SA govt limits Adelaide expansion
The South Australian government has acted to halt urban sprawl in metropolitan Adelaide, limiting the expansion of development on the outskirts of the city.
The new policy announced by planning minister John Rau will see an overhaul of city planning rules, rezoning of inner-metropolitan zones and a limit on development in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.
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“Our commitment to a focused planning policy based on evidence and a clearly defined set of principles means the pressure on Adelaide to continuously sprawl further to the north and south is evaporating,” Mr Rau said.
The previous planning policy assumed the city would require an average of 400 hectares per year of broadacre land to meet housing demand.
Yet the average has been below 300 hectares since 2010/2011, according to the Department of Planning.
As a result, Mr Rau said existing greenfield sites were sufficient to meet population growth within Adelaide.
“It makes no sense for government to rezone greenfield sites for which there is no short- or medium-term demand and in respect of which, no binding infrastructure agreements are in place,” he said.
Mr Rau said a majority of demand is for infill and urban renewal-style development close to the CBD.
The move was welcomed by Property Council executive director Richard Angove, who said the policy would promote Adelaide as a vibrant population centre.
“Adelaide City is the central hub of activity for South Australia. It is where we come to work, to play and to enjoy festivals and sporting events,” Mr Angove said.
According to the Property Council, low population growth in the state means further expansion of Adelaide to the north and south is unnecessary.
Mr Angove said the policy would be good for development, as well as good for the economy and the community.
The policy would also see a transport plan to support land use in the inner and middle suburbs, and a rezoning of the Adelaide Riverbank precinct.
Within the CBD, the government is implementing a laneway strategy to promote inner-city activity and new urban renewal legislation to attract private investment.
