Parliamentary Committees

Legislative Review Committee: Planning Reform Petition

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (14:03): I seek the leave of the house to explain my response in respect of the report of the Legislative Review Committee of the Legislative Council petition No. 2 of 2020, Planning Reform.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: I inform the house that I have recently responded to the Legislative Council petition No. 2 of 2020 on planning reform. Specifically, as requested by the committee, I have responded as Minister for Planning or as the lead minister to the recommendations of the report.

I can confirm that the government has indeed listened to the concerns raised by the 13,928 community members who signed the petition. The government is responding to the petition, delivering on election promises, including the commitment to undertake an implementation review of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and the Planning and Design Code.

With the aid of the expert panel, we will ensure that planning decisions encourage a more livable, competitive and sustainable long-term growth strategy for Greater Adelaide and our regions.

On 5 August this year, I announced the formation of the expert panel, which comprises the planning industry's best and brightest minds with decades of experience. The panel, led by presiding member, John Stimson, includes Cate Hart, Andrew McKeegan and Lisa Teburea. Together, they have first-class expertise in the key areas of heritage, sustainability, environmental management, infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, local government, policy and legislation.

I have recently provided the panel with a copy of the full report of the Legislative Review Committee. The expert panel will consider the recommendations made by the committee as part of their review. The scope of the review includes concerns raised in the petition. Infill policy and regulations surrounding trees, character, heritage and car parking will be amongst the items considered. The submissions are open to the public until 16 December 2020. All members in this place should encourage their local communities to have their voices heard.

The ePlanning system and PlanSA website will also be considered by the panel with a view to ensuring that they are both user-friendly and accessible to the community. At the completion of the review, the expert panel will make recommendations to me as minister on how the planning system can be improved. I would welcome those in the chamber to provide their support and their advice.

As I advised the committee in my response, the PDI Act and regulations permit the Planning and Development Fund to be used for public work or a purpose that promotes or complements the state planning policy. I can inform the house that over the last 10 years the fund, through the Open Space Grant Program, has contributed $170 million to local community projects that have created or developed open and green space.

I further advised the committee in my response that the state government has made an election commitment for 10 per cent of the fund every year to be offered to councils to buy land for the creation of pocket parks. This will balance the spaces lost as more dense housing is built. In addition to prioritising projects that actively green neighbourhoods, this government is committed to reducing tree loss, particularly of our significant and regulated trees. Recent action by the government has helped to safeguard our tree heritage.

Two regulated grey box trees, which the suburb of Black Forest was named after, were recently saved. The trees are hundreds of years old and of profound cultural importance. The land the trees occupy will be realigned to form part of the Forest Avenue Reserve to be enjoyed by Black Forest Primary School and the wider community. A solution was also found to save a pair of century-old London plane trees on the Lot Fourteen site, which was also driven by this government's intervention.

This government will continue to protect our trees and take necessary steps to ensure our tree loss regulation meets Australian best practice. We recognise there is an opportunity to improve on the effectiveness of the Urban Tree Canopy Offset Fund. This fund was established under the act and designed to contribute to the improve tree canopy across metropolitan Adelaide. The government is seeking an enhanced understanding of tree canopy coverage and the policy responsiveness in the planning system, particularly as it relates to climate change.

This government is acutely aware of the challenges climate change presents and the importance of ensuring the planning systems have in-built climate resilience. The State Planning Commission has recently undertaken an open space and trees review, which has produced two independent reports looking to increase the state's tree canopy. These reports have been provided to the expert panel for consideration and are available to the public on the PlanSA website.

A large part of what makes Adelaide a desirable place to live is the heritage and character of our suburbs. I have advised the committee that heritage protection within the planning system will be a key area of review for the expert panel. I have also recently appointed Ms Stephanie Johnston to the State Planning Commission. Ms Johnston has significant experience in planning and urban development, specialising in heritage assessment and management.

The commission will undertake significant work over the next 24 months, including the delivery of the state's comprehensive regional planning program. This work requires a new 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and the preparation of six regional plans for every region in South Australia. The plans will deliver a clear path for our state's growth. We must develop a long-term vision of what we want South Australia to look like in 30 years to ensure that the bad planning decisions of the past do not hamper our good decisions today or tomorrow.

To ensure that we retain our uniqueness and plan for suburbs that are livable, sustainable and of high amenity, we must balance growth with appropriate protection of the things we value. Achieving this balance will ensure that Adelaide continues to be admired around the world for its ability to grow while retaining its ring of Parklands, its heritage and its character. As I advised the committee in my response, we have heard the views of the many thousands of people who have signed the petition. We have heard their views and we are taking action.