Revoking of Community Land - Billabong

Following Council’s recent denial of community access to the narrow Billabong plateau behind the homes on River Street, SPRA wrote to the Minister for Planning in May pointing out, inter alia, that the plateau fell within the area defined when the River Torrens Linear Park Act was enacted. The Minister confirmed with us that, as such, he appreciated and acknowledged the importance of the community having access to parks and open space, and the role this plays with respect to an individual’s wellbeing. Access was subsequently re-instated by Council.

Residents will be aware that for some years SPRA has been pressing Council to enforce its planning regulations and take action with respect to a significant encroachment on River Street at the top of the Billabong plateau. The matter was discussed in a confidential meeting of Council in November 2025, but as no further action appeared to have be taken, one of our councillors, Rita Excell, asked Council to provide an update at its meeting on 4 August 2026. She noted that other issues concerning the Billabong had all been dealt with and this remained the only outstanding issue, which continued to be the subject of “significant community concern and discontent”.

Discussions by Council regarding this matter have remained confidential, and we are not sure what is planned. However, we are concerned that at the meeting on 1 September, Council resolved that its report, discussion and minutes be kept confidential until the revocation of the Community Land

process commences. In this instance, to revoke a classification of Community Land, Council must first ask the Minister to remove the land from the ambit of the River Torrens Linear Park Act; the procedure for that involves, among other requirements, approval by both Houses of Parliament. Removal then places the land back in the Community Land classification, and to revoke that, Council must then go through another lengthy process. We have written to Council pointing this out and asking the obvious question – why it did not just enforce its planning regulations? Something isn’t right.