GAWLER RACECOURSE REDEVELOPMENT

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Urban Development and Planning. Is the minister aware of the proposed plan to upgrade the Gawler Racecourse and whether it has provided opportunities for rezoning of the area due to a reconfiguration of the track layout?

The Hon. C.V. Schaefer interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:34): Perhaps the Hon. Caroline Schaefer is suggesting that this place is redundant. We were told it had to be separate, but clearly they have a different view after lunch. I thank the honourable member for his question. I am aware of the proposed $12 million upgrade of Gawler Racecourse. The proposed redevelopment of Gawler Racecourse aims to upgrade the facilities into a second major metropolitan horseracing track, following the SAJC's decision to concentrate its racing activities at Morphettville.

Gawler Racecourse is to be improved by the comprehensive upgrade and reconfiguration of the track infrastructure and racing facilities, water management, landscaping and the new multipurpose function centre. The multipurpose facility will provide the local community with a function centre suitable for a variety of events, including business conferences, educational training programs and wedding receptions.

With Victoria Park no longer considered a viable racing option by the SAJC and the closure of Cheltenham Racecourse, Allan Scott Park Morphettville has become South Australia's only metropolitan racing venue. The construction of a newly designed track at Gawler will accommodate more race meetings and allow for more competitive racing.

The racecourse is conveniently situated between the main road and the railway line and has the potential to draw larger crowds following a significant upgrade. Additional race meetings plus making the multipurpose function centre available for other community based activities are expected to generate greater investment and economic activity in the Gawler and Barossa region. With all those people living out there in the future, I expect it will become an increasingly attractive facility.

The state government has committed $6 million towards the upgrade, with the balance of the funds to be sourced from the sale of 4.3 hectares of surplus land at the southern end of the racecourse. Thoroughbred Racing SA and the Gawler and Barossa Jockey Club have identified land south of the racecourse and bordered by the Main North Road and Barnett Street as being surplus to their needs following the reconfiguration of the track layout.

This reconfiguration and the proposed sale of the surplus land has prompted a request to rezone a section of the surplus land south of the reconfigured racecourse so that it can be used for other purposes that will benefit the Gawler community. After speaking with the Town of Gawler and other stakeholders, the Department of Planning and Local Government has prepared a draft plan amendment. Members of the public are now being invited to have their say on this proposed rezoning.

Through this ministerial development plan amendment, a portion of the surplus land is proposed to be rezoned as neighbourhood centre. This will allow residential, retail and service business development as well as the provision of community facilities. The remainder of the land has been earmarked for the proposed expansion of Gawler High School. The ministerial DPA also creates an opportunity to realign the local road network to improve traffic management. Anyone who has been in that area, particularly at times when the school is closing in the evenings from Monday to Friday, would be well aware of the need for this. It will also be able to more appropriately rezone the racecourse and associated facilities. This includes a new recreation zone to support the core use of Gawler Racecourse for training and racing purposes.

This government takes seriously the views of the public and, as with all proposed ministerial rezonings, there is an extensive consultation process. We want to hear feedback from the community to ensure that we can improve any of the proposed rezonings and identify contentious issues that can be addressed before the final development plan amendment is gazetted.

Members of the public, industry and community associations, government agencies, local councils and other interested parties are invited to lodge submissions by 5pm on Wednesday 9 December. These submissions will then be considered by the Independent Development Policy Advisory Committee, which will provide a report to the minister. The amended rezoning, when finalised, will then be incorporated into the Town of Gawler development plan and used to assess future development applications.

The community consultation concludes with a public meeting at the Gawler Arms Hotel, 120 Murray Street, Gawler at 7pm on Thursday 17 December at which people will be able to speak to their submissions. All submissions lodged during the community consultation period will be available for viewing online at the Department of Planning and Local Government website from 9 December until 17 December. If it takes five or six hours and, if that is what the public wants, we are very happy to do that because, as I just said, we take our public consultation seriously.

I invite the honourable member as a resident of that area to put in a submission in relation to it, and I hope the Hon. Mr Dawkins will support this upgrading of the racecourse, because it will be a very good thing for the area. Further details of the rezoning, including the draft development plan amendment and instructions on how to lodge a submission, for the benefit of the Hon. Mr Dawkins, can be found at the department's website at www.planning.sa.gov.au.