![Little para reservoir](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Little_para_reservoir.JPG)
The City of Playford is a
local government area of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
in
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
's northern suburbs. It was named in recognition of
Sir Thomas Playford
Sir Thomas Playford (5 July 1896 – 16 June 1981) was an Australian politician from the state of South Australia. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal and Country League (LCL) from 5 November 1938 to 10 ...
, who played a part in the development of the area, and was
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
's premier from 1938–1965. The city covers an area of , and is home to over 90,000 residents. Playford was the fastest growing local government area in South Australia in the 2010s.
History
Origins
![Adelaide CBD from the North](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Adelaide_CBD_from_the_North.jpg)
The LGA was formed in 1997 through the merger of the
City of Elizabeth
The City of Elizabeth was a local government area located in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and seated at Elizabeth from 1964 to 1997.
History
Prior to the 1950s, most of the area surrounding today's suburb of Elizabeth was farming estates. A ...
and the
City of Munno Para
The City of Munno Para, formerly the District Council of Munno Para, was a local government area of South Australia from 6th November 1958 to 1997, seated at the township of Smithfield. In 1997 the City of Munno Para merged with the City of Eliz ...
, which were formed in 1955 and 1958, respectively. It was named in recognition of
Sir Thomas Playford
Sir Thomas Playford (5 July 1896 – 16 June 1981) was an Australian politician from the state of South Australia. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal and Country League (LCL) from 5 November 1938 to 10 ...
, who played a part in the development of the area, and was
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
's premier from 1938–1965.
Prior to the 1950s, most of the area surrounding the townships of
Munno Para
Munno Para is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.
In the local Kaurna dialect, Munno Para means ''golden wattle creek''. The name refers to either the Gawler River (which starts at the conflue ...
and
Elizabeth
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
were farming estates. After the end of the Second World War and the accompanying shortage of materials, the state government decided that South Australia needed to grow and become an industrialized state. A "satellite city" was planned for the Elizabeth area, and the
South Australian Housing Trust
The South Australian Housing Trust (SAHT) is an independent statutory authority originally established by the Government of South Australia responsible for providing low-cost rental housing to working people and their families, as a means of s ...
initiated a housing development programme in the area, with a purchase of of land. The City of Elizabeth was formed on 16 November 1955, being named after
Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the city in 1963. The District Council of Munno Para was formed on 6 November 1958 following the renaming of the
District Council of Munno Para East
The District Council of Munno Para East was a local government area of South Australia from 1853 to 1958, seated at Uleybury.
History
The District Council of Munno Para East was Proclaimed by Governor Sir Henry Young on 10 November 1853 to gov ...
which was Proclaimed on 10 November 1853.
1997 to 2010
The first mayor of the City of Playford was Marilyn Baker, who had been the last mayor of the City of Elizabeth. She continued to hold that role until the 2006 council elections, when she was narrowly defeated by
Martin Lindsell Martin may refer to:
Places
* Martin City (disambiguation)
* Martin County (disambiguation)
* Martin Township (disambiguation)
Antarctica
* Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land
* Port Martin, Adelie Land
* Point Martin, South Orkney Islands
Austral ...
, the last mayor of the City of Munno Para.
After 1997, the council planned and built a number of new housing developments aimed at attracting young working couples and families in an attempt to rejuvenate the area. A new Civic Centre including council chambers, library, theatre and function centre was built. Other developments of the period included a new library in the
Munno Para Shopping City in
Smithfield, and a revamp of the Elizabeth shopping centre, including an 8-screen cinema complex.
In 2003
it was announced that A$1 billion would be allocated to rejuvenate the
Peachey Belt. Known as the Playford North Urban Regeneration project, it was expected that the population of the area would increase from 13,000 residents to 30,000 in 15 years and involve the demolition of most of the
Housing SA homes.
the project has since been renamed "Playford Alive".
"As part of the 30-year Plan for greater Adelaide, significant growth and investment is pouring into Playford from business. Rapidly increasing employment coupled with new land releases has driven population growth and improved living standards."
2010 to present
Mayor Martin Lindsell was defeated in the 2010 local council election by
Glenn Docherty, the council's youngest ever mayor.
The council elected in 2010 started the creation of Playford Health Precinct around the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
The
SCT Logistics
SCT Logistics is an Australian interstate transport company operating rail and road haulage, with facilities in Brisbane, Sydney, Parkes, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
History
SCT Logistics was founded in 1974 as Specialised Container Tra ...
Rail Freight Terminal, opened in January 2011 provided for goods and services to be transported by road and rail more efficiently and quickly. Playford is to become the logistical and advanced distribution capital of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
.
The A$750 million expansion within the
RAAF Base Edinburgh
RAAF Base Edinburgh is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located in Edinburgh approximately north of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia and forms part of the Edinburgh Defence Precinct.
The base is primarily home to No 9 ...
, including facilities for 7th RAR (Mechanized Army Battalion), was largely completed in 2011.
the council has been involved in discussions regarding expansion of the Elizabeth City Centre (the major shopping precinct in Playford) on to of land to the west of the train line.
the Playford council is working with the
South Australian Government
The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government, SA Government or more formally, His Majesty’s Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of South Australia. It is modelled o ...
to release of industrial land in the greater Edinburgh Parks region, with the intention of attracting and supporting 38,000 jobs in the northern part of
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
.
In 2011, Mayor Docherty stated he aimed to make Elizabeth the second central business district of Adelaide. He envisaged a movement away from low density commercial and "quarter-acre block" housing to multiple storey mixed use commercial and residential developments in Elizabeth and other central parts of the council area.
In April 2013 the council announced its 2043 Playford Community Vision.
From 2012 to 2015 the council partnered with the University of Adelaide to launch the Stretton Centre, a physical home in Playford for research into regional innovation. Its "anchor tenant" is the Adelaide University's Australian Workplace Innovation & Social Research Centre (WISeR). Platyford Council was assisted by a A$11.3 million grant from the Australian Government for the research centre. The Stretton Centre includes the Stretton Research Centre (occupied by WISeR), the (new) community library, public and private community meeting spaces and the Innovation Design Lab, which is to showcase new innovations and technologies in relevant to the community.
Docherty was re-elected unopposed to continue as mayor in the 2014 local government elections.
Royal visits
The City of Playford (and its predecessor, the City of Elizabeth) has had a number of visits by members of the
Royal Family:
* 1963 visit by
Queen Elizabeth II
* 1977 visit by
Queen Elizabeth II
* 1986 visit by
Duke of Edinburgh
* April 2014 visit by
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine, Princess of Wales, (born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton; 9 January 1982) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to William, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the British throne, making Catherine the likely next ...
Council
The council members elected in November 2018 are:
Demographics
The city covers an area of , and was estimated to have a population of 93426 in 2018.
[ Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.] Playford has been the fastest growing local government area (LGA) in South Australia over the 2010s.
[ In the five years to 2021, the Playford LGA experienced the greatest population growth of all greater Adelaide LGAs, increasing by more than 7500 residents. However, its annual rate in the 12 months to 2021 was lower than Mount Barker, Adelaide Plains and ]Gawler
Gawler is the oldest country town on the Australian mainland in the state of South Australia. It was named after the second Governor (British Vice-Regal representative) of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is about north of the ...
.
Suburbs
Services and facilities
Parks and recreation
Fremont Park is located immediately east of the Elizabeth City Centre. Providing recreation and leisure facilities, the park features a large lake with fountain and waterfalls, a rotunda for band performances and two playgrounds. The park also contains an adult fitness gym and is the host venue for many community events including Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port ...
celebrations, school Holiday programs, weddings, and other private functions.
The Aquadome aquatic centre is the largest such facility in northern Adelaide. Included in this multi-purpose facility are a 50-metre pool, a beach entry leisure pool, café, a creche, outdoor picnic areas, a large carpark, and easy access to bus and rail transport. The Health Club, opened in 2009, contains a modern gym and fitness centre.
The North Lakes Golf Course, opened in 1993, is located in Munno Para West, measures for 9 holes, and is par 70.
Located on Blackburn Road, Hillbank, Jo Gapper Park is a major regional park. It has tennis court and basketball court, which are lit at night, playground, barbecues, shelter sheds and walking trails. It has a sealed carpark which is open from dawn until dusk.
Stebonheath Park, Ken Patterson Reserve, Jubilee Park and the Munno Para Wetlands are other public green spaces in the City of Playford.
Libraries service
The Playford library is split across two locations: Elizabeth and Munno Para.
Youth services
Young people have a number of services and activities supported by the council, including:
* Northern Sound System
Northern Sound System (NSS) is a dedicated youth centre focused on music, broadcasting, and other creative industries, located in Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. Background
The Northern Sound System was established i ...
– a dedicated youth centre, including recording studios and a live music venue, which allows young people to learn, create and develop their musical talents, located in Elizabeth
* Playford Youth Advisory Committee – a body intended to be the voice of young people aged 12 to 25 in the Playford Region meeting fortnightly at the Northern Sound System
* Jibba Jabba Radio – a youth development program which gives young people in Playford the opportunity to produce and broadcast a youth radio program on Adelaide's PBA FM radio station
Waste management and recycling
Garbage, recycling, and green waste
Green waste, also known as "biological waste", is any organic waste that can be composted. It is most usually composed of refuse from gardens such as grass clippings or leaves, and domestic or industrial kitchen wastes. Green waste does not inclu ...
collection services are provided by the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority
Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority or NAWMA is a garbage, recycling, and green waste collection service for City of Salisbury, City of Playford, and the Town of Gawler in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.
History
NAWMA ...
.
Sports teams
The City of Playford is home to several sports teams, including:
* Central District Football Club
Central District Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the South Australian National Football League. Based at Elizabeth in the City of Playford about 25 km to the north of Adelaide, South Australia the club's ...
(Australian rules football - South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport.
Originally formed as t ...
(SANFL))
* Playford City Patriots (Association football/soccer - FFSA South Australian Premier League
The National Premier Leagues South Australia (often abbreviated to NPL South Australia or NPL SA) is a semi-professional football competition in the Australian state of South Australia. The league is a subdivision of the second tier National P ...
)
* Playford Aquatic Club, Elizabeth
See also
* List of Adelaide parks and gardens
List of Adelaide parks and gardens refers to parks and gardens within the metropolitan area in South Australia known as Adelaide.
Northern Adelaide
The South Australian government region known as Northern Adelaide and which occupies the north ...
* List of Adelaide suburbs
This is a list of the suburbs of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, with their postcodes and local government areas (LGAs). This article does not include suburbs and localities within the Adelaide Hills region.
Adelaide's most expe ...
* Local Government Areas of South Australia
Local government in the Australian state of South Australia describes the organisations and processes by which towns and districts can manage their own affairs to the extent permitted by section 64A of '' Constitution Act 1934 (SA)''.
LGAs sorte ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Playford
Local government areas of South Australia
Local government areas in Adelaide