Vote 1
Carmel NoonLocal Independent for Central Ward
“A Strong Voice for Central Ward —
Working for You, With You – back on the ballot.”
As many of you know, the Court of Disputed Returns has ruled that the 2022 Central Ward election must be re-run. To be clear, the Judge confirmed in his Orders handed down mid-April (paragraph 77):
“Ms Noon was granted leave to be joined to the proceedings for the limited purpose of making submissions as to the appropriate order to be made. Ms Noon was the candidate elected for the Central Ward who received the greatest number of votes. It was her above quota votes that were distributed at count 83. Ms Noon did not rely on any preferences to be elected and therefore received no preferences from the second respondent. Therefore, Ms Noon had not benefited from any of the illegal practices that the Court had found to have occurred…”
— Judge Burnett, April 11, 2025
I have re-nominated because I remain passionately committed to serving this community and continuing the work we began together. My term has been interrupted by events out of my control and I feel the need to return to Council to continue our mandate.
If you want a Councillor who will NEVER use her role to progress a political career, will not move out of the City of Adelaide when elected and is totally independent — VOTE 1 FOR CARMEL NOON.
And here’s something important: having already served this term, I know this Council, I know how the City of Adelaide works — and I don’t need the extensive onboarding newly elected members will require. In fact, it takes most new Councillors 12 months to fully find their feet. The learning curve on Local Government and the business of this unique capital city Council is significant. I’ve stayed actively involved — attending community meetings, staying connected with stakeholders, and watching every Council and Committee meeting since stepping down.
I can hit the ground running. DON’T KEEP A COMMITTED, RESILIENT WOMAN OUT OF THIS COUNCIL. Mayor Bria – InDaily Article
Quick References:
Some activities from my Council term
Pedestrian, Community & Road Safety
Will not be supporting removal of car parks
Standing up for residents in Court
I want to hear from you!
To get in touch, click here.
What underpins my decision to re-nominate to become a City of Adelaide Councillor – again?
What sets me apart?
I’m not a politician — I’m a community representative.
Since stepping down, I’ve remained a dedicated conduit for Central Ward residents and businesses.
✅ Ratepayer, property owner, resident, business leader all in Central Ward
✅ Have lived and worked across the City of Adelaide for 40 years.
✅ CEO of a peak body supporting over 700 members across SA — the majority being small and family businesses, many right here in the city.
✅ City shopper and regular attendee at events, shows, and precinct activities, etc.
My decisions are based on what’s best for the entire City of Adelaide community — always with a strong emphasis on Central Ward, where I was elected with a significant mandate.
Councillors must be apolitical and diverse in their thinking. We deal with people from all walks of life — and factional or political party control undermines the very purpose of this role. I have never used this position as a stepping stone to political ambitions. My goal has always been simple: to improve our city, assist the community and make a difference.
“The future of Kangaroo Island Council is a positive one and can be attributed to Carmel’s legacy of management and leadership.”
– Jayne Bates former Mayor KI Council
Some activities in my 2022 Council Term – before I was interrupted
✅ Only Councillor with 100% attendance at all Council meetings — referred to by many business leaders as one of the most engaged Councillors this term
✅ Council’s decision making framework – Given my governance background at the beginning of the Council term I played a key role in ensuring that the most appropriate committees were established, meeting frequency supported timely outcomes, and that committee recommendations were effectively brought forward to Council for action- as a result every Tuesday night most of us are present and committed
✅Chair of Planning, Development and Business Committee — as the Chair, steered the development of the City’s first-ever City Plan, to ensure smart development while maintaining liveability
✅ Council Representative — Adelaide Central Market Board — supporting key redevelopment of the City’s ‘jewel in the crown’
✅ Council Representative — Business Events Adelaide Board — driving city growth
Pedestrian, Community and Road Safety
- Advocated for and secured activation of car parks on Franklin Street to support Star City Academy families.
- Backed Cr Snape’s motion for a zebra/wombat crossing near IGA on Franklin Street — now in the 2025/26 Budget due to our efforts.
- Attended 100% of SAPOL’s quarterly updates and consistently raised safety concerns across East End, Rundle Mall, Gouger, Grote and West End.
- By proposing a strategic amendment to another Councillor’s motion, I ensured the removal of the city-wide 30 km/h blanket speed limit from the traffic management report — a decision supported by Council where logic ultimately prevailed
- Although I’m no longer on Council, I continue to advocate alongside local residents and business owners for safer infrastructure outcomes related to the Frome Road Bikeway project. Since coordinating an on-site meeting with key stakeholders back in March 2025, we’ve worked collaboratively to raise critical safety concerns with both Council and the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). Limited measures have since been implemented, further action is still required to adequately address these risks and assist in the safety of residents, pedestrians, cyclists etc.
Trusted Community Representation
- No request is ever left unanswered. I resolved ratepayer issues early – often before they reached Council, Committee, and/or media.
Strong Precinct Advocacy
- Precinct groups are the engine rooms of our neighbourhoods — they deserve greater recognition
- I’ll keep pushing for stronger support, better coordination, increased funding, and smarter use of Council’s community place-makers.
Hospitality Support
- Led opposition to the return of outdoor dining fees in 2023 — which had been removed in 2018.
- Although reinstated in 2023, I fought on — and at the 2025 Budget workshop, a key Parklet fee re car parking revenue loss was removed.
- The City of Sydney abolished all fees in 2025 — and that’s the leadership Adelaide should follow.
“I’m ready to get back to representing Central Ward.”
A City That Works – Supporting Small and Family Business
I’ve spent 30 years as a CEO in both public and private sectors, including CEO of a SA Council and senior leadership roles at both of South Australia’s major universities.
For the past 5 years, I have led a statewide peak body representing over 700 members, consisting of small and family businesses, many established in the City of Adelaide. I’ve saved and grown businesses.
I’ve had a successful professional career — and I want to continue to give back. Because thriving local businesses are the beating heart of a great city.
In my current role, I sit on several public and private committees, including:
- Minister Nick Champion’s Built Environment Education Taskforce — addressing critical skills shortages, education pathways across multiple sectors
- Land Titling Advisory Group and State Tax Advisory Group (STAG)
- AUSTRAC’s Anti Money Laundering/Counter TF national reforms, to ensure small businesses (conveyancers, real estate agents, lawyers and more) survive the transition to new legislation in 2026
I want Council to better engage and collaborate with bodies that support and represent business.
We’re too fragmented. If we align around shared priorities and resources, we can achieve:
- Better outcomes on the ground
- Fewer business closures
- More investment in our city – including business improvement districts (Business Improvement Districts/Levies)
- Greater understanding of what we can achieve together
We also need to better support our own.
AEDA — the Adelaide Economic Development Agency — is a subsidiary of Council with a clear mandate to stimulate growth, attract investment, and boost tourism. Its Strategic Plan was approved by the Elected Members — yet Council has failed to fund it appropriately in the 2025/26 Budget.
This is a missed opportunity for our city, and one I intend to prioritise and correct.
I do not support the removal of car parking in key areas such as Hutt Street, Light Square, the CBD, and North Adelaide—particularly where such changes would negatively impact small businesses, residents, and customers. Accessible parking is essential for supporting local trade, ensuring equity of access, and maintaining the vibrancy of our city.
Unlike cities on the eastern seaboard, Adelaide does not have a comprehensive or high-frequency public transport system. Until we achieve a comparable standard of connectivity, especially for those in outer suburbs and regional areas, removing convenient car parking will unfairly burden those who rely on private vehicles to live, work, and visit the city. Planning decisions must reflect our local conditions—not models that assume transport infrastructure we do not yet have.
Financial Stability – Keeping Adelaide Strong
As a former Councillor, I was part of a team working hard to turn around years of financial stagnation. The Essential Services Commission of SA (ESCOSA), an independent body, report confirmed that the City of Adelaide had operated unsustainably for a decade due to frozen rates and underinvestment — but also recognised that we’ve started to turn things around, delivering an $8.5M surplus in 2023–24 FY.
This was no accident. It came from responsible financial planning and difficult decisions — and I was proud to be part of it. The CEO of ESCOSA publicly commented, that this council commenced behind the 8 ball!
But challenges remain. The report flagged Adelaide as still “potentially unsustainable,” largely because of infrastructure costs like the Torrens Weir, Adelaide Bridge and the Park Lands — assets used by all South Australians and tourists, but funded by our small ratepayer base.
We need a new funding model — and I strongly support the Premier’s recent comments at the AEDA Summit, predominantly around parkland funding and maintenance, that this should be reviewed.
If re-elected, I’ll continue to fight for:
- A fairer rating system — so that rate-exempt organisations/institutions contribute their share
- Greater State support for State-used infrastructure
- Long-term financial sustainability for our Capital City
Vote 1 for Carmel Noon — standing for independence, experience, and community-first leadership.
Standing up for our Community – ERD Court Representation
On June 23, I personally appeared in the Environment, Resources and Development Court, representing more than 900 West End residents from Altitude, West Franklin and Gallery Apartments in the matter of: Zhengthang Precinct Pty Ltd v Corporation of the City of Adelaide. I was accepted as a third party and will appear again on 18 August 2025.
This case is not about blocking development — it’s about upholding a legally binding Land Management Agreement (LMA) that was put in place to guide responsible planning in this precinct. Since its introduction, many residents have purchased their homes with the reasonable expectation that the LMA would be respected. Now, that expectation is under threat.
Alongside an appointed group of committed residents, I have been engaged in constructive dialogue with the developer to seek a compromise — one that still honours the spirit and intent of the LMA, while recognising the potential for negotiated progress.
I’m standing up to ensure:
✅ Residents’ voices are heard and respected
✅ No further legal costs are imposed on community bodies, as has happened in the past
This is about fairness, transparency, and protecting our shared investment in the future of the West End.
Why I’m Standing Again
To continue being an independent conduit between the Central Ward communities (EAST to WEST) and everything in-between which is mainly our city’s business district. The City of Adelaide Council can be a ‘big black hole’ and I have been making navigating this easier for the people I represent.
Our city faces real challenges — but also great opportunities – Carpe Diem!
I am standing again to bring:
- Independent thinking
- Respectful debate and discussion
- Continue to deliver
- Practical advocacy and best practice governance
- Business acumen
- Understanding of the mechanics of all jurisdictions of government
- A strong commitment to celebrating and supporting the city’s rich cultural diversity – embracing the opportunities our multicultural communities bring to civic life, business, and community growth (30% of our city’s population speak Mandarin).
