Media Releases

For the first time, The Parade, Norwood will be transformed into the starting line for the Women’s Tour Down Under race, which will see the peloton cover more than 126km through the Adelaide Hills before finishing in Campbelltown for the Hyundai Stage 3 on Monday 19 January.

Mayor Robert Bria says Norwood is the home of cycling in South Australia, so it is only fitting that the Council extend our hosting to both the men’s and women’s races as part of the Santos Tour Down Under.

“Hosting a stage start for the women’s race is an exciting prospect and a great addition to our long history of hosting world-class cycling events.”

For the first time in Tour Down Under history, all 15 women’s World Teams are set to be on the start line in Adelaide for the women’s race from 17–19 January.

“With women’s sport growing in participation and popularity, we expect that we will see a huge attendance on The Parade in celebration of these incredible athletes.”

The men’s race covers five stages following the race prologue, kicking off on Tuesday 20 January with six days of thrilling racing culminating on Sunday 25 January.

On Thursday 22 January the Health Partners Stage 2 Start will depart Norwood heading towards the slopes of Norton Summit, then pushing further into the Adelaide Hills and towards the Uraidla finish – a gruelling 148km journey that will see cyclists climbing more than 3,600 metres.

“Each year thousands of spectators line The Parade to watch the Santos Tour Down Under, creating an electric atmosphere as fans cheer on the peloton.

“With international media filming our leafy green streets and promoting the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters cosmopolitan lifestyle across the world, being a part of the Santos Tour Down Under is an incredible opportunity for the Council and our community.”

The Santos Tour Down Under is Australia's greatest cycling race, with a rich history as the highest regarded and most popular bike race in the southern hemisphere.

For more information visit: Santos Tour Down Under

Media enquiries: Robert Bria on 0431 754 077 or Allison Kane on 0499 558 834

First elected in May 2000, Cr Whitington served on numerous Council committees and almost 25 consecutive years on the Eastern Health Authority Board—a position she stepped down from earlier this year when electing not to renominate.

Mayor Robert Bria, who has served alongside Cr Whitington throughout her time as an Elected Member, paid tribute to a person he considers to be “a dear friend, valued colleague and passionate representative”.

“Cr Whitington has served her local constituents and our community with integrity and passion for more than a quarter of a century.

“With a sustained commitment to representing the public health interests of ratepayers and residents, Cr Whitington has also been an ardent supporter of the Council’s cultural heritage and public art programs and an advocate for improving local amenities such as parks, footpaths, roads, libraries and swimming pools.

“I am grateful for the broad and valued contributions Cr Whitington has made to ensure our City is the best place to live, work and visit, and will continue to be inspired by her tenacity, authenticity and passion.

“Representing your community as an Elected Member is a significant commitment and responsibility, so after 25 years, I wish her and Peter all the best for the next chapter in their lives.”

On behalf of the Elected Members and staff, Mayor Bria congratulates Cr Whitington on 25 years of service to our community. 

Media enquiries: Robert Bria on 0431 754 077 or Allison Kane on 0499 558 834

Spendmapp data, which collects credit card and EFTPOS transactions, revealed the City recorded $2.08 billion in consumer spending for the 12-month period ending 31 May 2025.

City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Mayor Robert Bria says the figure is an “incredible result which shows our City and its community remain resilient in an uncertain economic environment”.

“It also demonstrates why our City has been ranked by CreditorWatch as having the lowest risk of business failure of any council area in Australia for nine consecutive months.”

The largest spend was in the health sector ($350 million), followed by specialised and luxury goods ($305 million) and groceries and supermarkets ($234 million).

Spendmapp data shows Norwood to be the best performing suburb within the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, with spending in the area accounting for 39% of total spend in the City.

Norwood also accounted for:

• 56% of total spending on groceries and supermarket 
• 53% of total spending on luxury and specialised goods
• 49% of total spending on dining
• 35% of total spending on health care.

“Norwood continues to be the ‘engine room’ of the local economy and dominates the largest sectors in terms of the percentage of total spend,” adds Mayor Bria.

“The Council understands the revamped Burnside Village is likely to have some of impact on The Parade in the short term but is confident the precinct will continue to perform strongly well into the future due the diversity of the precinct’s offering.

“When you consider that almost half ($114 million) of the annual dining spend in our City is in Norwood, it’s easy to see why The Parade is Adelaide’s premier main street.

“At the same time, Spendmapp data is showing localities such as Kent Town are starting to come into their own, which means the Council needs to take deep dive to see what’s happening there and how it can best support future strategic growth.” 

Media enquiries: Robert Bria on 0431 754 077 or Allison Kane on 0499 558 834

The Business Risk Index ranking, released monthly by CreditorWatch, considers a range of business-related indicators, such as property prices, rents, consumer confidence, insolvencies, inflation and interest rates.

Of the number one ranking, Mayor Robert Bria says this is an “incredible result for a relatively small council in South Australia”.

“When you consider there are 537 Councils in Australia, achieving the number one ranking once is a great result, but then going on to maintain that ranking for another nine months is pretty special.

“What this tells us is that business confidence in Norwood Payneham & St Peters is high, brick and mortar traders like being here, and the lifestyle our City offers makes operating home-based business an attractive proposition.

“Our local business community is large with more than 7,000 businesses, which equates to almost one business for every five residents in our City,” he said. 

“This ratio means our economic strength is directly linked to our community strength, making for a more connected, prosperous and socially cohesive city.”

Mayor Bria says the diversity of the local economy means that multiple sectors have contributed to our resilience during challenging times.

“As you’d expect in a city like ours, retail and hospitality are big sectors, but other sectors such as health and education are also strong,” he said.

For more than a decade Tom McClure has been trading on The Parade as Grill’d Norwood and says the recent data and long-running number one CreditorWatch ranking, positions The Parade and City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters as an ideal place to continue doing business.

“I’ve been running a hospitality business on The Parade for 11 years and these results confirm what we’ve known for some time—The Parade is a destination, especially for hospitality,” says Tom.

“Annual events such as the Norwood Food and Wine Festival and AFL Gather Round add to the vibrancy and appeal, while Council’s ongoing support ensures local businesses continue to thrive.

“As a business owner who previously held a position on The Parade Precinct Committee, I am grateful for the consistent efforts made by the Council to support local businesses and grow the local economy — and the results are in and they’re pleasing to say the least."

Mayor Bria suggests that despite the impressive results, the Council must keep working closely with local business and the South Australian Government to help create the conditions for long term economic growth.

“Rather than rest on our laurels, we need to double down on our efforts to stay engaged with the local business community to ensure they continue to invest and create jobs.”

Media enquiries: Robert Bria on 0431 754 077 or Allison Kane on 0499 558 834

Following a $1.9 million redevelopment, the new Dunstan Adventure Playground was officially opened on 2 February 2024 by Mayor Robert Bria and the South Australian Premier, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP.

Mayor Bria says the award reflects the investment that the Council is making into the renewal of its playgrounds as places the whole family can enjoy.

“The Dunstan Adventure Playground is the result of thoughtful planning and collaboration with First Nations people to create a place that demonstrates a strong connection to Country, offers active and nature play for children of all ages and places for families and friends to connect, among a stunning natural landscape.

“I am particularly proud of the teamwork demonstrated throughout the project that included Council staff, arborists, designers, contractors, Kaurna representatives and artists and residents.” 

Paying homage to former South Australian Premier Don Dunstan’s vision, the Dunstan Adventure Playground boasts adventure themed play equipment complete with barbecues, lighting, shelter toilets and picnic facilities amongst a thoughtfully designed landscape setting.

The AILA Landscape Awards judges’ citation notes that, “The project is an exemplar, led by landscape architecture and a collaborative relationship with Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation and local Kaurna artists”.

“The refreshed space has a strong connection to Country — an element previously missing within this playground on the Karrawirra Pari, despite Don Dunstan being a champion for First Nations people and its riverine context.”

Judges acknowledged that through its redevelopment, the Dunstan Adventure Playground has retained its unique qualities of challenging play while building on these themes with embedded culture and environmental sensitivity.

“The team has reinforced this fantastic destination along the River Torrens Linear Park. The playground design is brave and also encourages children and parents to be brave — just as it did in the seventies.”

Burchell Reserve, located at 50 Sixth Avenue, St Peters, was also acknowledged with two commendations following its $4.2 million redevelopment.

The Water for Life Commendation is a nod to the Council’s strategic approach to substantive stormwater peak flow mitigation and water quality improvements that has been delivered with high-quality green space and leisure opportunities for the local community. 

Judges specifically noted thoughtful integration of a raingarden and stormwater detention tanks below the tennis courts, stating, “this was done without impacting on activity space, and park-wide detention storage, whilst retaining mature trees via progressive civil works treatment”.

The Healthy Parks Healthy People Commendation saluted the Council’s approach to integration of existing mature trees and green spaces with stormwater management and new recreational opportunities — with a clear focus on expressing the natural drainage and landscape palette.

Media enquiries: Robert Bria on 0431 754 077 or Allison Kane on 0499 558 834