Naracoorte Lucindale Council will contribute $60,000 towards a $900,000 Naracoorte Caves research project over three years.
But reflecting on councillor training, some elected members are also concerned the state government is “cost-shifting”, forcing ratepayers already paying taxes to fund more and more state responsibilities.
If successful with grant and other funding totalling $300,000 annually, the 2026 Australian Research Councill (ARC) Linkage Project scheme aims to help find information at the Naracoorte Caves National Park about conserving threatened species.
Key study sites would include Blanche, Alexandra and Robertson Caves, which contain both fauna and flora records.
The request for $20,000 annually for three years was raised at the council’s February 24 meeting.
It resulted from an “invitation” by Adelaide University for the council to be a project partner.
CEO Kelly Westell reflected on a $10,000 contribution the council already gave each year “to promote cave linkages”.
“We are the council with the state’s only world heritage site, which is incredible, and we get 100,000 people visiting our district because of the caves,” Ms Westell said.
“So when (Adelaide University vertebrate palaeontologist) Dr (Liz) Reed came and met with myself and Josie (Collins), we talked about this research project which, in my very lay terms, is about looking at the past and the evidence in the cave to help work out ways to protect endangered species into the future.”
Ms Westell explained an additional $10,000 per year was being sought by the caves management, starting from 2027/2028.
That meant $20,000 per year and $60,000 all up.
She said in-principle support was currently sought so they had evidence “that there’s a partner involved in the project”.
Councillors debate project and funds sought
Cr Darren Turner queried if the $10,000 already budgeted annually for the caves had been spent, or was there “money in the bank” allocated, but not yet spent “that could ease the $60,000 that we’re talking about”.
Ms Westell confirmed the funds had all been spent each year “through various signage or events”.
Cr Abigail Goodman, herself a doctorate scientist, praised the value of such projects, but from a council perspective, wanted to know the other partners involved, and their level of commitment.
Cr Goodman said she assumed council’s $20,000 per year was part of the annual $300,000, which was confirmed.
“There are mentions of opportunities … that this will increase social media and tourism and site interpretation, but those are quite rubbery promises,” Cr Goodman said.
“I’d like a little bit more understanding of what that relates to, so that we know what we are contributing to when we put this money on the table.”
Community and engagement officer Josie Collins explained Dr Reed had indicated there were both public and private partners who were keen to be involved.
Cr Goodman highlighted the project plan also claimed it would contribute towards conservation outcomes for the endangered southern bent wing bat.
She explained a national recovery team was already working on that, as the site was run and managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Services.
Cr Goodman queried what the project would do in addition to the recovery team’s work.
Ms Westell explained it was a new body of research which looked “further into the caves (and) further at the evidence” to understand what influenced creatures to become endangered, “and then work on strategies going forward”.
Mayor Patrick Ross suggested Cr Goodman’s queries required more information as “meat on the bone”, and would be taken on notice.
Cr Peter Ireland reflected on an August 2024 council resolution to spend $50,000 with the caves for the regional precincts and partnerships program, and wondered if those funds had been spent.
Ms Westell explained that program “had gone cold” and the funds were not spent.
A broader look
Cr Monique Crossling said: “I think we’re getting into the nitty gritty, and we all think we’re scientists”.
“I think we just need to look at it broader, as to what the caves bring to this area and economic benefit – 100,000 visitors, pretty nice, and 100,000 visitors come to this area just for the caves,” Cr Crossling said.
“The economic spin off that is created for our small family business at bricks and mortar shops, is like, I can’t put a figure on that.
“So, I think we’ve gone through this process before with the Adelaide University. They’re great project partners to deal with.”
Councillor training
Cr Cameron Grundy reflected on training for councillors at the start of the council term.
“One of the issues raised was cost shifting from other levels of government, and how that will become more evident as the state and federal governments continue on their borrowing paths,” Cr Grundy said.
He highlighted an earlier meeting item where the state government portion of our library funding may be threatened.
“This item … (funding for science research) is another example of cost shifting onto council. It’s always just a little bit more money.”
He referred to the cave project’s intensive spending program and believed it should not become the responsibility of the council’s ratepayers, particularly as they already paid state and federal taxes for such expenditure.
Rates up 5 percent?
“In a couple of months’ time, we’re going to be asking ratepayers for a probable 5 percent rate increase, while at the same time, the community faces rising interest rates, increasing power prices of up to 25 percent as it’s reported, and real wage decline,” Cr Grundy said.
He believed that on behalf of ratepayers, councillors needed to focus on tangible expenditure outcomes, along with any savings.
Cr Crash Downward said he completely agreed with Cr Grundy. But he also likened the project to spending for advertising and cited a famous quote by Henry Ford regarding the cost and value of advertising.
Voting
With no further comments, mayor Patrick Ross called for a vote on the motion for council to accept the Adelaide University’s invitation to contribute $20,000 a year for three years, which had been moved by Cr Crossling and seconded by Cr Damien Ross.
In favour were Crs Craig McGuire, Darren Turner, Tom Dennis, Damien Ross, Monique Crossling, Abigail Goodman and Crash Downward.
Against but not asked to vote were Crs Peter Ireland, Trevor Rayner and Cameron Grundy.
This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 18 March 2026.
