Most people recognise that Councils provide many services but few people can list more than a few.

Combined, all 68 Councils in SA spend around $2 billion a year, about half of which is spent on: roads and drainage; waste collection, disposal and recycling; recreation and cultural activities; and on library and information services.

What councils must do

Mostly Councils decide what services they will provide locally, however there are some services which Councils are required to provide by law. These include:

• planning and development services, including building safety assessment;
• some public health services
• fire prevention (some building inspection, and some bushfire prevention planning functions are a duty, others are by choice);
• dog and cat management;
• some administrative requirements, such as preparing strategic plans for the area, maintaining an office, keeping records, employing a Chief Executive Officer and supporting the elected Council.

What councils do by choice

Other services provided and activities undertaken or funded by many Councils in SA are listed below. Many are used by the whole community - others as people transition through childhood, teenage years, parenthood, and ageing.

• Immunisation
• Libraries
• Economic Development
• Control of public nuisances
• Playgrounds
• Monitoring insanitary conditions
• Food safety inspections
• Roads (local roads - that is, not national highways or State arterial roads)
• Footpaths
• Stormwater drains
• Parks and gardens
• Street lights
• On-street parking
• Traffic management and local road safety
• Regional Airports and aerodromes
• Reserves and picnic areas
• Ovals & other sporting facilities
• Rubbish collection and disposal
• Recycling
• Information services
• Free internet in libraries
• Community centres
• Skate parks
• Community development programs
• Arts and cultural activities
• Community services such as Home and Community Care
• Community buses
• Environmental management
• Festivals and events
• Business support
• Dry zones
• Aged care
• Cycling paths
• Community leadership and advocacy

Whether a service is a legislative requirement of Councils, or is provided by local choice, the Local Government Act requires that a Council is "responsive to the needs, interests and aspirations of individuals and groups within its community..." and that it must "...seek to ensure that Council resources are used fairly..." (Section 8, (b) and (h)).

To find out more about the Local Government system, click here.