CITY OF ADELAIDE PLANNING

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister inform the house about the government's achievements this year to deliver a more vibrant Adelaide, particularly the progress of planning reforms announced in March?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:18): I thank the member for Mitchell for his question. In March this year the Premier, the Lord Mayor, the government architect and I announced the most significant reforms to city planning in a generation. Design was embedded within the planning approval process. Immediately four projects worth over $300 million went into case management.

Today, eight months later, $1.65 billion worth of potential investment has been unlocked: four projects have been approved; eight projects, to the value of $225 million, are to be considered by the Development Assessment Commission before the end of this year; and a further 15 projects are under active case management. This is beyond our expectations and shows the way the industry has embraced the changes.

It is a massive vote in the confidence that the industry holds in this government and its policies. In addition to this, we have also been doing work in providing places for people in the city. Supporting these reforms is the government's delivery of more places for people in the city centre. The trial closure of Leigh Street—now one of the highest-profile areas in the city—demonstrates the beginning of this success. Yesterday's announcement regarding wi-fi and small venues in the city adds more value to this project.

Tomorrow another feature week of events begins, showcasing the opportunities that restaurants and small venues have with the activation of the street, connecting our investment in the Riverbank with the central markets by creating places for people along key streets. This received massive endorsement when Channel V chose to host a guerrilla gig by the Veronicas in Leigh Street—very close to Liberal Party headquarters, I believe, and enjoyed by all of them. Also there is a case management process to cut through red tape to assist—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Can you please listen to the Deputy Premier in silence?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Are we all good? Okay. There is a case management process to cut through the red tape to help with the re-use of existing older buildings. This is bringing more life to the heart of our city. Combined with the stamp duty and first home owners' commitments, we are delivering more people to live, work and enjoy the great city of Adelaide. This year has seen rapid progress delivering key government initiatives, unlocking investment and building a more vibrant city. This is a can-do government getting on with the job. As Tim Horton might say, we are not in the think tank, we are in the do tank.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.