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Community invited to help shape future water planning in the Mount Lofty Ranges
Surface water and groundwater sustains farms and local businesses, supports homes and communities, carries important cultural values, keeps creeks and wetlands flowing, and provides essential habitat for native wildlife.
However, the reliability and accessibility of available water resources are becoming less certain. Rainfall and runoff patterns are changing, evaporation is increasing, demand is growing and the water captured or used in one part of a catchment can impact other water users and the downstream environment.
These pressures will not be resolved by listening to one perspective alone. To help build a fuller picture of what matters across the region, people who live or work locally are being encouraged to register their interest to attend the Our Water Future Summit and help identify community priorities for the next stage of water planning in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board General Manager, Michael Garrod, said reliable access to water is critical for the region's communities, industries, farms and environment, and that a range of perspectives is needed to help inform future water planning.
“Water plays an important role in supporting agricultural production and building resilience to drought and bushfire, and we know how important reliable water is to people managing properties and businesses.
“Water is a shared and limited resource that moves through a catchment, providing a range of services. The way it is captured or used in one place can affect supply to neighbours, businesses, and the environment downstream.
“Because of this, there are strongly held and diverse views about how that balance should be managed. We want to work with all of those different interests to identify solutions that balance all of those interests to support our communities. The Summit is an opportunity to bring those perspectives together, understand what matters to people and identify the priorities that should guide the work ahead,” Mr Garrod said.
The Summit is also seeking perspectives that can be underrepresented in water planning processes, particularly those of younger people who have a significant stake in the future health and resilience of the region. Their perspectives can help inform important discussions about how water supports healthy landscapes, strong communities, and a sustainable future.
This event is part of broader community-led engagement processes that are informed by Water Allocation Plan reviews, fairness interviews, Catchment Conversations and wider community input.
It will help identify community priorities and inform the next stage of the process, including the establishment of a Community Design Group to explore water-management options and trade-offs in greater detail.
People aged 18 and over who live or work in the region are encouraged to register their interest. No previous knowledge of water planning is needed, and younger adults aged 18 to 30 are particularly encouraged to get involved.
Participants will be selected through a democratic lottery designed to bring together people with a broad mix of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. People who are not selected to attend the Summit will still be able to contribute through the wider engagement process including community surveys and other future forums
Independent community members selected to attend may receive $110 to help offset the cost of participation and travel. This support is not available to people attending as part of their employment.
The Our Water Future Summit will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday 28 November 2026 in Hahndorf.
Registrations of interest close 8th November 2026
The 'Our Water Future Summit' is being delivered by The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board, with support from Watertrust Australia and DemocracyCo.
Watertrust Australia is the independent convener for this process, working closely with the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board and DemocracyCo to bring stakeholders and the community together to inform regional water planning.
