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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-07-16 Daily Xml
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Question Time

FLAGSTAFF PINES

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about the rezoning of Flagstaff Pines.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I suspect that members will be aware that there is a potential rezoning to take place at Flagstaff Pines. There has been quite a lot of discussion in the local community and, in fact, a petition was organised with some 1,900 signatures against the zoning change and 600 in favour of it. I think that a subsequent petition signed by more than 500 people has been sent to the Premier requesting that he ask the minister to respect the investigations and decisions made by Onkaparinga council. I am informed that Onkaparinga council has undertaken open and transparent public consultation, but that on a number of occasions the minister has decided to overrule the council.

The just released 30-year plan specifically identifies Aberfoyle Hub and the Happy Valley, Flagstaff Hill and O'Halloran Hill shopping centres as core zones for urban regeneration, walkability, and other objectives mentioned in the plan. It is important to note that The Pines is not identified as a potential site to meet these objectives.

My question to the minister is: considering the objectives of the government's 30-year plan for regeneration of areas in Flagstaff Hill, O'Halloran Hill, Aberfoyle Park and Happy Valley, will the minister agree to endorse the decision of the City of Onkaparinga to include an assessment of the potential neighbourhood centre at Flagstaff Pines in the Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill and Happy Valley Activity Centre development plan amendment?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:25): I have yet to make a decision in relation to the Flagstaff Pines issue. What happened in relation to this development plan amendment is that the Onkaparinga council conducted a number of studies. Originally, it had proposed that there be a centre at The Pines, but that was apparently subject to some public controversy, presumably because there is another smaller centre somewhere in the Flagstaff Hill area—a kilometre or two away—that had opposed propositions for the new centre. So, it has been an issue of controversy.

I understand that at least three studies were made into the retail potential, retail activity or retail requirements of this particular region. Based on the advice that I had received, I wrote back to the council when it changed its original proposal, the original statement of intent for the development plan, and suggested that, on the basis of its earlier studies (I understand there had been three of them), I would be inclined to go with the original proposal of the council, but as is normal with these sort of proposals you give the council the opportunity to respond. That was the position. The council has now responded, saying that it wants further time or a further study or further information in relation to that, and I am currently contemplating that response and will make a decision, which will be either to stick to the previous and original proposition of the council or to go with its modified provision.

In relation to that development plan, there was also some issue in relation to McLaren Vale or McLaren Flat—some alteration in that region—and I was happy to accept the council's revised proposition not to deal with it at this stage and to require further study. I do not think that was the issue, but it has become a controversy down there. Clearly, the community is split on the issue. There are those living in the new subdivision—development is still occurring there—who want the centre, but some of the existing businesses in the Flagstaff Hill area are opposed to any new centre.

The matter needs to be resolved on an assessment of needs in the district. Consideration of this matter has seen correspondence go back and forth between the council, but I received a response from the council recently to my proposal that we proceed with the original proposition of putting the centre there. I will make a final decision on that matter shortly.

I had a meeting with the mayor of Onkaparinga and the CEO and suggested that the matter needed to be resolved quickly, but I was not prepared to do nothing for six months or a year. If my memory serves me correctly, I do not have it with me but the letter was talking about the council finalising its position by, I think, 22 September, or certainly a date late in September, when it had completed its further inquiries. I will await the outcome of that before making a final decision.

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