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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-25 Daily Xml
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KANGAROO ISLAND

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:15): Can the Minister for Urban Development and Planning provide an update on the initiatives being undertaken to provide guidance to Kangaroo Island residents on planning for the future?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:15): As members may be aware—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Just a few minutes ago, the opposition was trying to suggest that this government is not interested in regional matters, and when my colleague the Hon. Carmel Zollo asks a question about a very important part of regional South Australia—Kangaroo Island—what do they do? They pour scorn on it. Is the reality that they do not care about the country? Perhaps that is why a poll in The Advertiser the other morning had the headline 'Liberals collapse in country areas'. Perhaps there is something more to it. Perhaps there is something to that, and perhaps this is the reason why.

To return to the important question, the planning strategy for regional South Australia is gradually being replaced by various stand-alone volumes called regional land-use frameworks. This process, which involves extensive public consultation, began with the Yorke Peninsula regional land-use framework, which was adopted in December 2007. Since then, the government has published draft regional frameworks for the Mid North and the Far North.

I am pleased to inform the honourable member that the state government is now seeking public input into the formulation of a regional framework for Kangaroo Island. These frameworks are driven from the ground up and involve engaging local community representatives very early in the process. This allows the frameworks to closely align the aspirations of the community with the broader state government objectives.

As part of the final consultative process, the government has invited public submissions on this draft framework. The consultative period runs for two months and includes an informal community meeting. Community information drop-in sessions are to be held on 8 April 2009 from 2pm until 6pm in the Kangaroo Island council chamber meeting rooms at 43 Dauncey Street, Kingscote.

The draft framework allows a collaborative process involving the Kangaroo Island council working closely with the Department of Planning and Local Government, the Kangaroo Island Regional Development Board and the Natural Resources Management Board. The proposed framework broadly identifies where future housing, population and industry growth is best located, and not located, as the case may be, across Kangaroo Island, taking in the four major townships.

The draft framework identifies the roles and functions that different parts of the island can play, including the various townships. It tackles issues such as the interface between industry, residential areas and valuable environmental assets. The proposed framework also addresses issues affecting the island, such as increased tourism, changes in town populations and the future of primary industries. Once finalised, the Kangaroo Island regional framework is to be adopted as part of the state government's planning strategy for South Australia. This will give the framework—along with similar frameworks for other regions of the state—statutory effect and will provide formal direction to local councils and the private sector. In particular, these frameworks will guide the Kangaroo Island council in updating its local development plans which detail local zoning and other land-use policies.

These development plans are used to assess the appropriateness of all development applications within South Australia. A copy of the document can be found online at the Department of Planning and Local Government's website, and hard copies will also be available from council offices.

I urge all members of the Kangaroo Island community concerned about the future of their island to track down a copy of the draft framework, attend one of these informal meetings and lodge a submission so that their voice can be heard. Written submissions can be lodged with the Department of Planning and Local Government until 5pm on Wednesday 3 May. The Department of Planning and Local Government will now turn its focus to developing the final two regional land-use frameworks. With the assistance of local councils and local state government-based agencies, the department will be drafting frameworks for both the Eyre and Western regions and the Limestone Coast region.

Mr President, I am sure that you will follow with interest the development of these frameworks and, in particular, the Limestone Coast region with which you have such a close affinity.

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