The objects of this Act are—
(a) to
promote the continuance of a system of local government in South Australia
under which elected local government bodies are constituted for the better
governance of the State in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of
Part 2A of the Constitution Act 1934 ; and
(b) to
encourage the participation of local communities in the affairs of local
government and to provide local communities, through their councils, with
sufficient autonomy to manage the local affairs of their area; and
(c) to
provide a legislative framework for an effective, efficient and accountable
system of local government in South Australia; and
(d) to
ensure the accountability of councils to the community; and
(e) to
improve the capacity of the local government system to plan for, develop and
manage local areas and to enhance the capacity of councils to act within their
local areas as participants in the Australian system of representative
government; and
(f) to
encourage local government to provide appropriate services and facilities to
meet the present and future needs of local communities and to provide for
appropriate financial contributions by ratepayers to those services and
facilities; and
(g) to
encourage local government to manage the natural and built environment in an
ecologically sustainable manner; and
(h) to
define the powers of local government and the roles of council members and
officials.