ADELAIDE HILLS HOUSING

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question regarding the demand for new housing in the Adelaide Hills.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Mount Barker has a long history of European settlement since the area was cleared for grazing and crop production in the early years of South Australia. In February 1840, the proposed layout of the township of Mount Barker was announced and it expanded rapidly with the settlement of mill workers and the opening of businesses to supply the needs of those early settlers. Mount Barker district became known as the cream bowl, as the discovery of clover in the late 19th century resulted in the dairy industry flourishing in that part of the Adelaide Hills. In the late part of the last century, the construction of the South-Eastern Freeway and, more recently, the Heysen Tunnels have made it much quicker to travel from Mount Barker to the metropolitan area.

Understandably, that has also increased the township's popularity as a commuter base for people wanting to live in a country atmosphere within the Hills while still being able to journey to work in the city. This accessibility has led to a rapidly growing population (almost 30,000 at the last census), and the growth has increased pressure to provide retail and other services in the town centre. Given the increased—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: What an extraordinary claim coming from an opposition member! Opposition members make second reading speeches when asking a question. My explanation is factual. Given the increased popularity of Mount Barker as a place to live and the associated rise in demand for commercial, retail and other services, will the minister—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Have I ever been there? I drive past regularly, I have family living not far from there and I visit often. Will the minister provide details of government initiatives to ensure that the district copes with these challenges?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for his very timely question. I have recently written to the District Council of Mount Barker to inform councillors of my decision to initiate a review of the township's current development plan. This review will investigate areas surrounding the current town boundary to assess their suitability for other land uses and any possible changes to the Mount Barker development plan that is required to achieve that objective.

Such possible changes to the Mount Barker development plan are being investigated in tandem with the review of township boundaries that is currently being conducted as part of the drafting of the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. The main purpose of this process is to identify suitable areas for residential, commercial, retail and community development that will enable Mount Barker to support a larger population.

Government policies are making South Australia a more attractive place to live and providing certainty for industry to invest, which is good news for the economy and jobs, but it does put enormous pressure on the existing supply of land. Although the state government has already adjusted the urban growth boundary to increase the supply of land within metropolitan Adelaide, there is still strong demand for new residential land within the Adelaide Hills. With the current rate of growth making it highly likely that South Australia will reach its population target of two million people by 2050, two decades earlier than expected (in other words, in the decade from 2020 to 2030), it is essential that the government identify areas that can provide a broadacre supply of land for housing and employment.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I am pleased that I can share it with members in the chamber. The investigation will inform the preparation—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Not everyone listens to the ABC. The investigation will inform the preparation of a draft ministerial development plan amendment, the process that leads to the updating of current zoning arrangements within a council area. The district council and local residents should be assured that the community will be given ample opportunity to participate in determining the final shape of the amended development plan.

Once completed, the draft development plan amendment will be available for public consultation to allow members of the community and local government to have their say. A public meeting will also be held within the community at the end of the consultation period so that concerned citizens can speak to their submission. Public responses to the development plan amendment are to be considered by the independent Development Policy Advisory Committee (DPAC), which will advise me on the final shape of the development plan amendment.

South Australia's population is growing, and that is a good thing. However, it does create numerous challenges when you consider the changed face of Adelaide in the past 30 years. If members think back to 1979, it should give them some idea of the task involved in contemplating the future for the next 30 years. Unless we want Adelaide's boundaries to sprawl ever northward and southward, we need a plan that not only encourages greater housing density within the urban growth boundary but also manages the pressure on townships in the greater Adelaide region for new housing. Obviously, we have to look at both those considerations, and that is the complex juggling act that is before the government. The investigation of the options for further growth in Mount Barker is part of that necessary planning process.

Development plans are key documents in the South Australian planning and development system. These documents contain the zones, maps and written rules that guide property owners and others as to what can and cannot be done in the future on any piece of land in the area covered by the development plan.

These zones, maps and policies then provide the detailed criteria against which development applications are assessed. Better planning ensures that we are in a stronger position to meet the challenges and demands placed on government for new land, new infrastructure and expanded services.

It also ensures orderly development as the planning authorities assess applications against the shared objectives and desired characteristics established by the community with the development plan. I look forward to working with the local community, the Mount Barker council and other stakeholders in devising a development plan that looks to the future.