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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-08 Daily Xml
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URBAN RENEWAL

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:11): I seek leave to make a second ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Madam Speaker, a week ago, I was pleased to attend the industry launch of the Bowden urban renewal project. This is an outstanding project, not only because it will give new life to one of our oldest suburbs but because it will show us a whole new way of living in our city.

South Australia's strong economic prospects mean we need to plan for the growth that this brings. This growth also brings tremendous opportunities, not least of which are for our capital city, but we must plan carefully for this growth. Gone are the days when we can let Adelaide sprawl with no thought for the consequences.

The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide clearly lays out where this growth will go, and it is more and more within the present boundaries of our city. By 2038, 70 per cent of our urban growth will be within existing urban areas. This is almost a direct reversal of current growth patterns. But, Madam Speaker, I emphasise that we are doing more than finding places for growth; we are making great places for people to live.

We will be creating places that are well-designed, that have been designed and built with people's lives as their purpose, that have buildings that people want live in, and that have spaces between the buildings that people want to spend time in. We will be creating inclusive suburbs that truly connect to the places around them, offer new transport options, and that are adorable and accessible to more people in our community.

Too many young South Australians feel that they will never be able to afford a house, and too many families watch their money being swallowed up by mortgage payments or rent. We have an opportunity now to make huge inroads in the around 10,000 homes each year that are needed to relieve the stress that housing costs can impose.

Our expectation of urban renewal projects are very high, so it is crucial that the renewal of our urban areas is properly coordinated from the outset. The best way to achieve this is to create a single body that will have responsibility for all urban renewal projects across South Australia. Today I announce our government's intention to create an urban renewal authority: a new body that will bring together all of those agencies that are responsible for land and housing development.

This body will identify both land and public housing stock within our suburbs that will benefit from urban renewal. Its oversight will create the certainty that is needed to release capital that will drive investment. There is significant demand for affordable homes and significant capacity in our building sector to meet that demand.

This initiative will bring together these two opportunities, and will ensure that every place of urban renewal meets the highest standards of planning and design. The key to its success will be a close relationship with the community, because a successful urban renewal project must have a strong partnership with local people. Local communities where urban renewal projects are planned will be closely involved and consulted.

What we have shown with good planning at the Woodville West precinct is that we can renew a community, provide more affordable homes, and still provide public housing for those who need it. Our ambition is to provide a housing system where people can afford to buy or rent in their own community, and the new authority will be the best way to facilitate this.

The authority will bring together agencies responsible for land and housing development, including the Land Management Corporation, redevelopment functions of Defence SA, and strategic staff from Housing SA, and will work with Housing and Urban Development Minister Patrick Conlon to drive renewal in our cities, our suburbs and our towns. All of these organisations currently have an important role and much experience—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —in Adelaide's land development. The new body will integrate these roles to best use their abilities and capabilities, with local government and local communities involved. Mr Andrew Fletcher, the Chief Executive of Defence SA, will chair a taskforce that will report to me on the final arrangements for the renewal authority. The former HomeStart chief executive, Mr Gary Storkey, will work with the task force and my department until the end of the year to advise on the best model for the new authority. I expect that it will take an immediate role in overseeing key urban renewal projects across Adelaide, including the expanded port waterfront development, the Bowden development and South Australian housing projects such as Woodville West on the Grange train line.

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