FAQs

Colonel Light Gardens was planned following Charles Reade’s appointment as South Australia's first Government Town Planner in 1916. A champion of the UK-originated Garden City movement, Reade played a pivotal role in shaping the suburb. Key milestones include:

• 1916: Charles Reade appointed as Australia’s first Government Town Planner
• 1917: Reade tasked with planning Mitcham Garden Suburb
• 1919: Garden Suburb Act passed
• 1921: Mitcham Garden Suburb renamed 'Colonel Light Gardens,’ with the first land sales
• 1924: ‘Thousand Homes Scheme’ leads to a redesign of Reade’s plans
• 1940s: Piccadilly Circus and unused shop sites repurposed for housing
• 2000: Colonel Light Gardens listed as a State Heritage Area and added to the National Register of Historic Places
• 2021: Adoption of the Heritage Standards for Development
• 2022: Council adopts Public Realm Heritage Guidelines

Before Colonel Light Gardens was designated a State Heritage Area in 2000, some internal reserves (Lots 148 and 167, currently under review in the draft Internal Reserves Community Land Management Plan) were absorbed into private gardens by neighbouring property owners, often with varying permissions. There are four such reserves:

• Lots 53 and 54 remain publicly accessible.
• Lots 148 and 167 have been fenced, managed, and landscaped by adjoining residents, with permission, making them private spaces.

Only Lots 148 and 167 are addressed here in this consultation, Lots 53 and 54 are subject to a different process.

This privatisation directly opposes Charles Reade's original vision and the heritage values underpinning Colonel Light Gardens' State Heritage listing. Under the Local Government Act 1999, these spaces must have a Community Land Management Plan, prompting the Council to review their use. Efforts are underway to restore these reserves to public access, aligning with their original purpose and heritage significance.

What information goes into a CLMP is governed by the act and councils must ensure that in accordance with Section 196(3) of the act a CLMP-

1. Identifies the land to which it applies; and
2. States the purpose for which the land is held by the council; and
3. States the council's objectives, policies (if any) and proposals for the management of the land; and
4. States performance targets and how the council proposes to measure its performance against its objectives and performance targets.

Based on the requirements of the act the council has divided each of its CLMPs into the following sections.

1. Land identification details
2. Purpose for which the land is held
3. Reason why management plan is required
4. Objectives for the management of the land 
5. Policies for management of the land
6. Proposals for the management of land
7. Performance targets
8. Performance measures
9. Leases and licences
10. Schedules

These sections are further explained below;

1. Land identification details

This section contains the basic details needed to identify the land.

This section includes; name, address, ct details and area. This is also where any details of an encumbrance, trust or dedication are detailed.

2. Purpose for which the land is held

Details why the land is retained by council as community land.

This details what the community use it for or what significance it has to the council. This could be for sport or in the case of a bush land reserve to protect the area’s biodiversity assets or a native species of flora or fauna.

3. Reason why a management plan is required

The reasons why a council requires a management plan are set out in the Act

S 196(1) a council must prepare and adopt a management plan or management plans for its

Community land if—

1. (b) the land is, or is to be, occupied under a lease or licence; or
2. (c) the land has been, or is to be, specifically modified or adapted for the benefit or enjoyment of the community.

One of or both (b) and (c) may apply for a piece of land, the wording contained within act may be paraphrased to reflect the land.  This section also lists all existing modifications and assets currently on the land.

4. Objectives for the management of the land 

A statement of the overall objective/s that council wants to achieve

Objectives should consider the uses and potential uses of the land as well as consider the landscape of the area. If there are any unique features or heritage consideration this should be addressed in the objectives. It is also important that none of the objectives contradict each other making it difficult to achieve both when making decisions. 

5. Policies for management of the land

A list of plans, strategies and policies that relate to the use of the land and its objectives and to land of the kind being a dealt with.

This section is a simple list of the above divided by specific and general policies. 

6. Proposals for the management of land

The current or future intent or plans for the land which may be an actual planned project or allow for something that is not at the site currently to be located there in the future.

7. Performance targets 

A more specific statement of the management goals the council is setting for 

Performance targets refer to the standard, which is proposed to be met, therefore it is important they are achievable and can be measured. They must be realistically attainable and relate back to the objectives. 

8. Performance measures

A statement of how council proposes to measure whether its meeting its performance targets and objectives.

This section does not set out how the targets will be achieved but looks at how the council will measure whether the targets and objectives have been achieved. This must also be realistic and achievable. 

9. Leases and licences

Broad details of what will be required by any current or future leases/licences 

This section outlines what the leases will be for in a broad sense, they are not necessarily specific to one organisation or club. For example, support community sport. 

10. Schedules

Table showing containing the performance targets and measures and showing their relationship to the objectives.

CLMPs are important in how councils manage their community land.

In stage 1 of the Consultation there were 9 CLMPs included, these were 

• Sport and Community Recreation Complexes
• Outdoor Court Facilities
• Parks (Playgrounds)
• Reserves
• Conservation/Biodiversity Reserves
• Civic and Community Facilities 
• Operational and Service Infrastructure Reserves
• Landfill Reserves, and 
• Mitcham General Cemetery

In stage 2 of the Consultation there are 17 CLMPs Included, these are

5 Amended CLMPs

1. Sport and Community Recreation Complexes
2. Outdoor Court Facilities
3. Parks (Playgrounds)
4. Conservation/Biodiversity Reserves
5. Landfill Reserves

12 New CLMPs

1. Passive Reserves 
2. Active Reserves 
3. Bushland Reserves 
4. Car Parks 
5. Screening Reserves 
6. Gamble Cottage and Winns Bakehouse Museum
7. Laneways and Pathways
8. Drainage Reserves 
9. Community Centres and Halls
10. Kindergartens 
11. Lions Club of Blackwood - Blackwood Bargain Centre 
12. Windy Point Reserve

City of Mitcham’s (Mitcham) Community Land Management Plans (CLMP) were adopted in 2004. 

The CLMPs at Mitcham (like at most other councils) remained unchanged since they were first drafted. 

It is timely to review CLMPs to ensure they are meeting our community’s changing needs.