Adelaide City Investment

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister update the house about private investment in the city that has been unlocked since the government's planning reforms and other government work to support city investment?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (15:17): Yes, I can update the house. The government continues to support private investment in the Adelaide CBD. Our priority to create a more vibrant Adelaide has clear economic benefits, with government reform and investment strengthening business confidence and leveraging private investment.

Since the March 2012 planning reforms, applications for 65 potential projects for the CBD to the estimated value of about $3 billion have been received, and 32 new projects totalling $1 billion have been approved. The government recognised the need to break down some of the barriers for development in our city, and our changes have unlocked significant investment.

I recently launched a new interactive Adelaide Investment website to keep the public and development industry informed about investments in the city of Adelaide. The website—and the address is www.dpti.sa.gov.au/planning/adelaide_investment—includes an interactive city map which details approved, under construction and completed projects and public realm investments from the Planning and Development Fund as well as one we are particularly happy about, which is small licensed venue approvals—about which people were so sceptical not so long ago—since the introduction of the new licence category in the city.

Building on our reforms, the government recently announced an extension of the successful case management process that has been working in the city and inner metro areas. The Department of Premier and Cabinet's chief executive, Mr Jim Hallion, has taken on a new private sector development coordination role as coordinator-general to assist projects valued at over $3 million to clear bureaucratic hurdles.

These blockages might be related to issues such as planning, environment, liquor licensing, council regulations, water, and others. We will find ways to remove the roadblocks where possible and achieve the best result and improve the system for everyone concerned. The government will continue to try to find ways to promote and support investment in our city. Our achievements to date should give business in the community great confidence that we will continue to achieve outstanding results.