Proposed 15-Year Lease of Council-Owned Community Land for a Community Battery – Elizabeth Park

Community Consultation Outcome 

The community consultation for this project has now closed. 

Council conducted a 28-day community consultation from 15 October to 11 November 2025. Thank you so much to everyone who provided feedback. 

Engagement Highlights 

• 1,000 page views and 470 unique views of the project listing  

• 129 document downloads  

• 23 community submissions received 

We are pleased to share the What We Heard Report, now available in the document library. This report includes: 

• An overview of the engagement process and performance 

• A summary of community submissions 

• Department of Energy and Mining responses to community feedback 

The report was presented at: 

• Strategy and Services Committee - 09 December 2025 (Community battery discussion starts at 17:45)  

• Ordinary Council - 16 December 2025  (Community battery discussion starts at 22.24)  

You can view the full Council report here and watch the recordings by clicking on the links above.  

Council resolution (6450) 

1. Council authorises the Chief Executive Officer to enter into a lease agreement for the designated portion of community land at Lot 320 Adams Road, Elizabeth Park (CT5542/603) to enable the installation of a community battery. 

2. Council endorses, if the Community Battery is rateable, to provide a 100% Rate Rebate for the duration of the lease. 

3. That any lease entered into be limited to a community use for community benefit and that should the nature of the development no longer provide community benefit then the lease be terminated.   

Next Steps: The lease agreement will now proceed in line with the resolution. Construction anticipated to start mid February 2026 and completed April 2026.   

Consultation Update

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback during the consultation (15 October – 11 November 2025). We’re now reviewing all your input and preparing a What We Heard report, which will help inform Council’s decision on whether to proceed with the lease.

You’ll be able to see what Council plans to discuss and decide in the meeting agenda, which will be published on our website before the meeting. After the decision, we’ll share the What We Heard report so you can see the outcome and how your feedback was considered.

Stay tuned for more updates!

The City of Playford is seeking your feedback on a proposal to grant a 15-year lease over part of Council-owned community land at Lot 320 Adams Road, Elizabeth Park.

This lease would allow the installation and operation of a Community Battery, designed to deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to local residents facing cost-of-living pressures.

This Community Battery is part of the emPowering SA program, a South Australian Government initiative delivering 18 community batteries across the state in partnership with energy retailer AGL. The project is also supported by the Australian Government's $200m Community Batteries for Household Solar program through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's Advancing Renewables Program. Other batteries under the emPowering SA project have already been successfully installed in Marion and Campbelltown.

The battery will store excess energy from the grid when renewable energy is abundant.

It will then make that energy available at night, during periods of high demand, or when the grid needs support.

Every household benefiting from the battery will be in a home that cannot support its own solar panels or a battery. This ensures these South Australians are not locked out from accessing renewable energy technologies and the benefits it can provide.

▶️ Watch how it works: How Community Batteries Work

Why this project matters

This project will help households who find it hard to access renewable energy, such as solar panels or battery storage. It’s especially valuable for people who would benefit from lower electricity bills. The battery will be set up and run at no cost to Council.

Why this location?

Lot 320 Adams Road, Elizabeth Park was selected because it:

• Meets technical requirements for battery installation
• Is close to low-income households that could benefit from the battery
• Has adequate space within the reserve with minimal disruption to community use
• Preserves the local environment and community spaces.

What’s the decision to be made?

Council is considering whether to grant a 15-year lease on the identified portion of land to allow for the installation and operation of the battery. Your feedback will directly inform Council’s decision about proceeding with the lease.

Want to learn more?

You can find answers to common questions about how the battery works, who benefits, what it will look like, and information about safety, noise, and maintenance in the FAQs in the document library on this page.

For more information, contact our friendly Customer Contact Team on 8256 0333 or visit emPowering SA | Energy & Mining to learn more about the project.

What's next?

Council will consider submissions as part of its decision-making process. The agenda for the meeting will be published on Council’s website prior to the meeting. Following the decision, a What We Heard report will be shared to inform the community of the outcome and how feedback was considered.