't stop after the parade! Stick around for our Drinks & BBQ Fundraiser running through the early evening. Grab a snag, a drink, and enjoy the spooky atmosphere. Best of all, every purchase supports two fantastic local causes: the Bridgewater Primary School Parent’s Committee and Activating Bridgewater. It’s a great chance to have a bite while giving back to our community.

Trick-or-Treating in the O Streets: Let's Make it Safe & Sweet!

The O Streets are renowned for their incredible Halloween spirit, with hundreds of ghosts and goblins expected to roam the neighbourhood.

For Families & Visitors:

• Add Your House to the Map! Are you handing out treats? Don't live on the O Streets but want to welcome visitors? A huge thanks to a local resident for recommending this handy site! Add your house to our official Halloween map here: Bridgewater Trick or Treat Map. This helps families plan their route and find all the spooky spots!

• The Bridgewater Halloween Lolly Fund: To help our wonderful O Street residents cater to the huge number of trick-or-treaters, Activating Bridgewater has launched a GoFundMe. All funds raised will go directly towards buying lollies to distribute to residents. If you're planning to bring your family to celebrate here, please consider chipping in to help keep the tradition sweet for everyone.

A Crucial Community Safety Message

With so many excited children about, safety is our top priority.

• Reduced Speed Limits: For the duration of the event, road speeds throughout the O Streets will be limited to 25 km/h.

• For Drivers: Please be incredibly patient, watch for little witches and zombies who might step out unexpectedly, or avoid the O Streets entirely during the event if you can. Remember, cars weigh more than people and can be a real risk in crowded areas.

• For Parents and Children: Please practice road-safe behaviour. Hold hands, look both ways, and stick together. Let's make sure this Halloween is remembered for all the right reasons.

Let’s work together to make Halloween 2025 a safe, spooky, and spectacular success for all of Bridgewater. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

A Spooky Footnote: Did you know? The unique "O Street" names (Omrah, Ophir, Orontes, etc.) are a nod to the steam ships of the historic Orient Steam Navigation Company, giving our neighbourhood its unique and historic character.

Keen to get more involved and help shape what happens in our town? Then mark your diary – you’re invited to the Activating Bridgewater 2025 Annual General Meeting!

This is your chance to connect with your neighbours, hear about what we've achieved over the past year, and help us plan for an even brighter future. It’s a relaxed, friendly evening designed to celebrate our community and find new ways to make Bridgewater thrive.

When: Wednesday, 5 November 2025 Where: The Oak Community Centre Schedule for the Evening:

• 7:00 PM: Soup, bread, and networking. Let's catch up!

• 7:30 PM: Formal AGM proceedings

• 8:00 PM: Community Pitch Night! Pitch your idea to win one of three $200 grants!

Got a Great Idea? We've Got the Grant!

Do you have a simple idea that could make Bridgewater even better? Maybe a little neighbourhood library, a community garden add-on, or a creative project?

We're giving away three $200 grants to help kickstart your brilliant ideas! All you need to do is:

1. Submit your idea beforehand using our simple online form: Pitch Application Form.

2. Come along on the night and deliver a quick, two-minute pitch to the community.

It’s that easy! Let’s turn your great ideas into reality.

We're Looking for New Committee Members!

Are you passionate about Bridgewater and have about five hours a month to spare? We are actively seeking new members to join the Activating Bridgewater Committee!

Our committee is made up of locals just like you – we all have jobs, family commitments, and other volunteer roles. We offer plenty of flexibility and a supportive team environment. We meet every two months (on the first Wednesday of the month) at the Oak Community Centre to plan events and projects.

Interested in nominating? Please email activatingbridgewater@gmail.com with your contact details and a short bio (3-5 sentences) introducing yourself, your skills or interests, and why you’d like to join the committee. This bio will be shared at the AGM prior to elections.

Nominations close Thursday, 23 October 2025. Don't be shy – put your hand up!

Help Us Cater for You – Please RSVP

To ensure we have enough soup and bread to go around, please let us know you're coming and RSVP via our Facebook event or by emailing us. It helps us minimise waste and makes sure no one misses out.

RSVP via our Facebook Event Here

This is more than just a meeting; it's a chance to actively invest in our community. We are incredibly excited about the energy and new ideas that our AGM brings each year.

We look forward to sharing a cuppa, a bite, and a great conversation with you.

Warm Regards, The Activating Bridgewater Committee (Nathan, Michael, Alyssa, and Rhys)

The letters are now on exhibit across our township during Nature Festival (26 September - 12 October 2025). We encourage you to do a self-guided walk, starting at the Oval, and have produced a map.

Find out more about the project here.

Ploughshare Reserve Environmental Restoration

We were successful in receiving $4,000 for weed removal and environmental restoration of Ploughshare Reserve, located on the corner of Wembley Ave and Charlton St. This project is supported by Landscape Hills and Fleurieu’s Grassroots Grants Program, and is funded by the landscape levy.

• We will partner with volunteers from the Friends of Ploughshare Reserve, Bridgewater Friends of Cox Creek and the Biodiversity Team at Adelaide Hills Council.

• The project will commence ASAP, with subcontractors working to remove weeds. Some of the big weedy trees will be retained as we know they have climbing value for local kids.

• There will be an opportunity for the wider community to volunteer planting seedlings in winter 2026.

• Our project will benefit the broader Cox Creek work underway, as the reserve has a seasonal tributary which flows into Cox Creek.

Cox Creek Community Engagement Event

We have received $5,000 from the SA Power Networks Community Grants Program for a community planting event in winter 2026. This event will build on the success of our first Cox Creek event in 2024, which was held in partnership with Bridgewater Friends of Cox Creek and Adelaide Hills Council. It will also be perfectly timed as there will be many areas of the creek ready for planting following weed removal as part of the Cox Creek Restoration Project.

Importantly, these grant funds will allow us to work with First Nations community members to be part of the event.

What to expect:

• Sunday event in August 2026.

• suitable for children, families and adults.

• First Nations- led activities.

• educational activities and opportunities for young and adult.

• Nature play, sensory play and craft opportunities.

• Planting many, many tubestock.

More news to come in 2026.

We’re so excited to have secured these opportunities to restore these natural areas and have our community play an active role.

Cox Creek is an important part of what makes Bridgewater unique. The Creek is our playground, sanctuary, part of our identity and more. Plus the home and pantry for many animals.

People around the world are working to legally recognise waterways as living beings. This way, they may be afforded more care and protection as if they were human.

We are inviting our community to write a letter and post it to Cox Creek, as if the Creek could understand and respond. You can put whatever you’d like in the letter. All letters will be part of a temporary exhibition for public viewing across our township as part of Nature Festival.

Please post your letter to the Creek’s mailbox at Bridgewater General Store by Friday 19 September.

The Rights of Rivers Movement (sometimes referred to as personhood of rivers) has been led by First Nations communities around the world. In essence, the movement acknowledges waterways as living beings, intrinsically linked to us and our livelihoods. We can see this in Australian First Nations communities who might describe themselves as ‘freshwater people’ or ‘saltwater people’, being deeply connected with their Country at spiritual and physical levels. In 2017 New Zealand was the first country to legally recognise a river’s personhood.

Letters to our Creek is a project inspired by this movement as well as conversations at a local level. At a recent event we heard a resident say, ‘the creek is really what links this community all together’… So we would like to explore this further with you.

If you are interested in finding out more about this movement you can watch ‘Miriam Margolyes in New Zealand’ on ABC iView where she interviews the Māori community who led the movement there. The book ‘Is a River Alive’, delves deeper into this movement and how it has transpired in three countries around the world.

Free Movie Night for Teens - 7pm Friday 10 October

Bridgewater Sports and Social Club
A casual movie night for local young people. Come in your oodie or PJs (if you want), bring a beanbag or pillow, and settle in to watch the award-winning movie, Flow. Flow is an Oscar-winning film, with stunning visuals, and was all created by independent filmmakers using the free modelling software, Blender.

The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as its home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.

This event will be staffed by volunteers with Working with Children checks. Parents/caregivers are welcome to leave their children and return for pickup. For this reason, we request an emergency contact. Alternatively, parents/caregivers can stay and socialise with one another over a drink in a separate section of the clubrooms.

Snacks and drinks available for purchase on the night, with card facilities available. $5 Snack packs available for pre-order containing popcorn, cup of fruit and a fruit juice.

Suitable for ages 8+. Movie will commence at 7:30pm.

Book here

The Cox Creek Restoration Project - 2pm Thursday 9 October

The Bridgewater Inn

Adelaide Hills Council will be sharing a project update about the Cox Creek Restoration Project. The project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust, with the support of Adelaide Hills Council and stakeholders. Including Bridgewater Friends of Cox Creek, Trees for Life, Arbury Park Outdoor School, National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, Friends of Mount George, National Trust South Australia and National Trust volunteers. It also involves Aldgate Valley Landcare Group and a number of private landholders.

Register here

The Quiz Night would not have been possible without our remarkable sponsors. A big thank you to the Bridgewater Hall Inc Committee who provided the venue free of charge. We have hyperlinked some maybe lesser known sponsors below. Thank you!

• Peeky's Coffee

• The Grocer

• Bridgewater General Store

• The Bridgewater Inn

• Katia Carletti (Bridgewater artist and potter)

• Keen on Yoga

• The Spruce Goose Honesty Stall (on Railway Ave)

• Ondeen

• Beerenberg

• FRED Eatery

• Red Cacao

• Hahndorf Farm Barn

• Hills Community Toy Library

• Mount Lofty Kindergym

• Ill-Intentions Fermentery and Distillery

• Tim Shaw Glass Artist

• The Organic Market and Cafe

• Verte Kitchen

• Woodhouse Adventure Park

• Crafers Garden Centre/ Stirling Woodyard

• Stirling Patisserie and Cellars

Our goal is to elevate and realise the collective ambitions of our community whilst delivering on our core values of authenticity, collaboration, leadership, openness, and sustainability.

We are a community group powered by passion, volunteering, fundraising, sponsorship and grants.

Our first forum in February 2021. You can read the forum report here.

Activating Bridgewater is the result of several community forums held from 2021 to 2023. Residents acknowledged they were fortunate to live in this beautiful place and had many ‘even better if’ ideas for our town.

After a few false starts (COVID, new babies, new jobs) a core group formed and put together an inaugural Quiz Night event in August 2024. Shortly thereafter, we became incorporated in September 2024.

Our current areas of focus include:

• Supporting community connections and events

• Amenity – beautifying our township now and into the future.

• Infrastructure – including pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety, future proofing our township and protecting built heritage.

• Environment – Protecting and restoring Cox Creek and the town’s natural spaces.

• Economy – supporting local businesses including home-based and creative, so as our town continues to have low vacancy rates and where possible community needs and desires are met within the town.

We are inspired by other Adelaide Hills township associations that are progressing projects to ensure their places thrive.

The Mt Barker Courier interviewed us for their 'Aldgate & Bridgewater on show' segment in Autumn 2025. Here are three faces behind the Activating Bridgewater Committee - Alyssa, Nathan and Michael.

Our Committee is currently:

• Chair: Nathan Daniell

• Treasurer: Michael Cornish

• Secretary: Alyssa Hill

• Rhys Jarrett

• Jasmin Strickland

• Mark Fitzgerald

We have two general committee member vacancies we are keen to fill and welcome anyone interested to reach out to us activatingbridgewater@gmail.com

We generally meet the first Wednesday of every second month at 7:15pm at the Oak Community Centre, adjacent Bridgewater Uniting Church. Meeting dates for 2026 are as follows, noting they are subject to change:

• 28 January

• 4 March

• 6 May

• 3 June

• 5 August

• 7 October

• 4 November (AGM)

Meetings are open and all are welcome. Though it’s best to send us a quick email if you’d like to come along - in case the meeting is rescheduled.

We are thankful to Bridgewater Uniting Church who provide the Oak Community Centre room to us free of charge.

Cover Image by: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Marionlad

• 33% are couples with children,

• 25% are couples,

• 22% are lone person households, and

• 10% are solo parents with children.

38% of residents has/had a parent who was born overseas. We are slightly younger compared with the rest of the Adelaide Hills Council area combined, with lower proportions of people aged 50+.

A full understanding of people living with disability is not available at Bridgewater township level. However, we do know 33% of residents live with one or more long term health conditions.

39% of us have a Bachelor degree or higher and ~26% have a certificate and/or diploma level qualification. Approximately a quarter of us are engaged in full time employment, and slightly less than a quarter are not in the workforce or engaged in study.

10% of us rent our homes, 52% own their home with a mortgage and 34% own their home outright.

Our key takeaways from this question are for Activating Bridgewater to continue delivering and supporting events, pursue township beautification projects, and continue advocating for improved infrastructure in our community.

• “Perhaps an annual fair or something similar on the oval?”

• “forget a business directory – they don’t work and are impossible to keep up to date.”

• “projects to beautify and improve facilities around the playground and oval”

• “Would like to establish a café culture in Bridgewater”

We asked our community for their thoughts on what Activating Bridgewater could do, or advocate for, to ensure Bridgewater is a great place to grow up.

Responses to this question focused on supporting young people to be physically active, advocating for safe walking and cycle trails, and supporting the delivery of fun events.

• “Expanding paths, trails, outdoor activities etc. Making Bridgewater an active township.”

• “Better and safer traffic / pedestrian management on Carey Gully Road.”

• “Fun events for tweens and a safe place for them to hangout they can reach by bike etc.”

• “Take over the lease on the Mill and let the youth run it, or the Cog. I think young people need to design their own spaces, and we could support with funding and safety etc.”

Unsurprisingly, our community is very happy living in Bridgewater. The natural environment and strong sense of community are the key reasons why. We would have to say we agree. Below are some comments giving more depth to peoples’ thoughts:

• “This is the best community in the world. It's an incredible privilege to live in a place of such natural beauty, surrounded by people who feel so connected to each other and this space.”

• “The nature and the life for me and my dog”.

• “A nice sized community, close enough to the city, but with the Hills environment. The biggest issue is the graffiti vandalism”.

• “Less investment from Hills Council makes it feel like the poor cousin of Aldgate, Stirling, Crafers”

The last question in the survey asked for general comments on Activating Bridgewater’s areas of for action, being amenity, infrastructure, environment, and economy. Common themes included:

• Focus on ‘cleaning up’ the township (n=7)

• Focus on the natural environment (n=6)

• Focus on paths and trails (n=5)

• Open spaces suitable for all generations (n=4)

• Activate Bridgewater Mill (n=3)

• Roads and curbing (n=3)

• A roundabout for Mount Barker Rd/ Carey Gully Rd intersection (n=3)

• A masterplan for the township (n=2)

Though there are many active bushcare and environmental groups in Bridgewater, we are hearing that our community is keen for Activating Bridgewater to also have a role in protecting and supporting our natural environment. The comments below demonstrate so many opportunities for improvement across our township.

• “There used to be toilets in the Mount George park, so it shouldn't be too hard to put them back and rectify a really bad decision that was taken long ago. It is such an under-used resource as part of a beautiful walk from the Mill.”

• “I love the work being done to rehabilitate Cox Creek.”

• Remove advertising signage at the intersection of mount barker road and the oval. Unappealing and makes the welcome into Bridgewater ugly and untidy.

• “Advocate for the Council to do a Bridgewater Precinct/Master plan, ensuring that a long-term vision for the area is endorsed by council with buy in on actions and priorities, as well as funding … This could include entrance statements, greening, the preservation of the built and natural heritage as well as improvements to the main intersection, bicycle network, crossings and footpath improvements. A council endorsed masterplan or precinct plan will support future improvements and add value to advocate to state government for funding or infrastructure improvements.”

• “Addressing the empty Mill should be a priority. The coffee shop there made the playground an even more attractive destination and kept people in Bridgey rather than having to go to Stirling or Hahndorf. It's such an icon of our town, it's depressing having it sit empty.”

• “Make better use of the green lawn area around the Bridgewater community hall for teen hangout areas, skate ramp? Bike jumps? Perhaps put in some exercise equipment as well for older people to use while they go on their daily walks.”

• “Amenity - Would love to see more investment in the Oval precinct, particularly the eastern side carpark area. This could be associated with a masterplan for the Bridgewater town centre to jazz up the place. There should be at least one pedestrian crossing/refuge across Mt Barker Road in the centre to promote pedestrian connection across the suburb.”

What’s Next?

Acting on these ideas will be a combination of advocacy, chipping away slowly, grant applications, partnerships, and many volunteer hours. We won’t be able to achieve everything - but we’ll do our bit, that’s for sure.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us. You are always welcome to email us with your thoughts, or write a comment below.

Head here for more details and to book your table.

We are also on the lookout for donations of prizes, raffle, and silent auction items. Please reach out if you are in the position to donate something.

A big thank you to the Bridgewater Hall Inc Committee who are providing the venue free of charge. We really appreciate it. Activating Bridgewater is a group to connect us all in the Bridgewater and Mount George community.

Food and drink: The event is BYO food and drink. Yummy treats and non-alcoholic drinks for sale. The hall has crockery but no glassware or mugs. BYO drinking vessels.

Coins: Bring some coins as there will be raffle tickets, games and yummy treats to purchase.

Notes: Each team is made up of 8 people (1 table, 8 seats). All tables and seats are numbered (these will be displayed on the seating map when you select seats). To book a team, either book 8 seats at the same table, or make separate bookings and share your table/seat numbers with prospective team members.

Children 12 and under are free, and do not require a ticket.

We hope to see you soon - get your tickets before they run out!

Any questions? Please call Nathan on 0400 341 082.

The Council provided simple but important support by emptying local public bins prior to the event, as well a general encouragement of local Clean Up Australia events via social media.

About four very large bags of rubbish was collected from the Creek and surrounds with plastic wrappers and dumped furniture waste being the predominant type of rubbish within the mix of collected waste. Thank you to everyone who volunteered.

Do you have a passion for Bridgewater and a willingness to volunteer with us? We'd love to hear from you.

Any questions? Please call Nathan on 0400 341 082.

We have two announcements about upcoming events including a Halloween Parade at AL Vincent Reserve and our first Activating Bridgewater AGM. The AGM is an important milestone which builds on our recent approval to become an incorporated body. All the details are below, including how to nominate to become a committee member!

The Bridgewater community never ceases to amaze us. What a heart-warming story about Bubba, the Eclectus Parrot who went missing on a big adventure! Unkie Mumu Thalluri put the word out through our local networks with many Bridgewater residents making an effort to help find Bubba. Thankfully, after a number of days locals Lis and Allan found Bubba and he was reunited with his family. It was a lovely reminder of how our Bridgewater community come together to support each other.

We hope to see you at our AGM on Thursday 7th November.