URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:21): I rise today to speak about the urban growth boundary as it impacts on my electorate and around Gawler. Minister Holloway announced the proposed changes to the urban growth boundary on Wednesday 25 July. The announcement—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PICCOLO: The announcement included 320 hectares around Gawler East and 500 hectares around Concordia. There are two important issues which arise from the announcement on that date. First, it indicates the government's long-term intention regarding providing land for urban development, which enables a whole of government approach to plan for the area and provide services for the community; and, secondly, it helps to dampen land prices, which is an issue in terms of housing affordability.

The community reaction to the announcement of the urban growth boundary has been mixed, ranging from people who oppose it outright to people who believe that the government has gone far enough. The most common view has been that people want to ensure that the government and local councils work together to make sure they get it right. There has been quite a bit of misunderstanding in the community about what the government has decided to date. What the government has decided to date is to announce a proposed change to the boundary, and there are a number of processes to follow before anything actually happens on the ground. There is a structure plan in process, and then there is the development plan amendment report process which follows. Each of these processes will involve committee consultation.

The major issues that have been raised with me since the announcement have revolved around, particularly, the impact of potential traffic on the town of Gawler and also public transport. It is also the common view that, if the development is done well, it will be good for the region but, if it is not done well, it could create additional problems for the community.

I understand that a petition signed by 600 local residents has been submitted to the minister seeking more information about the proposed urban boundary. A great deal of anxiety has been caused in the community, as I have previously mentioned, regarding the misunderstanding of what has been decided at this point. Once you get an opportunity to talk to residents one-to-one or at community forums and you explain the processes involved, people have more confidence in the process and actually are looking forward to the release of further information as the structure planning process proceeds.

Since the announcement I have met with people in local shopping centres, my office and at a community forum I held last night in Gawler to address the issues raised by residents. The forum last night was attended by 40 people, including elected members of council in the region. Mr George Vanco, the minister's adviser, was also present and was able to provide a valuable insight into the process from here on.

Again, the views of the residents at the meeting were mixed. It would be fair to say that by the end of the forum confidence in the process had grown. Still there are people who are opposed to the urban growth boundary, which they are entitled to be, and there are still other people who suggest the government has not gone far enough and more land should be opened up.

The forum highlighted that more information is required by members of the community before they will feel entirely comfortable with what is being proposed. The structural planning process will address the key issues raised by residents last night and inform government of what needs to be addressed to ensure that the proposal meets community standards. Last night's meeting also highlighted discussion around the fact that new green sites for urban development provide a great opportunity to achieve sustainable development. It is very hard to have sustainable development in areas by retrofitting existing suburbs. Some of the pluses that this new green site provides are that new houses and whole new areas will be able to meet new environmental standards. I have no doubt that the urban growth boundary—

Time expired.