Strategic planning

"Adelaide: the most liveable city in the world"

Council unanimously adopted the 2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan on 10 March 2020. This Strategic Plan guides Council’s work over the next four years in delivering the vision for Adelaide as the most liveable city in the world. It builds on our strengths to embrace the opportunities around us.

For the City of Adelaide, a liveable city is one that is a great place to be, whether as a resident or business owner in one of the city’s precincts, a student of our world class universities, or a visitor to our famed festivals, cultural institutions and attractions. The qualities that make our city liveable for those who are already here are also the attributes that may attract others to make the City of Adelaide home.

Our focus on innovation, start-ups and history of entrepreneurialism, our reputation for safety as epitomised by South Australia’s appeal as an international student destination and, recently, by the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, our sterling arts and cultural experiences, our genuine concern for a sustainable future, and a 10 Gig network enabling very fast connections, are attractors for new residents too.

In the City of Adelaide, you can enjoy world class experiences, connect with others and access employment opportunities across the world in a safe and hospitable environment.

To deliver on Council’s vision to be the most liveable city in the world, the below community outcomes, enabling priorities, guiding principles and strategic priorities have been identified:

Community Outcomes and Enabling Priorities

To deliver on Council’s vision to be the most liveable city in the world, over the next four years, four community outcomes have been identified:

Thriving Communities: Council will create a city that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.

Strong Economies: Council will champion a robust and diversified economy where innovation and low costs support growth and investment.

Dynamic City Culture: Council will continue to create a beautiful, diverse city that celebrates its natural, cultural and built heritage.

Environmental Leadership: Council will be a leader in responding to climate change and support our community and businesses to be resilient in the face of environmental challenges.

The delivery of these outcomes will be supported by:

Enabling Priorities: Council will continue to work innovatively and collaboratively with partners and the community.

Guiding Principles

While the four outcomes are the end goal, the guiding principles are the signposts to help Council remain on course. When delivering the strategies and actions to achieve the vision, Council will adhere to the principles of:

• Community benefit

• Embracing innovation

• Accessible participation

• Being accountable

Strategic Priorities

Council’s commitment to our communities is enduring. Our strategic priorities for the community are to:

• Ensure that Adelaide is globally recognised as an affordable and innovative place to do business;

• Support the wellbeing of our communities;

• Celebrate our city’s unique built, natural and cultural heritage;

• Lead the way in climate action and manage water, waste, transport and greening in a sustainable way; and

• Transform the ways people move around and connect with each other.

Under the Local Government Act 1999 (Section 122) councils are required to review their Strategic Management Plans within two years after a general local government election.

Our vision to be the most liveable city in the world and our community outcomes of Thriving Communities, Strong Economies, Dynamic City Culture and Environmental Leadership are shared by Council, our people, and our communities for the future, as reflected by the consultation that was undertaken in 2019.

Over 3,000 people engaged with Council about our future plan in person (forums, open days, meetings, events), on social media and Council’s online Our Adelaide portal. More than 300 feedback forms and postcard responses were received, as well as 100 informal online and in-person comments. Formal consultation on development of the Plan was undertaken in two stages which occurred between 11 September and 16 December 2019:

• Stage 1 consultation asked the community to imagine our future Adelaide with reference to draft themes or outcomes and to identify priorities.

Stage 2 consultation asked for feedback concerning the Draft Plan which was adopted by Council in November 2019.

To track the progress of the 17 objectives and the 110 actions in the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan, the Administration prepares a quarterly report to Council.

In 2016/17 these reports were presented as a City Scorecard (a report on the 17 objectives) and a Council Scorecard (reporting on the 110 actions). Since 2017/18 the quarterly reports have been consolidated as a single document.

Each report addresses progress to the end of the previous quarter, so the report to Council in October of any year refers to activity occurring in the period June-August of that year.

You can download and read the progress reports here:

2019/20

• Strategic Plan 2016/20 Close Out Report
• Strategic Plan Q1 2019/20
• Strategic Plan Q2 2019/20

2018/19

• Strategic Plan Q2 2018/19
• Strategic Plan Q4 2018/19

2017/18

• Strategic Plan Q1 2017/18  
  
• Strategic Plan Q2 2017/18
  
• Strategic Plan Q3 2017/18
• Strategic Plan Q4 2017/18
  
  

2016/17

• Q1 Council Scorecard
• Q1 City Scorecard
  
• Q2 Council Scorecard
  
• Q2 City Scorecard
  
• Q3 Council Scorecard
  
• Q3 City Scorecard
  
• Q4 Council Scorecard
  
• Q4 City Scorecard

A Delivery Action Plan (DAP) is produced annually to set out the details and planned timing of delivery of the 110 actions in the Strategic Plan. Council has received three Delivery Action Plans since the current Strategic Plan was endorsed in June 2016.

You can view them here:

• Four Year Delivery Plan
• Four-Year Delivery Plan 2017/18 update
  
• 2018/19 Delivery Plan – Year Three of Strategic Plan
  

In October 2017, Council endorsed several changes to the City of Adelaide’s 2016-2020 Strategic Plan. In February 2019, Council endorsed minor wording changes to seven actions in the Strategic Plan 2016-2020.

These changes are listed in the table below.

	As published June 2016	As amended October 2017
Liveable Objective	A nation leading wellbeing and resilience measure will be applied and influences our work.	City of Adelaide residents will have wellbeing above global average.
Smart Action	By June 2017, develop and promote an international City brand that showcases the smart, liveable, green and cultural advantages of Adelaide.	By June 2018, develop and promote an international City brand that showcases the smart, liveable, green and cultural advantages of Adelaide.
Smart Action	By June 2017, as part of an improved customer experience we will develop a business plan and implement smart parking technology across the City and North Adelaide to move towards an expiation-free environment.	By June 2018, as part of an improved customer experience we will develop a business plan and implement smart parking technology across the City and North Adelaide to move towards an expiation-free environment.
Smart Action	By June 2018, develop and promote an internal city brand that showcases the smart, liveable, green and cultural advantages of Adelaide.
Smart Action	By June 2018, as part of an improved customer experience we will develop a business plan and implement smart parking technology across the city and North Adelaide to move towards an expiation-free environment.
Smart Action	Work with key partners (private sector, NBN Co and universities) to create a national centre for applied research and education into the digital economy. Provide input to future innovation-related initiatives on Lot 14 to influence best possible economic outcomes for the city.
Smart Action	By June 2017, review Council's commercial operations to determine best management models.
Green Action	By June 2017, complete a procurement plan for all Council vehicles to be low or zero emissions.	By December 2017, complete a procurement plan for all Council vehicles to be low or zero emissions.
Green Action	By the end of 2017, develop and implement waste, recycling and reuse approach for the city that reflects world's best practices and the use of smart technology.
Green Action	Council will have developed a Green City Plan detailing Council's contribution to greening the city and showing activities with aligned annual targets, including an additional 1,000 trees in built-up areas of the city by June 2020.
Liveable Action	By June 2017, develop an Adelaide 2040 Plan to achieved long-term economic, environmental, social and cultural goals, incorporating a spatial and transport plan for the City and the Adelaide Park Lands.	By June 2020, develop an Adelaide 2040 Plan to achieved long -term economic, environmental, social and cultural goals, incorporating a spatial and transport plan for the City and the Adelaide Park Lands.
Liveable Action	By June 2017, endorse a Central Market Arcade redevelopment plan and commence works by 2020.