Mayor's Message - September 2026

Connection & belonging

There is plenty happening across our city at the moment, and one of the things I particularly enjoy seeing is the many different ways our community can get involved, stay active, connect with others and simply enjoy living in Port Lincoln.

At our recent Council meeting, Council resolved to receive a report exploring opportunities for pickleball in Port Lincoln, including possible locations, costs and consultation. Pickleball continues to grow in popularity, and it will be interesting to better understand what opportunities may exist locally and what our community thinks, through consultation down the track.

And speaking of getting active, the school holidays are a perfect opportunity for our younger residents to try something new through Growing for Gold. With activities including volleyball, tennis, cricket and more, the program gives children and young people the chance to have a go at different sports, meet new people and perhaps even discover a new passion. There are plenty of other activities happening over the break too, so I encourage families to visit Council’s website and see what is on offer.

At the other end of the age spectrum, we are also looking forward to the Living and Ageing Well Expo. Ageing well is about much more than health care, it is about remaining active, independent, informed, socially connected and valued within our community. Events such as this are a great opportunity to discover the services, activities and supports available locally - and perhaps make a few new connections along the way.  All are welcome to attend at the Nautilus Arts Centre, Thursday 1 October, 10am to 3pm.

Connection and belonging are also very much at the heart of Council’s work towards developing our Multicultural Strategy.  Through Council’s participation in the South Australian Multicultural Charter Ambassador Program, an Action Plan has been developed around six important principles: Cultural Understanding, Cultural Competency, Representation, Mutual Respect, Cultural Expression and Equitable Access.  Whilst this Action Plan is centred around activities conducted within Council, it is also a useful tool for our wider community.

Some of the ideas being explored include:

• better understanding and capturing the voices and stories of our multicultural community, and building trusted relationships through community ambassadors and champions;
• creating more pathways for multicultural residents to participate in volunteering, leadership, sport and recreation, while also recognising the important connection between multicultural inclusion and our regional workforce needs;
• supporting multicultural festivals and opportunities to celebrate cultural heritage and expression; and
• making Council information and services easier to access, including investigating a dedicated multicultural community page connecting people with local services, representatives, grants, translation assistance and community contacts.

Importantly, these are not intended to be ideas developed for our multicultural communities without them.  Targeted consultation with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, representatives, organisations and service providers will help shape the draft Strategy before it progresses to broader community consultation.

I have also recently had the opportunity to meet with the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia (MCCSA) and Minister Nadia Clancy to discuss multicultural services and opportunities in Port Lincoln.  These conversations are important, particularly in a regional city where access to services can look very different from metropolitan Adelaide.

We are incredibly fortunate to live in a city where multiculturalism is not simply something we embrace or celebrate at special events - it is woven into the very fabric of Port Lincoln.  Generations of people from many different cultural backgrounds have helped build our industries, businesses, health and community services, sporting clubs, volunteer organisations and neighbourhoods.

Our diversity is not just part of Port Lincoln’s story; it is part of Port Lincoln’s strength.

Whether you are eight or eighty, have lived here all your life or have recently chosen Port Lincoln as home, I hope you find an opportunity over the coming weeks to get involved, try something new, meet someone new and enjoy our wonderful city.

As always, my door is always open, should you wish to make time for a chat, to share a compliment or concern.

Diana Mislov
Mayor - City of Port Lincoln