The consortium behind a proposed world heritage bid for the greater Mount Lofty Ranges area will continue, despite the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council rejecting an invitation to take part

The Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Onkaparinga and Mount Barker councils are backing the idea, which could lead to about 150,000 hectares from the Fleurieu Peninsula to the Clare Valley protected for its heritage, culture and agricultural sites.

However, the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council has rejected a second invitation to join the project, saying there are no guarantees of a favourable result.

Project manager Stephanie Johnston says it will not affect the bid.

“[The] feasibility study … that was completed last year in June with recommendations to go ahead,” she said.

She says the area has a rich story to tell.

“We don’t know much about how well planned South Australia was, how much it was planned as a utopia by some of the best known thinkers of the time,” she said.

She says the listing needs to have national heritage status before it can progress to world status, which could take 10 years to achieve.