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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-01 Daily Xml
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GAWLER RACECOURSE REDEVELOPMENT

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:44): Today I would like to talk about the Gawler Racecourse and its future. Thoroughbred Racing SA is in the process of implementing its overall strategy for venue enhancement and allocations of race meetings, with a view to creating a self-sufficient and, importantly, sustainable racing industry for South Australia. While the Gawler racing facility has been identified by the industry as the most appropriate second metropolitan facility, it is considered below standard and run-down. The current redevelopment of the Gawler Racecourse will involve a comprehensive upgrade and reconfiguration of track infrastructure and racing facilities, incorporating water resource initiatives and open space opportunities, together with the construction of a new multipurpose function facility, at a combined estimated cost of just over $12 million.

To assist with the project, the Rann Labor government has committed $6 million, with the balance of funds to be sourced from the sale of 4.3 hectares of surplus land at the southern end of the racecourse. This land has been identified by both Thoroughbred Racing SA and the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club as being surplus to anticipated needs as a result of the redevelopment of the racecourse.

A Development Plan Amendment (DPA) has been commenced by the Minister for Urban Development and Planning and a range of investigations have been undertaken to determine the highest and best use for the surplus land. The DPA proposes to rezone the surplus land for the development of a neighbourhood centre and for a proposed expansion of the Gawler High School. The DPA also provides the opportunity to realign the local road network to improve traffic management and rezone the Gawler Racecourse and facilities more appropriately.

The proposed DPA is supported by not only the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club but also the adjacent school, that is, Gawler High. In its submission to the Policy Advisory Committee (DPAC), the governing council chairperson, Mrs Angela Macfarlane said that the school believed that the proposed road closures, the construction of a new service road to the school and the separation of traffic as a result of the proposed creation of a four-way intersection at Main North and Para roads will deliver better traffic outcomes for the school. Mrs Macfarlane said that, while the school supported the overall traffic plan, 'with respect to the proposed Main North/Barnet Road intersection, we (that is, the school) would strongly support, and urge, that it be relocated slightly northward to intersect with Morrow Avenue'.

Mrs Macfarlane said that, by moving the new Barnet Road intersection slightly north, 'the slightly larger area will help protect the vistas towards the schools and would result in better urban design options for the new integrated birth to year 12 school.' Mrs Macfarlane went on to say:

This area will play an important part in creating a new visual relationship and interface between the school and the wider community.

In a media release issued this week, Dr John McKinnon, President of the Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club, said that the DPA will:

Improve traffic management in the locality by separating the high school and general traffic;

Create quieter traffic areas near the high school;

Enable the school to purchase a portion of land to help build the new R-12 school;

Help secure the long-term financial viability of the racecourse;

Provide employment opportunities for young people in the area;

Enable Evanston Park and Evanston residents to shop more locally; and

Increase the availability of office accommodation in the area.

Dr McKinnon believes that 'the DPA will deliver some great outcomes for the locality.'

Subject to any changes required as a consequence of community feedback, I believe that, overall, the DPA warrants support for the following reasons: it protects an important open space (that is, the racecourse); it provides an opportunity for Gawler High School to grow; it helps to resolve traffic problems in the locality; and, importantly, it protects local jobs, which is important for local businesses and their families.

The DPA can certainly be improved by policies and principles of development that clarify the objectives and provide greater certainty of the outcome. Importantly, the DPA has the potential to address a number of issues in the locality that have been debated for many years but not yet resolved. I urge local residents and businesses to put in a submission if they have any concerns or ideas about how the DPA can be improved. That submission should go to DPAC by 7 December.

Over the next few weeks, I will be consulting with local residents to ensure that my presentation to DPAC on 7 December accurately reflects a balanced view of the proposal. I am particularly interested in hearing from people who live in Morrow Avenue to ascertain the best traffic management outcome for them.

In her submission, Mrs Macfarlane also said that DPAC needed to ensure that the design of the proposed buildings and the overall footprint be given serious consideration as it needs to complement the school site rather than detract from it.

Time expired.

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