LEFEVRE PENINSULA

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:58): Is the Minister for Urban Development and Planning able to provide an update on steps this government is taking to entrench Port Adelaide and LeFevre Peninsula as a key strategic industrial precinct for the state and generate jobs for South Australians? Has the government finalised the rezoning for the northern part of the peninsula that was put out for public consultation in October last year?

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: That was in the business section of the Advertiser.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:59): I am pleased the leader read it, and I am pleased that the Mayor of Port Adelaide Enfield has congratulated the government in relation to the action it has taken. As everyone may not have read it, it is important that I inform the council of the important changes there. The government has a long-term strategic vision for Port Adelaide, and to support that vision we have invested millions of dollars through the construction of the Port River Expressway bridges, the Marina Adelaide marine industrial precinct at Largs North, the LeFevre Peninsula rail freight corridor upgrades and the deep sea grain wharf and grain terminal. We have also deepened the Outer Harbor shipping channel, developed Techport Australia and also supported the Port waterfront redevelopment project.

This government has also announced plans to electrify the Outer Harbor rail line and to extend the light rail service to Semaphore. The latest step in the investment in a revitalised Port Adelaide is the rezoning of the northern LeFevre Peninsula through a ministerial development plan amendment. LeFevre Peninsula now has room to grow into an internationally competitive port hub with the addition of more land for job-creating industries. Following extensive community consultation, an additional 62 hectares of land on LeFevre Peninsula has been rezoned for defence, infrastructure and port-related industry.

The zoning changes will bring new industry to the region and provide new job and career opportunities for generations to come. The supply of additional land on the northern section of the peninsula will help to meet the new demand generated by this government's success in attracting the $8 billion air warfare destroyer contract to South Australia and other major infrastructure developments in the region. The rezoning also provides part of the additional supply of employment land being prepared for staged release in Adelaide's established metropolitan areas during the next 30 years.

There has been significant private and public investment on the peninsula during the past five years. The development plan amendment (DPA) is the next step in the ongoing development of this area. The development plan amendment attracted more than 50 submissions during the public consultation period last year. The Independent Development Policy Advisory Committee then considered these submissions before providing its advice to the minister as part of the consultation process. Many of these submissions raised concerns about the natural environment on the peninsula. That is why the final development plan amendment establishes a framework that allows us to integrate new industry within the natural landscape, including an open space corridor from the coast at North Haven to Mutton Cove on the Port River.

The northern LeFevre Peninsula DPA recognises the need for buffer zones and open space to maintain the integrity of the environment. The plan also protects areas of significant biodiversity and provides stormwater management policies for the area. The approval of the final development plan amendment also signals the green light to begin stage 1 of open space planning and design for this area of LeFevre Peninsula. The government has committed more than $5 million to enhance the local open space networks, and the community will be encouraged to be actively involved in this process. The land affected by the development plan amendment (much of it owned by the state government) is within the Port Adelaide Enfield council and includes sections of Largs Bay, Largs North, Osborne and Outer Harbor. The DPA also affects some land not within a council area.

Development plans contain the zones, maps and written rules or policies 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. The zones, maps and policies provide the detailed criteria against which development applications will be assessed and become part of the development plan for the relevant councils. The zones, maps and policies should be viewed within the context of the extensive master planning already carried out by Defence SA. This rezoning will help drive Port Adelaide's continued transformation into one of South Australia's key industrial and job-generating precincts.

The peninsula is one of three key areas for industry in this state, playing an important role in supporting our expanding export industries due to the integration of rail, road and port facilities. The rezoning will ensure a coordinated development and strategic release of land for port and industrial activities. This government wants to create a well-planned and integrated industrial precinct to support defence and export-related industries that provides jobs and career opportunities for South Australians while also attracting skilled people and their families to live in this state.

Copies of the ministerial development plan amendment are available at the Department of Planning and Local Government, Level 5, 136 North Terrace and on planning's website. I urge members of the public, the community and industry groups to join us in looking to the future—a future that encompasses job generating employment lands supported by key infrastructure to ensure higher living standards for all South Australians.