Cr Joanna Wells
Position
Ward
Suburbs
Address
Contact
Mitcham Community News October 2026
Niina marni
As is always the case when I sit down to write this, the last two months have whizzed past. Council has been incredibly busy and I am barely able to touch on the highlights here.
In the Chamber we’ve approved funding for much-needed safety works on McLaren Street (Torrens Park). DIT has control of the road; Council is able to effect works only on the footpaths and verges. The proposed solution will slow down bikes on the footpath and open up sight lines for everyone at Blythewood Road, making McLaren Street safer for all road users, residents, casual walkers and mountain bikers. The plan is to have the improvements in place by the summer holidays.
Many of you have been working tirelessly in the hope of securing better outcomes in our much-loved Adelaide Park Lands. They are an important part of life in Adelaide and so I was pleased that the Chamber passed unanimously a motion recognising their national significance as an environmental, cultural, recreational and heritage asset to all South Australians, noting our concerns about the cumulative impacts of state government developments and events and calling on the state government to undertake transparent and meaningful consultation with the City of Adelaide, affected metropolitan councils, Kaurna Traditional Owners and the broader community before proceeding with proposals that may materially alter the use, character or environmental values of the Adelaide Park Lands. As a result of this, the Mayor will write to the Premier, Planning and Local Government Ministers to advise them of our position.
The Grants Committee met recently to work through the applications for the first round of My Mitcham Community Grants – an increasingly difficult task, as the quality and quantity of applications continues to rise. This is exactly the kind of problem you would want a Grants Committee to have! The events and programs run in our community by these volunteers are of great quality and add significantly to life in the City of Mitcham. Keep an eye on MCN and Council website and social media for details.
In the Chamber we had an update from staff on the Urrbrae Wetland, an invaluable asset which slows and cleans stormwater, mitigates flooding and increases biodiversity. The Wetland volunteers do a great job of weeding and planting within this asset. They are a welcoming bunch, of all ages and if you’re at a loose end on a Tuesday morning, they would love you to join them. Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Lynne Norton, on 8372 8860.
Lastly, I’ve just spent the day at two Celebrations of Citizenship. My role there is at the registration desk; the excitement as people come into register is palpable. Our newest citizens clearly value the opportunities - and peace – afforded them by life in Australia and I feel very fortunate to be reminded by some of our newest citizens just how fortunate we are and of how valuable our democracy is.
Ngaityalya
This article may contain personal views or opinions held by individual Council Members, and may not necessarily represent the formal position of the Council