We’re proud to share that we were recognised at the LG Professionals SA 25th Annual Leadership Excellence Awards, taking out the Excellence in Cross Council Collaboration category for a partnership that's reshaping how local government delivers infrastructure.
The Cross-Council Irrigation Construction Team – a joint initiative between the City of Charles Sturt, City of Marion and City of Port Adelaide Enfield – was established in 2019 in response to a set of shared pressures: rising construction costs, a shortage of contractors, and ageing irrigation infrastructure across all three council areas.
Rather than tackling these challenges independently, the three councils pooled their resources, plant, equipment and expertise to build a sustainable in-house delivery model. The result is a high-performing team that consistently delivers irrigation renewal projects on time, on budget and to an exceptional standard.
Since its inception, the team has delivered:
- Around 15 projects per year across all three council areas
- Over $345,000 in annual savings
- More than $8.5 million in total project value
- Approximately $2 million saved by reducing reliance on external contractors
- Ongoing training and apprenticeship opportunities
Recent projects have achieved zero defects at handover, a benchmark that reflects both the team's skill and the strength of its collaborative approach.
Other City of Charles Sturt Finalists
We also congratulate the teams behind three other finalist projects recognised at this year's awards:
- Stories Without Borders – Book Week Statewide Partnership
- Algal Bloom Response
- Renown Park Living Streets Project
We're proud to be recognised among so many outstanding projects from across South Australia's local government sector.
