City of Onkaparinga has initiated a petition to state parliament on behalf of residents to have SA Water take over management of council Community Waste Management Systems (CWMS) networks. 

The council says extensive community engagement shows a clear indication that the networks should be retained in public ownership, with a strong preference for SA Water to own and operate local CWMS assets. 

It suggests that the utility’s larger scale of operations, expertise and economies of scale would likely result in a reduction in wastewater charges for many customers. 

City of Onkaparinga currently operates seven CWMS networks, servicing communities in Clarendon, Maslin Beach, McLaren Flat, McLaren Vale, Morphett Vale, Sellicks Beach and Willunga.

The council has been lobbying the state government for SA Water to take over the assets and a formal petition to the House of Assembly is the latest move in this campaign. 

It is now available to be signed, once onl,y at City of Onkaparinga offices, libraries and community centres until Monday 20 January 2025.

The petition will then be presented to a local MP for tabling in Parliament. 

The council says whatever the outcome of the petition it will continue to explore opportunities for greater efficiencies in its CWMS.