Council’s new Community Development Strategy – Building Stronger Communities identifies roles and functions of Council in supporting and building the capacity of our community.
A key feature of this Strategy is the adoption of an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Approach. This approach focuses on identifying and building upon the strengths, assets, and capabilities that already exist within our communities. The emphasis is on communities taking initiative—recognising what needs to be done in their local areas, planning accordingly, and working collectively toward action and implementation.
In adopting an Asset Based Approach, Council will work with the nine planning areas listed below:
- Morgan-Cadell and Surrounds
- Blanchetown and Surrounds
- Truro and Surrounds
- Swan Reach and Surrounds
- Mannum and Surrounds
- Keyneton-Sedan-Cambrai
- Walker Flat-Nildottie-Purnong
- Tungkillo-Palmer-Sanderston
- Ponde-Younghusband.
Opportunity:
As part of our commitment to this Strategy, Council is proud to partner with three local renewable energy companies, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners' Summerfield Battery Project , Tilt Renewables and RES to support community participation in the National Small Town Reinvention Conference 2025. Sponsorship will be provided to assist with attendance costs and encourage active community involvement.
About the Conference:
Australia currently has 1,614 country towns which have a population of less than 5,000. Of these towns 1,088 have less than 1,000 people. It is estimated that more than 70% of these small towns in terms of population and business life are either static or dying. Yet these small communities continue to play a significant role in terms of agriculture, mining and tourism, and represent home and community to a population of 1,131,600 persons.
The National Small Town Reinvention Conference 2025 is being held in Kapunda, South Australia, through the support of the South Australian Government, Light Regional Council, The Barossa Council, Barossa Village, Mabel, Northern and Yorke Regional Council and coordination from the Office of Tony Piccolo, Member for Light and the Bank of I.D.E.A.S..
The Conference aims to inspire and empower communities to take charge of their own destinies and create sustainable, thriving futures. The theme for the 2025 conference is Prosperity through Connection, Collaboration and Community.
The Conference will offer an exciting program and the chance to connect and share stories, experiences, and learnings with others who face similar challenges and joys that are part of the fabric of small-town life. This National Conference presents a unique opportunity for those who care passionately about the future of small-town Australia.
The Conference is being held from the 22 to 25 September 2025, based at the Kapunda Football Club, with conference activities and study tours occurring throughout local and neighbouring regions. Ticket cost for the Conference is $990 per person, this includes all sessions, meals, and conference materials. Please see Conference Brochure in document library.
Expression of Interest:
To support community-driven change, Council is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from Mid Murray residents who would like to attend the conference as a Community Champion.
Please complete our EOI form if you would like to be considered to attend this amazing conference.
Council will be assessing, scoring and weighting all applications from the information provided with particular emphasis on community benefit and alignment with the goals of the Strategy and the conference. Council reserves the right to reject any application that does not sufficiently include community benefit and the aims of the conference.
Council aims to sponsor one (1) participant from each of the nine (9) planning areas listed above. If suitable applications are not received from each area, Council may support multiple attendees from the same region based on merit and application scoring.
Applications will be received until 5pm Friday 22 August 2025.
For further information, contact Council’s Community Services team at community@mid-murray.sa.go.au.
Conference tickets proudly sponsored by -
