Bills

Northern Parklands Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 4 September 2025.)

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:24): I rise to make some comments in favour of this bill, the Northern Parklands Bill 2025. This bill establishes the Northern Parklands Trust, a statutory body to deliver and oversee up to 1,000 hectares of new public open space across Kudla, Angle Vale, Evanston and along the Gawler River. It also sets in law a framework for governance, funding and stage delivery, with stage 1 by 2030 and stage 2 by 2040.

The Liberal Party supports this legislation. Adelaide has always had its iconic Parklands. Colonel Light's vision was for a green belt surrounding the city, and it remains one of the most enduring elements of our identity in spite of the current government's attempts to destroy parts of it. Over the decades, this legacy has been extended through projects like the River Torrens Linear Park, which has transformed a fairly polluted waterway into a corridor of recreation and improved biodiversity, and the Coast Park, which is progressively linking our metropolitan beach areas.

These spaces should not be seen as luxuries. They are integral to the health and wellbeing and liveability of South Australians, and the Northern Parklands Bill will be a welcome addition to that. If it is delivered well, it will secure much-needed open space for generations to come, particularly given the amount of housing growth that is expected to be seen in that part of Greater Adelaide.

There is a great need for green open space. The northern suburbs, as I have mentioned, are going to see a huge share of the population growth of South Australia. There are thousands of new homes in plan or being built through Angle Vale, Kudla and Evanston. The City of Playford is one of the youngest and fastest growing local government areas in the state.

It needs good foresight, and there are matters that come into the public domain about the need for better master planning and better planning of road and other infrastructure. We want to make sure that these communities do not end up missing out and being surrounded by houses but without the green space to support their wellbeing and recreational opportunities.

I commend the government on their attempt with this bill to get ahead of the problem by setting aside the land immediately. If it is done properly, the Northern Parklands will deliver biodiversity and conservation benefits and also places for families and individuals to play, for sporting clubs to engage, for cultural events to assist people in the community to participate, and for residents to enjoy standards of open space that are enjoyed in other parts of Adelaide.

However, I am not going to give the government a free pass. My colleagues in the other place rightly drew attention to some of the levy mechanisms of the bill, which requires councils to contribute to the Northern Parklands Trust. It is not explicit in how those contributions will be recovered, but I think it is fair to assume that, as we have also seen with the landscape levy, councils will pass on the costs through their rate system, which means that ratepayers in Playford and Gawler will be paying for it, effectively. This is a time of rising cost-of-living pressures and families deserve to have some transparency about additional charges to their household budgets.

We also note the amendments moved by the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services to clause 15 of the bill. These changes extend disallowance powers over prescribed levy proposals to either house of parliament rather than confining them solely to the House of Assembly, which is sensible and which we will be supporting. The bill sets a fairly ambitious staging of stage 1 by 2030 and stage 2 by 2040, which is a longer horizon. Communities should see progress early and not be left waiting.

My colleague in the other place the member for Hammond also made the important point that this land includes productive agricultural areas. We need to ensure as a parliament that we are not repeating past planning failures, particularly that which occurred at Mount Barker, where poor foresight left infrastructure and services lagging behind development. So planning must be thoughtful, the acquisitions need to be fair and the infrastructure needs to stay ahead of the growth.

There are concerns, I think, about the community trust in terms of this government. This legislation, on one hand, brings the bill forward with some promises of enduring protections, governance safeguards and levies which should be dedicated only to maintaining new parklands. However, we have seen recently that this is the same government that legislated to carve up North Adelaide Parklands for elite golfing.

That process was rushed, consultation was tokenistic and the Kaurna elders, rightly, and the community have raised deep concerns. Thousands of trees face removal, yet parliament was told to wave it through. It is hard to take seriously this government's commitment to protecting green space in the north while it undermines protections closer to the heart of the city, so I do not commend them on their lack of consistency.

This trust must also ensure that new facilities are fit for purpose for sport, culture and community use. Governments like to promise big—this one certainly does—only to deliver minimal infrastructure. If these parklands are to thrive, they must be places where people want to spend time, without displacing community users and where the natural environment is restored. We want to ensure that this project delivers on its promises. However, it does present some good opportunities, particularly for green space for those growing communities.

I commend the bill to the council. I note also that the Local Government Association has raised a number of concerns. We will look at those closely and consider the Greens' amendments. I do thank the minister's office for the comprehensive response to the matters that have been raised by the LGA and look forward to the committee stage of this debate.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:31): I rise to indicate that I am supportive of this bill. There has been significant growth in the northern suburbs over the past few decades, and the people who live there deserve green open space that they can enjoy. Members will know that I have been a long-term advocate for the Adelaide Parklands.

Indeed, one of the things that makes the CBD unique is the fact that it is surrounded by parklands, and I do think it is a great shame that people in the northern suburbs are not given the same opportunity to enjoy open green space. I think this bill, which seeks to establish a Northern Parklands Trust, will go some way to remedying that. It is really a future-oriented proposal, and so I do commend the government for putting it forward.

Parklands and open green space have many benefits that support sustainable and liveable cities and suburbs and healthy and connected communities. They offer a space for people to be active, to socialise, to relax and to connect with one another. Green spaces are not only beneficial to people but also for our environment. They play an important role in biodiversity conservation by providing a habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species. They also help to moderate the urban heat island effect, where natural land cover is replaced by pavement, buildings and other heat-absorbing surfaces.

I note that the LGA has raised some concerns with this bill, specifically the ability of the state government to seek contributions from councils and their ratepayers without the consent of a local council and the possibility that the government may acquire council land without consent. I understand that in this instance the local councils that are impacted are supportive of the government's approach, but I am concerned about the potential for this to lay out a framework that could be used in other cases when councils may not be quite so keen to cooperate, and so I will be moving some amendments to address that.

The Greens are also concerned about the provisions which potentially enable the government to construct hotels and resorts on these new parklands. This has the potential to cause the privatisation of public green space that everybody should be able to enjoy. Over recent years, we have seen several land grabs that have threatened the Parklands and public space. Indeed, the Malinauskas government has a terrible track record in that regard. Let's not forget that the Malinauskas government, when they were in opposition, rallied against the then Liberal government's plans for a sports arena on the Parklands. They opposed that and then, when they came to power themselves, undertook one of the most significant land grabs we have seen in terms of our public green space with bulldozing the police barracks for the hospital.

They have also, of course, green-lighted another monstrosity on the Parklands for the second Walker Tower and, as the Hon. Michelle Lensink touched on, have embarked on this new LIV Golf course redevelopment, much of which is shrouded in secrecy because it is subject to contractual arrangements that even the minister does not appear to be familiar with. Indeed, I asked the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing questions about that during the committee stage of the bill, and the minister was not able to provide any guidance to this chamber around what is in or out of the contract.

So the Malinauskas government does not have a good track record. I do recognise the merits of this particular proposal, however, and I recognise the fact that the government have engaged constructively with me around this. I note that the Adelaide Parklands are not covered by this legislation and I think that is a really good thing. The Adelaide Parklands occupy unique status in South Australia and indeed I had raised that concern with the government and I am pleased to see that is not included within the bill.

Despite that, I will be moving some amendments, primarily to address the concerns that have been raised with me by the Local Government Association. My amendments will move to restrict trust purposes to genuine public open space and environmental outcomes and exclude potentially high-risk commercial developments, such as hotels and resorts.

The amendments will require any amended prescribed levy proposal to be advanced by the minister under the section to have the consent of those constituent councils. They will require the Northern Parklands Trust to obtain consent of the constituent councils before seeking any contribution from councils, which would lead to the imposition of a Northern Parklands region levy. In the absence of agreement from constituent councils, under my amendments the cost of the trust would be funded by the state.

My amendments would ensure any regulations made that would have the effect of enabling a statutory trust established after the commencement of the act to recover contributions from councils and ratepayers would do so via a process equivalent to that required to be undertaken by the Northern Parklands Trust. Such trusts may only recover contributions from councils with the consent of the council. The amendments will also prevent the acquisition of council land without consent.

I recognise that the government will also be moving an amendment to give some additional powers to both houses of parliament with respect to the business plans. I certainly welcome that, and I think that is an important transparency measure. I want to also apologise to members for the lateness of me circulating these amendments. It took a little bit of time for me to get these prepared, and so I understand I have only circulated them today. I do apologise for that, but I hope that members have still had time to give them some consideration.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:37): I rise very briefly to speak in support of the Northern Parklands Bill 2025, which, as we have heard, seeks to create a new statutory authority responsible for establishing and maintaining the new Northern Parklands proposed in the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP), which, as we have heard, is the long-term vision to support the growth of Greater Adelaide that accommodates approximately 85 per cent of our state's population and development activity.

The bill itself sets the objectives for ensuring that the Parklands are a sporting, cultural and recreational complex of statewide significance, promoting and encouraging the use of the Parklands by the public, inclusive of tourist attractions, and developing and maintaining those Parklands so that they can support and reflect the diverse range of environmental social values and activities that should be protected and enhanced.

I think the government is right in having said, as has just been acknowledged, that the northern suburbs of Adelaide have, for a very long time, been doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to urban growth for the state, and it is for that reason that I think this bill is particularly welcome.

I do not intend to go into any more details of the bill, but I do wish, like the honourable members before me, to acknowledge that there have been amendments that have been moved by the minister that seek to address some of the issues that have been raised in this place already and that there are also amendments that I intend to listen to by the Hon. Rob Simms with respect to the concerns that have been raised by the LGA. I will not go over all of those now, but I, and probably other members, have now had the benefit of some government feedback in relation to some of those issues. We will listen closely as the member moves his amendments whilst, I guess, seeking further clarity from the government in relation to some of the specific responses they have provided around some of the concerns that have been raised in response to the concerns of the LGA.

With those few words, I indicate my overall support for the bill. I have already indicated to the government that I do intend to support its amendments and will listen to the remainder of the debate in relation to the rest.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:40): I rise to make some remarks in support of the Northern Parklands Bill 2025. My understanding is that the government wants to approach urban planning to align with the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan, with a key focus on supporting sustainable growth across our northern suburbs and ensuring that the infrastructure needs and wellbeing of our communities are central to planning processes.

I travel to the northern suburbs throughout the year to meet constituents and to attend so many events, and I particularly appreciate the ambition as well as the necessity for the government to establish the Northern Parklands, a major open space initiative that will eventually span up to 1,000 hectares, creating a green corridor that stretches from One Tree Hill Road to Kudla and Evanston to the banks of the Gawler River.

I believe that the proposal will be welcomed by community because it will deliver high-quality recreation spaces, walking and cycling trails, cultural venues and climate-responsive landscapes. More importantly, it will preserve and enhance the natural beauty and biodiversity of the region, while supporting community health and commercial uses that align with the objectives of the bill.

The establishment of the Northern Parklands Trust is a key feature of the bill. Modelled on the successful West Beach Trust, the Northern Parklands Trust will be responsible for the management, development and long-term sustainability of the Parklands. I note that the trust will comprise of seven members nominated by the minister, including representatives from each constituent council area, Green Adelaide (or an urban ecologist person nominated by the Minister for Environment and Water), First Nations representation and experts from relevant fields, and this is all very encouraging.

The bill outlines the functions and objectives of the trust, including the requirement to produce an annual business plan and long-term strategic plan of 15 to 30 years to guide the management and financial sustainability of the Northern Parklands.

While I am broadly supportive of the bill and its objectives, I do wish to acknowledge that a number of concerns have been raised by the Local Government Association, and I wish to thank Andrew Lamb, Director of Advocacy at the LGA, particularly for taking the time to meet with my office to discuss these important issues in detail.

While I understand that the LGA and the relevant councils, particularly the Town of Gawler and the City of Playford, are generally supportive of the Northern Parklands and the trust itself, they have a number of concerns about the broad-reaching implications of provisions within the proposed legislation. I would like to acknowledge that the minister's office has proactively provided a detailed response to the concerns raised, which is greatly appreciated.

Understandably, the LGA is concerned about the potential financial burden on local councils, as the bill provides the power to levy rates or charges from local council to fund the ongoing maintenance costs of the Northern Parklands. I understand that councils will be able to recoup this cost through council rates and that the levy mechanism outlined in the bill is aligned with the Local Government Act. The amount of the levy must be articulated in the trust's annual business plan, with requirements for the trust to consult with council and the community accordingly. The annual business plan is also subject to parliamentary oversight.

Another concern raised with me relates to the broad power of land acquisition, particularly the potential for council-owned land to be acquired without consent or compensation. The minister has clarified that while the bill allows for the acquisition of eligible land, including council land, it is limited to the purpose of establishing parklands.

In addition, the minister has provided reassurance that the minister must consult with impacted councils and consider their submissions. Private land acquisition will continue to be governed by the Land Acquisition Act 1969, which includes compensation provisions. The bill also enables other parklands to be established by plans deposited in the general registry office and for additional statutory trusts to be established through regulation.

While the LGA sought greater clarity around the governance and accountability of such trusts, I was reassured by the government that all trusts will be subject to performance agreements, strategic planning and annual reporting. Additionally, statutory trusts will be subject to the usual reporting and oversight requirements of the Public Sector Act and the Public Finance and Audit Act, including annual financial audits by the Auditor-General. These safeguards are consistent with existing statutory trust models and provide a robust framework for oversight.

Concerns about the overcommercialisation of the Parklands have also been raised. While the bill allows for commercial uses, such as nature-based tourism and hospitality, they must align with the broader vision and objective of the Parklands. We certainly expect that the government will act in good faith for the Parklands, and this sort of clarity is really important. The minister has provided reassurance and stated that revenue generated through commercial activities is to be reinvested into the Parklands, ensuring their long-term viability and public benefit, and that is really good to know.

The West Beach Trust is largely funded by revenue generated by the caravan park and recreation facilities. It is essential that any commercial developments on the Parklands must be complementary, adding to the intended use of open community space and ensuring financial accessibility of the trust. In my former role as the shadow minister for tourism and hospitality, these were the areas that often the community, as well as operators, canvassed with me, so I am glad that has been providing some reassurance in this area. I understand that any development within the Parklands must also comply with existing requirements of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act and will be subject to stringent oversight through the annual business plan.

I understand the Hon. Robert Simms will be proposing some amendments. I will be listening to his proposal attentively during the debate stage. Overall, I am encouraged the bill ensures that current and future residents of our rapidly growing northern suburbs will have access to ample green space and community facilities. I work with the growing multicultural communities in the northern suburbs and I know firsthand how important it is for multicultural communities to have better community facilities, more space for them for their sports, for recreation, for the festivals. These are all important elements, so I think this particular development and the government proposal will be welcome.

I urge the government to consider some of the elements that were raised by the LGA, and I also want to ensure that the Northern Parklands reflect the values, needs and aspirations of the communities they serve. With those remarks, I commend the bill.

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:49): I rise to speak on the government's Northern Parklands Bill 2025. This bill is designed to establish the initial phase of this government's Northern Parklands project. This project aims to deliver up to 1,000 hectares of public open space, with a combination of recreational parklands and sporting precincts to support the growing communities around the northern suburbs of Kudla, Angle Vale and Evanston. This bold vision includes high-quality, well-designed play spaces, bike paths and walking trails, as well as spaces for cultural activities and entertainment. It is part of the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP), which is intended to deliver high-quality social and physical infrastructure to support the growth of Greater Adelaide.

The initial phase of the plan under this bill will identify existing land owned by both state and local governments, as well as privately owned land to be acquired within five years of commencement of the bill. The acquisition of land will take place under the Land Acquisition Act 1969, which outlines under what circumstances a minister can acquire land, as well as provisions for compensation. There is broad support for the bill across the Playford and Gawler councils, as well as the northern suburbs community, which will no doubt benefit from this $53 million investment.

Also, it is abundantly clear that there is broad support for this development and what it can deliver for communities north of Adelaide, so it is incumbent on all who stand to benefit from this proposal to ensure it goes ahead and that final costs are shared fairly and evenly. Upon commencement of the act, the land identified as part of the plan immediately will fall to the care, control and management of a new governance body, to be known as the Northern Parklands Trust.

It is clear that the success of the Northern Parklands proposal will be dependent on the performance of this trust. According to the minister, the trust has been modelled on the successful West Beach Trust, established under the West Beach Recreation Reserve Act 1987. This proposal also allows for the establishment of additional statutory trusts for regulation, should other parklands be established under the Northern Parklands Bill. Such a bold vision for the future deserves support; however, this support should be accompanied by appropriate scrutiny and accountability measures. With that, I express support for the bill.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:51): I rise very briefly to indicate that I support this bill. As someone who has lived in the northern suburbs, this is a wonderful piece of news—that the north can actually get nice things. I note that the bill and the model takes great inspiration from the West Beach Trust, and certainly the activities there at the West Beach Trust are quite a jewel in the crown for our metro area to the west. It will be wonderful for the north to benefit from such activity and greening as well.

I understand the government has responded to concerns with regard to the ability for parliament to disallow in both houses, and I will support those government amendments. I have also reviewed the amendments of the Hon. Rob Simms and the LGA's concerns. I thank the government for their briefing and, in particular, Joel Ginges and Kimberley Davis for answering many questions on Monday. The amendment with regard to the development, I will consider and listen to the debate. I would indicate, though, the mover themself noted that this is not the Adelaide Parklands, it is quite a different proposition, so I am taking as my point of reference the West Beach Trust, which is where I am probably going to lie. However, I will listen to the debate and establish a position through that.

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:54): I rise to speak on the Northern Parklands Bill 2025. The bill describes the establishment of a 1,000-hectare Northern Parklands stretching from the ridge line along One Tree Hill Road through the future urban growth areas surrounding Kudla Railway Station down to the banks of the Gawler River via Karbeethan Reserve.

This vision was first outlined in the long-term 30-year Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP). It has identified Kudla as a new urban growth area with the potential for up to 11,000 new homes. The Northern Parklands Bill will establish the initial phase of the Northern Parklands through a plan lodged in the General Registry Office (GRO). The GRO plan will identify existing land owned by both state and local governments, which will form part of the initial stage of the Northern Parklands. Upon commencement of the act, the land identified within the GRO plan will immediately fall to the care, control and management of the Northern Parklands Trust.

Stage 1 of the Northern Parklands will be completed by 2030. The bill requires land identified in a second GRO plan to be acquired within five years of commencement of the bill. In developing this second GRO plan, efforts have been made to reduce the impacts on private landowners where possible, while still maintaining the integrity of the green corridor of the Northern Parklands.

Stage 2 of the Northern Parklands will be completed by 2040. Further land will be identified in a third GRO plan and will be acquired between 2030 and 2040. This land is owned by both government and private landholders.

The bill seeks to create a new statutory authority responsible for establishing and maintaining this new Northern Parklands. The Northern Parklands Trust will be set up to oversee the development, implementation and operation of the Parklands. The bill commands strong governance and oversight to ensure sustainable operations of the Northern Parklands.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:58): On behalf of the government, I wish to thank all members who have contributed to the second reading debate. We look forward to further discussion in the committee stage and traversing the amendments that have been put forward.

Bill read a second time.