CITY OF ADELAIDE PLANNING

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister update the house about whether this week's reform of Adelaide city planning has had any immediate effect on development in the city?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:27): I thank the honourable member for his question. I was pleased to join with the Premier and the Lord Mayor the other day to announce the most significant change to city planning in Adelaide for a generation. I can advise the house that the DPA was gazetted yesterday, and on Tuesday we said that $500 million in immediate investment was ready to be unlocked.

Today—two days later—leading Adelaide architect Mr Paul Pruszinski and a Melbourne-based client have both welcomed the new regime and unveiled plans for a $130 million city apartment. Mr Pruszinski's project is likely to be among the first developments to be assessed under the new rules. His client's view of the new development regime is clear, and this is a direct quote by Palladio Managing Director, Bing Chen, from the release today:

The state government, and Planning minister John Rau in particular, should be applauded for its bold move to modernise—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It's not me, it's somebody else; somebody else is saying it—

the planning system in the CBD. We were encouraged last year by the strategic direction the government had taken to attract more people to live in the CBD. As a result, we moved to Adelaide last year to focus on Palladio, which we believe offers the design quality the market demands.

But the good news doesn't end there.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It doesn't end there; it gets better! It does get better.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: There's more. In fact, Madam Speaker—

Mr Pederick: You've got some steak knives, John?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: This is the steak knives, so hang on. In fact, since the gazettal of the Capital City DPA yesterday, I am very pleased to advice that the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has appointed case managers to four new projects worth more than $300 million. The projects include a boutique hotel and two mixed-use developments combining retail and residential components. Case management is one of the new processes that will streamline development here in Adelaide. Proponents of at least one project have agreed to go through the new pre-lodgement process, allowing planning and design to be addressed from the early concept stage. There can be no doubt that Adelaide is open for business. In—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —one day this planning breakthrough has—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —potentially unlocked more than $300 million in new investment—in just one day.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will finish in silence.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: In one day, $300 million.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I had an interjection over there, 'We're $200 million short.' I remind you, this is day one. Give us a week. At this rate, by next week it will be $2.1 billion. I have no doubt that overseas investors are watching Adelaide's bold new development regime with great interest. This is a great week for Adelaide.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!