30-YEAR PLAN FOR GREATER ADELAIDE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:42): Will the Minister for Urban Development and Planning provide details of the implications for the City of Adelaide coming out of the release of the plan for Greater Adelaide?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:43): The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide not only provides a framework for accommodating our expected population growth but also aims to reinforce the cultural and economic focus of the City of Adelaide. We aim to achieve this objective by increasing the amount of residential accommodation within the central business district, including more affordable housing and specialist housing for students and professionals.

Investment in the tram extension to Port Road, the O-Bahn extension to West Terrace and the construction of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and research centre in the City West precinct provides a catalyst for reinvigorating our capital. The 30-year plan also explores new opportunities to improve key public spaces, such as the Torrens riverbank, Victoria Square and North Terrace. We want to re-energise the Parklands to increase their appeal and safety, especially where they adjoin residential areas within the city and the inner suburban fringe.

Managing growth within the central business area and mixed-use zones, such as the north-west and eastern sectors of the city centre, will help promote the broader transit-oriented development approach of the 30-year plan. The focus on commuter-friendly developments along transit corridors provides an opportunity both to regenerate the city, including a cafe precinct along the Torrens riverbank, and strengthen the role of North Terrace as the city's premier cultural and educational boulevard.

The historical residential precincts of North Adelaide and the south-east and south-west corners of the city should be conserved as valued elements of Adelaide's heritage. The plan provides for more space for new jobs, new forms of housing and new and improved entertainment and recreational facilities. At the same time, the 30-year plan reinforces the role of the Parklands as a major recreational, natural and open space asset, not just for city dwellers but also for all of metropolitan Adelaide.

The state government is already working with the Adelaide City Council to enhance key elements of the city. Open space grants, totalling $3.275 million, are supporting council projects, worth $6.67 million, that will further enhance our great city, including the Parklands around the zoo and North Terrace. These grants highlight how the state government and Adelaide City Council work effectively together to add value to Adelaide's premier cultural, civic and educational precinct. We hope that we continue to work collaboratively to achieve the goals set out in the 30-year plan. This means an acceptance of our aim to focus medium rise mixed development along the edges of the parklands.

By concentrating new residents in key areas the plan enables us to support a growing residential population within the city and improve the passive surveillance of our important public spaces. We want the parklands to be a place that attracts people rather than the case now, where, especially at night, residents are extremely wary of using these open areas because of concerns about their security.

I was heartened to read in this week's Advertiser that this trend towards city living is picking up momentum here in Adelaide. The Real Estate Institute President, Robin Turner, was quoted in the newspaper as saying that more city dwellers are using the parklands as their place for recreation rather than a backyard. This acceptance of apartment living within the CBD, balanced with access to public spaces, has long been accepted in major cities such as New York; so it is not surprising that, with Adelaide's assets, its ring of parklands and networks of squares, more people are adopting a similar attitude here.

The 30-year plan aims to accommodate and encourage this trend. In that way, we hope to attract 16,300 more people living in the city by 2039, supported by the provision of 9,700 additional dwellings. The 30-year plan is currently open for public consultation, and submissions can be lodged with the Department of Planning and Local Government by close of business on 30 September. Again, I commend the plan and trust that honourable members will obtain a copy and encourage South Australians to have a say about where they live.