Community invited to help shape once-in-a-generation legacy from $3.45m Lerwin sale proceeds
The Rural City of Murray Bridge is seeking your feedback as it faces an important decision.
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The Rural City of Murray Bridge is calling on the community to help shape how the $3.45 million in proceeds from the sale of Lerwin Residential Care can create lasting benefits for future generations.
This week, council is launching a community engagement process that will give residents the opportunity to influence who should benefit from the proceeds and the types of community outcomes the funding should support.
These proceeds have been quarantined since November 2025: set aside for future use while council determines how they can best provide an enduring benefit for the community.
Mayor Wayne Thorley says the sale proceeds represent a rare opportunity to create an enduring legacy for the whole region and its people.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our community to have a say in how the sale of a significant community asset can continue delivering benefits for local people long into the future,” he says.
“The decisions made now have the potential to create positive outcomes for our community for many years to come, which is why it is so important that we hear from as many people as possible.
“Lerwin has been an important part of the community since 1983.
“It was established by our community, for our community, and we want the sale proceeds to continue investing into the wellbeing of our people.
“As a council, we have some ideas and concepts that we are considering, and now is the chance for our community to help shape these.”
Council wants the proceeds to make a lasting difference and help people in the community live well and thrive.
With this in mind, the engagement will focus on three key areas:
- who should benefit from the proceeds
- the community outcomes they should support, and
- whether a community fund could be one way of providing ongoing community benefit
“The feedback we receive will help guide council's future decisions and ensure community priorities are at the heart of the process,” Mr Thorley says.
Council understands there will be many views about how the proceeds can be used.
Some uses are not being considered as part of this engagement because they would provide a short-term benefit, are already supported through other funding, or are the responsibility of other levels of government.
These include rate rebates or reductions, paying down council debt, and general asset and infrastructure maintenance.
The engagement is designed to help council understand the community's aspirations before determining the most appropriate long-term approach for the proceeds.
Following the consultation period, a detailed report of the feedback will be provided to council to help it make a decision.
“Whether you've lived here your whole life or have recently joined our community, your perspective matters,” Mr Thorley says.
“We want to hear from people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences so that the benefits created through these proceeds reflect the values and priorities of our entire community.”
Community members are encouraged to complete the survey and share their views online through council's engagement platform.
- Have your say: Fill in the survey by visiting letstalk.murraybridge.sa.gov.au or dropping into the Local Government Centre, Murray Bridge Library or Murraylands Skills Centre by 5pm on Wednesday, November 4; or seek support from council's customer service team to provide feedback in another way.
- More information: www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
