Creating our Community Heart
Community Engagement Decision - A Message from our Mayor, Jill Whittaker OAM
New Council Office We heard strong support for modern, sustainable civic facilities, alongside concerns about the scale and impacts of larger developments. Council has listened and determined that focusing on essential civic infrastructure is the most responsible course at this time. The new Council Office will incorporate contemporary design, improved accessibility, community spaces, and strong sustainability standards. We will now move into detailed planning for this building. The strong community voice around the need for a Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was also heard and had us reflect on how we might be able to consider this in the future in a second stage, and therefore, upon completion of the new council office, we may explore how and if a PAC could form part of our long-term future community vision. Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation; your feedback directly informed this outcome. Mayor Jill Whittaker OAM |
Community consultation on the proposed development of a Campbelltown Community Hub.
Background
Over the last 18 months, Council has been working through ideas and opportunities to redevelop the Council Office precinct at 172 Montacute Road, Rostrevor.
Council would now like to hear from you about which option you support before it makes any further decisions.
The Council Office, opened in 1968, is located on Council owned land at 172 Montacute Road, Rostrevor. The Office building has served Council well however the building is outdated and no longer fit for purpose. The building is at capacity with little scope to expand and doesn’t meet the needs of a modern working environment.
This site also hosts the Campbelltown Function Centre. Opened in 1977 and upgraded in 2014, the Function Centre is well used for both Community and Council events.
Council has also been considering building a Performing Arts Centre (PAC), which was supported by Community Consultation in 2021. Council initially explored building a PAC on the Morialta Secondary College site, however decided in early 2023 to consider redeveloping its Office site, including a new Office building, a PAC, revenue generating opportunities and co-working spaces.
Council engaged the Alinea Group (Alinea) to explore these concepts and consider ways to reduce the overall cost to ratepayers. Alinea prepared several models for Council’s discussion and consideration, which were shortlisted at the Council meeting on 1 July 2025 for the purpose of Community Consultation.
What is being proposed?
Council presents the following options for your feedback. All options include a new Office building currently situated at 172 Montacute Road:
- Option A - A new Council Office
- Option B - Option A PLUS a Performing Arts Centre
- Option C - Option B PLUS a Vibrant Precinct and Residential Development
Information about each option, including benefits, impacts and more is available from the Consultation Document.
Your feedback matters to us - we want to hear what you think about the three options proposed for the potential redevelopment of this site.
How you can get involved
Tell us which Option you prefer by doing one of the following:
• Complete the Online Survey below
• Print, complete & return the reply-paid hard copy Feedback Form
• Register to attend one of the following Information Sessions:
- Thursday 16 October (6pm), Campbelltown Function Centre
- Sunday 19 October (2pm), Campbelltown Function Centre
- Thursday 23 October (1pm), The ARC Campbelltown
Each session starts with a presentation about the options.
• Send a submission with subject line Creating our Community Heart:
- Email: communityheart@campbelltown.sa.gov.au
- Letter: Campbelltown City Council, 172 Montacute Rd Rostrevor 5073
Only one submission is allowed per person.
Need to know more
- Read the Consultation Document
- Watch the videos available
- View our FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Ask a Question (click on the tab below)
Consultation closes: 4pm, Monday 3 November 2025.
Ask a Question
Please review the FAQs to see if your question has already been answered before asking a question here.
Where appropriate, answers to questions will be posted to the FAQs as well as answered privately.
Key Documents
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
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Decision making
- Why isn't there an option to renovate the Council Office for residents to consider?
- Can you please explain to the Community what the confidential plans developed with Alinea prior to any public consultation actually entailed, and why this information was deliberately withheld from residents while they were being asked for their 'ideas'?
- Please clarify whether Option C (with up to a 12-storey residential tower on the site) is a directive from the State Government, or a Council-initiated plan that sought retrospective support from the State to enable a pre-existing high-rise ambition.
- Do any of the Elected Members or Staff have a conflict of interest for this project?
- Will Council progress the option that the Community supports the most?
- What happens if Council decides not to proceed with any option?
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Operational arrangements
- What happens to the Council office whilst the site redeveloped (workers, office, Council Chambers)?
- What happens to regular hirers of the Function Centre?
- Has an analysis of how AI-driven solutions for admin tasks, data analysis, and community engagement could potentially optimise operations, reducing the need for a bigger Council Office?
- What specific alternative solutions to a new building, such as flexible working arrangements, increased remote work policies, or strategic use of underutilized existing spaces, have been thoroughly evaluated and costed?
- Considering AI advancements and potential to transform public service delivery, is Council developing an AI strategy and policy? Has the Council explored whether AI could streamline processes, reduce Staff expansion, or enhance the building functionality?
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Financial Considerations
- How does Council avoid any potential future escalating cost to rate payers due to any leasing arrangement in perpetuity if the land is sold?
- What relocation costs will be incurred on top of the building costs for the duration of building given that building often takes longer and costs more than anticipated?
- Was the 'cost neutral' statement in the previous consultation a misrepresentation designed to secure favourable public responses?
- Why does Council need to raise rates for this project when it already has a lot of money in reserves that it holds?
- Do the costs quoted in the consultation form include interior fit outs which could run into millions of dollars?
- Are the 'one off rate' increases (above CPI) quoted in the Consultation Document only for one year, or will they be embedded in continuity, effectively compounding into the future?
- Are council rates strictly determined by CPI or anticipated operating costs?
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Land ownership/requirements
- Are the Council Chambers at 172 Montacute Road situated on Community Land owned by the Crown or a Fee Simple Certificate of Title?
- If it was on Community land previously, when was it transferred to a C/T and was public consultation undertaken and approval obtained?
- Is Council intending to use its compulsory acquisition powers to purchase land on Julia Drive?
- Who will own the land regarding each of the new options being considered?
- Does current development zoning allow for the options in the consultation to be built?
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Trees & the Environment
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Community Consultation arrangements
- I don’t live in the Council area – can I still have a say on this project?
- Can the survey/consultation process period be extended to give more ratepayers time to respond with increased notification (eg in the rates reminder notices)?
- How will the results of the survey be presented?
- Is it appropriate that Council go ahead with ideas based on consultation outcomes if minimal ratepayers have responded rather than extend the time and add new processes for response?
- Is there a number or percentage of ratepayers that need to agree to an option of the proposed redevelopment of the Council Office & Chambers before it is adopted by Council?
- How are you going to ensure that survey questions are not framed in such a way as to elicit particular responses? ie avoiding closed questions and having open questions.
- Who is conducting this consultation – Council or a private company?
- Have the Councillors contributed to the questions in the consultation questionnaire?
- Does the consultation include the financial figures provided by Alinea (the Alinea Group conducted the 2024 precinct consultation) or will Council provide their own?
- Can I respond to this consultation if I don’t support any option? Why isn’t there an Option D ‘Do Nothing’ in this consultation?
- Can I inspect the existing building to get a better understanding of why it is being proposed for demolition?
- An aerial view with an overlay showing the 3 options and existing houses would be very helpful and should be available for all to see.
- Has this consultation been honest about the true, multi-million dollar cost of the options and the real rate hikes from day one?
- What is the total cost for the Community Heart Consultation?
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Campbelltown Function Centre
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Option C - more details
- Can businesses interested in opening/relocating at this site register now?
- What employment opportunities are anticipated?
- Why is the Office/PAC building footprint bigger for this option?
- If an option for underground car parking was selected for Option C, what would be the approximate additional cost?
Videos
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Watch this video for a quick snapshot of the consultation project including building options proposed.
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Watch this video to learn more about the current Council office and meeting room facilities at 172 Montacute Road Rostrevor and why Council is exploring renewing this building.
Who's Listening
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Manager Governance
Phone 8366 9222 Email lbarton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au -
Phone (08) 8366 9222 Email mhammond@campbelltown.sa.gov.au
Thank you for your contribution!
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