Mayoral Candidate · Holdfast Bay

I'm Martin Small, and I'm standing for Mayor of Holdfast Bay.

This is the first election since the Jetty Road Glenelg project doubled Council's debt. This next Council term is critical: we need to rebuild trust, deliver value for money, and set a course for the Holdfast Bay we want to leave our children and grandchildren.

Meet Martin My Priorities Get Involved

What Martin will focus on

Rebuild Trust

When trust breaks down, so does everything else. I'll rebuild it by listening, discussing, and responding — honestly.

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Cap Rates at Inflation

We're heavily indebted. Every dollar needs to work harder. I'll cap rate increases to inflation for two years.

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Fix Brighton Road

A ten-year masterplan for Brighton Road — a genuine partnership between State Government, Council, business and residents.

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About Martin

Kiwi-Australian.
Glenelg local.
Ready to serve.

I'm a Kiwi Australian — born and raised in Adelaide's sister city of Christchurch — part of a large Catholic family whose parents lived their values of service, kindness, justice and resilience.

I started my career in Wellington working for government transport agencies, where I met my wife Andrée. We became proud parents of Jo and Eleanor, who are now building their own lives here in Australia.

We moved to Adelaide in 2006, became citizens in 2012, and when we first arrived we lived a stone's throw from the Broadway Kiosk. We later moved to Hawthorn, and then in 2024 Andrée and I chose to come back — first to Seacliff, and now settled in Glenelg, where it all started for us.

After 20 years in public service I set up my own road safety consulting business in 2012, and have since taken on several directorships close to home. I work largely from home, and I'm committed to being here, present, and ready to serve our community.

Skills and experience

I was a senior executive at the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, serving as Director Road Safety and Registrar of Motor Vehicles. I'm an experienced company director and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

I was President of the Australasian College of Road Safety for three years, and have been a Director of Football South Australia since 2022. I also served six years on the board of RAA — South Australia's largest membership organisation and most trusted brand — where I helped lead it through a period of major change.

My consulting work has taken me overseas, advising governments and organisations including the World Bank and United Nations on road safety.

See Martin's Priorities

Martin's Priorities

I will deliver change within Holdfast Bay Council, focused on:

Rebuilding trust. When trust breaks down, so does everything else: communication, delivery, results. I'll rebuild it by listening, discussing and responding.
Delivering value. We're heavily indebted. Every dollar needs to work harder. I'll bring fresh eyes to existing spending and cap rates to inflation for two years.
A liveable community. Once trust and value are restored, we can focus on the life, connections and opportunities that make Holdfast Bay special — becoming the best beach suburb in Australia, for us and for our grandchildren.

Let's rebuild trust

Trust in government is plummeting. There are many reasons for this, and the Jetty Road Glenelg project is a good illustration of why our community is so frustrated.

I have spent my career in positions of trust. As your Mayor, I'll work with all Councillors and the administration to rebuild trust within our community. I'll listen, I'll be honest, and I'll tell you the bad news as well as the good.

I will back the businesses, community groups and residents working towards a thriving Holdfast Bay, and I'll convene a community forum four times a year to promote trust and transparency.

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Let's cap rates at inflation

Having gone through the last decade of Holdfast Bay's annual reports, the overriding impression is of a magic pudding. Additional rates revenue magically generates additional expenditure. The doubling of Council debt for Jetty Road Glenelg means we won't be able to do everything we want. Rates have risen 2.3% a year for the last three years — 6.9% cumulatively — to service that debt.

As a senior executive in government, I delivered 10% cuts in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis while improving service and safety. As your Mayor, I'll make sure every dollar goes further. With residents and business facing historic cost-of-living pressures, it's not acceptable for Council to increase rates above inflation without showing how it's controlling costs and generating better value for money.

We need to live within our means, test what we can achieve with current revenues, and cap rate increases for the next two years to no more than the rate of inflation.

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Let's fix Brighton Road

Brighton Road is hot, noisy, congested, dangerous, and it divides our community. Most of the traffic is us, simply getting to and fro — for work, school, shopping, footy practice or church. It's the State Government's responsibility, but we can't leave this essential community asset to the whims of others.

I've spent my working life in infrastructure and transport. As your Mayor, I'll engage constructively with all levels of Government on this issue. We need a ten-year masterplan for Brighton Road, with the State Government and Council working in partnership with business and residents for the community we want to live in.

South Road is being transformed to carry the load of north-south traffic through metropolitan Adelaide. The Majors Road connection onto the Southern Expressway is for exactly that same purpose. We are now in a position to plan a better future for Brighton Road, for businesses and residents alike.

Complete the Brighton Road survey →

My submission to Council

In my submission to the City of Holdfast Bay's Draft 2026/27 Business Plan, I focused on three main issues:

  • The plan does not address how the significant loss of trust between the Council and the community will be turned around.
  • The plan is deaf to the cost-of-living pressures facing residents, many on fixed incomes, who are being expected to service the doubling of Council debt.
  • The plan holds investment in the community hostage to additional rates rises, without any demonstrable cost savings or process for prioritisation.

I assume the best intentions of those who prepared the plan. But something has to give. Change is required to rebuild trust between the Council and the community, and to help remind us why we want to live in this most blessed part of Australia.

Join the Campaign

However you can help, I'd love to have you on board.

Every conversation, every volunteer hour, and every share moves us closer.

Make sure you're enrolled

If you're on the South Australian electoral roll, you're already enrolled for this election. Check your details are current. Businesses, non-resident property owners, and landlords can also apply to join Holdfast Bay's voters roll.

Enrolment closes Monday 4 January 2027.

Check My Enrolment

Join the team

Whether it's an hour letterboxing, joining Martin at a stand-up at the shops, social media backing, or showing support through a window poster or yard corflute — every bit of help counts.

Volunteer

Donate

Campaigns cost money — letterbox materials, signage, and getting our message out. Every contribution, large or small, helps us reach more of our community.

Get in Touch

Follow & share

Martin shares regular videos and updates on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. Follow to keep up with the campaign as it happens — and help spread the word.

How and when to vote

Council elections are conducted entirely by post. Voting papers will be mailed 11–17 March 2027, and voting closes 5pm Wednesday 7 April 2027. Whether you're a business owner, homeowner or renter — make sure your voice is counted.