Council receives financial report from ESCOSA

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) has released its financial advice report for the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, which has found the Council to have been and is currently, both financially responsible and sustainable.

The report recognises that to maintain this record of performance and sustainability, the Council must give careful consideration to debt reduction strategies and undertaking future projects, to ensure that any new initiatives are affordable and implemented in a financially responsible manner.

The Advice published by ESCOSA on 19 February 2026, includes the following illustration:

The following statement was provided to The Advertiser on Wednesday 25 February 2026:

The Council has considered ESCOSA’s assessment of the Council’s financial position over 10-year period, which has found the Council to have been and is currently both financially responsible and sustainable.

The Council notes ESCOSA’s comment regarding the recent changes to its financial position and understands what it needs to do to improve its financial outlook while balancing impending renewal commitments for its facilities and infrastructure.

The Council also recognises the current economic environment which has impacted on the cost pressures associated with upgrading and renewing ageing Council facilities. 

The Council undertakes regular reviews of its Long-term Financial Plan (LTFP) and will do so again as part of the 2026–2027 Budget process, including looking at projects and proposed timelines to ensure any new initiatives are affordable and implemented in a financially responsible manner.

The Council has been considering debt reduction strategies since mid-2025, which includes looking at its rating policy, and will carefully consider all recommendations made by ESCOSA as part of its overall fiscal management strategy in the coming weeks.

The Council is extremely proud of the new Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre, which is a once in a half-century project, and our community is eagerly anticipating its opening scheduled for August.

We are aware the community has been without a pool for the past four summers and cannot wait to deliver a facility they can be proud of.

Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre Redevelopment

Once completed, the redeveloped Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre will offer an impressive range of facilities, including:

• 10 lane, 50 metre outdoor pool with all-access entry
• 8 lane, 25 metre indoor pool with all-access entry
• 11 x 20 metre indoor learner pool with all-access entry
• 14 metre tall tower with two waterslides
• zero-depth waterplay area
• multiple male, female and unisex all-access changerooms with showers, toilets, and lockers
• multipurpose meeting rooms
• shade shelters, picnic seating, and barbeques.

Find out more about the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre

What is ESCOSA?

The Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) is an economic regulator for industries such as water, sewerage, electricity and gas. As of April 2022, ESCOSA was granted a new function under the Local Government Act 1999 to provide independent advice to councils on their financial and asset management plans.

The report is part of a state-wide Local Government Advice Scheme designed to provide transparency regarding a council's long-term financial health. All South Australian councils have now been reviewed through this process. Specifically, ESCOSA reviews:

• Amendments to the Long-term Financial Plan (LTFP) and Infrastructure and Asset Management Plan.
• Revenue sources and Annual Business Plan.
• The Council’s ability to manage debt and maintain infrastructure over time.

A full copy of ESCOSA’s Advice for the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters is available on the ESCOSA website