Cr Darren Kruse
Position
Ward
Suburbs
Address
Mitcham Community News November 2026
Hello again. Finally it’s official: Council has sold the former Blackwood Library and nursery site on Main Road to Buildtec, after a competitive expression of interest and substantial negotiations. Buildtec plans two conjoined multi-storey buildings, with commercial tenancies along Main Road and apartments above, including affordable housing. Buildtec has committed to start within 12 months and finish within three years. Its development application will go through the usual public planning assessment. The story since 2016:
https://mitcham.counciltracer.app/examples/blackwood-land-sale
In September, Craigburn Farm residents brought a deputation, questions and a 939-signature petition about LED streetlights to the chamber. Since 2017 Council, in conjunction with SA Power Networks, has been progressively replacing older, less efficient streetlights with LEDs. Left to last were 478 ornamental lamps, mostly “Kensington” style in Craigburn Farm, the rest across six other suburbs.
When in July Council’s letter notified the community of its intent to replace lights in Craigburn Farm with standard lamps, the community outcry was loud and entirely understandable. Council swiftly paused the rollout and are investigating options with SAPN. We were told in August that keeping the ornamental look could cost $600,000 more than standard LEDs, with no breakdown of capital vs. ongoing costs.
Further detail will be presented before Council decides how to progress the rollout given clear community preference to retain the amenity of these suburbs. The project timeline since 2017: https://mitcham.counciltracer.app/examples/led-street-lighting
We voted on 8 September to continue the progressive planning of 40 km/h speed limits on Council’s local roads, precinct by precinct, with each precinct fully consulted. Pleasingly, Council added the windy section of Coromandel Parade between Boronia Avenue and the Council boundary. On 13 October we voted to bring that assessment forward to 2026/27, with an extra $139,000 a year for traffic engineering staff. Read the timeline at:
https://mitcham.counciltracer.app/examples/forty-kmh-speed-limits
The standout highlight for me was the official opening of the brand-new Hawthorndene Oval Change Room Facility on 12 September. With two changerooms, an umpires’ room and accessible toilets, it is now available for hire at https://www.spacetoco.com/space/hawthorndene-community-changeroom-facility. Special thanks to the Coromandel Valley Ramblers Cricket Club, who persisted despite every setback. The building looks like it belongs there. The full timeline since 2021, plot twists included, at:
https://mitcham.counciltracer.app/examples/hawthorndene-oval
In October we also voted unanimously to investigate and cost Blackwood Hill Reserve improvements, including fencing, a dog water station, a bench seat and a nature play item.
We don’t agree on everything. A Councillor’s motion that “Mitcham Council supports compulsory voting in Local Council Elections” was soundly defeated 8 to 3. I am not in favour of polarising our Council with what would become party-political Elected Members and significantly adding to the cost of council elections, now due in April 2027. Compulsory voting makes sense at state and federal elections, but at the local level we come into our Chamber wearing neither blue nor red (and absolutely no orange..), but with our residents foremost in mind.
As always, please call me to discuss anything Council, or just ask https://mitcham.counciltracer.app, the free tool I’ve made.
Comments on social media and articles may contain personal views or opinions held by individual Council Members, and may not necessarily represent the formal position of the Council.