Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority

The City of Adelaide has long recognised the value of the Adelaide Park Lands to the city, state and its inhabitants. Since 2005 the Park Lands have received protection when the State Government passed the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA). 

This does four main things:

• defines the Adelaide Park Lands Plan
• requires a management strategy for the Park Lands
• establishes seven statutory principles for the management of the Park Lands
• establishes the Adelaide Park Lands Authority – as an advisory body to the City of Adelaide and the State Government.

The Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority (Kadaltilla) is the principal advisor to both the City of Adelaide and the State Government on the protection, management, enhancement, and promotion of the Adelaide Park Lands.

Kadaltilla is established pursuant to section 5 of the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA) and operates as a subsidiary of the City of Adelaide, pursuant to section 42 of the Local Government Act 1999 (SA). Kadaltilla acts in accordance with its Charter and as set out in the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA).

The inaugural meeting of the Authority was held on 7 February 2007 and its first full financial year of operation was 2007–2008. On 11 May 2023, the Minister approved a change to Kadaltilla’s Charter so that it would be branded as the ‘Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority’ (Kadaltilla).

Kadaltilla is a traditional Kaurna word meaning Green place / Green lands / Parklands.

The City of Adelaide and the State Government of South Australia are committed to protecting and enhancing the Adelaide Park Lands for the benefit of all South Australians.

The City of Adelaide, on behalf of its communities of the City of Adelaide and the State, is committed to ensuring that Kadaltilla delivers maximum benefit for the future of Adelaide’s Park Lands as the City of Adelaide’s defining feature.

Kadaltilla was established to undertake the following Functions, as set out in the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA):

1. To undertake a key policy role with respect to the management and protection of the Adelaide Park Lands
2. To prepare, and as appropriate, to revise the Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy in accordance with the requirements of the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA)
3. To provide comments and advice on any management plan prepared by the Adelaide City Council or a State Authority under the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (SA) or the Local Government Act 1999 (SA) that relates to any part of the Adelaide Park Lands; and to monitor and, as appropriate, to provide comments, advice or reports in relation to the implementation or operation of any such plan
4. To provide comments or advice in relation to the operation of any lease, licence or other form of grant of occupation of land within the Adelaide Park Lands
5. On the basis of any request or on its own initiative, to provide advice to the Adelaide City Council or to the Minister on policy, development, heritage or management issues affecting the Adelaide Park Lands
6. To promote public awareness of the importance of the Adelaide Park Lands and the need to ensure that they are managed and used responsibly
7. To ensure that the interests of South Australians are taken into account, and that community consultation processes are established, in relation to the strategic management of the Adelaide Park Lands
8. To administer the Adelaide Park Lands Fund
9. To undertake or support other activities that will protect or enhance the Adelaide Park Lands, or in any other way promote or advance the objects of the Adelaide Park Lands Act, 2005 (SA)

The City of Adelaide manages approximately 80 per cent of the Park Lands, with the remaining 20 per cent (which includes the Botanic Garden and Botanic Park) managed by the South Australian Government.

• Kadaltilla Charter
• Kadaltilla Strategic Plan 2020-2025 
• 22/23 Strategic Plan Annual Review
• 22/23 Annual Report
• 2023/24 Kadaltilla Business Plan and Budget
• Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy (APLMS) 2015-2025
• Kadaltilla Community Forum Summary

Kadaltilla is chaired by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide and has four members appointed by the Council and five members appointed by the state. Current membership is as follows:

Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM
Presiding Member

Elinor Walker
Deputy Presiding Member

Ms Allison Bretones 
Executive Officer Parks and Leisure Australia (SA/NT region)

Mr Rob Brookman AM 
Former Executive Director, Adelaide Festival

Councillor Keiran Snape
South Ward Councillor

Mr Ashley Halliday
Architect / Urban Designer

Ms Stephanie Johnston
Heritage and Urban Planner

Mr Craig Wilkins
Chief Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia

Mr Ben Willsmore
Landscape Architect (Past President AILA SA)

Tim Agius
Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC) Chairperson

The Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority meets monthly on a Thursday in the Colonel Light Room of the Adelaide Town Hall. Meetings start at 4:30 pm. 

View the Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority agendas and minutes

If you have any questions regarding the Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority, see our page on public involvement at meetings.

• Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy
• Community Land Register & all Park Lands Community Management Plans (CLMP)

If you have any questions regarding the Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority, please contact our Customer Centre: