The Penola Ratepayers Association is coming out of recess, with local community members attending an association gathering held at the Royal Oak Hotel recently.

The Penola Ratepayers Association is a registered association which previously drove the fight against the Penola bypass and other community issues.

Penola resident Jodi Strother said the gathering was “positively received”.

“It was an informal gathering to assess the viability of bringing the association out of recess,” Ms Strother said.

“There is absolutely enough community interest to bring it out of recess, so that is actually now what we are going to be doing.”

Ms Strother said a matter raised at the gathering was a “dissatisfaction” with Wattle Range Council and the amalgamation of the former Penola council with Wattle Range, which has been in place for approximately 25 years.

“It was a general public discussion including ratepayers from the community that happened to be at the gathering,” Ms Strother said.

“It was decided by some members of the group that a letter would be submitted to the Premier of South Australia to request for a plebiscite to be conducted in conjunction with the upcoming elections to test the success or non-success of the amalgamation of the old Penola council with Wattle Range.”

Ms Strother said the letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas had been sent, which had the names of several Penola locals attached.

Ms Strother said there would be another Penola ratepayers gathering held, likely in October.