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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-29 Daily Xml
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ISLINGTON DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:28): I direct my question on the Islington DPA to the Minister for Urban Development and Planning. Can the minister advise the chamber of any state government initiatives aimed at reducing urban blight by unlocking the economic potential of industrial sites along our city's major transport corridors?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his important question. The state government finalised the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide in February this year. This far-reaching and comprehensive planning strategy contained several objectives, one of which was the designation of specific employment land close to major residential areas and transport services. Another was the revitalisation of major activity centres, clustering together specialist activities to create more efficient use of infrastructure and act as a stimulus for investment in key sectors of the economy.

These are not just empty words. This government is committed to using the 30-year plan as a vehicle to drive economic development within Adelaide. With that in mind it has begun taking initial steps to implement these policies, with a prime example being the announcement last week of the rezoning of the old Islington rail yards. The Mixed Use (Islington) Development Plan Amendment will unlock the economic potential of this degraded industrial site only six kilometres from the central business district of Adelaide. In doing so it will help to create job opportunities, initially through construction work and then within the new industries' commercial and retail offices that the government expects will be fostered by this rezoning process.

Just as importantly, this rezoning will encourage economic development in a way that renews degraded industrial land located close to the city in the inner north-western suburbs along the Churchill Road corridor. The development plan amendment which I have initiated proposes the rezoning of 38 hectares at Islington within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and the City of Prospect north of Regency Road. The rezoning of a significant part of the Islington rail yards will provide an outstanding opportunity to revitalise this partially vacant, underused and partially blighted land which is currently owned by the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure and leased to Genesee & Wyoming Australia and its freight operations.

The site is well-positioned, adjacent to both the Adelaide-Gawler rail line and Churchill Road. The rezoning of this area aims to broaden its potential use to include retail, commercial trade and light industry such as manufacturing and warehousing. Some upper level residential premises will be permitted, and these will be directed away from the industrial areas and along the road corridor above the envisaged commercial and retail premises.

This policy clearly recognises the degraded nature of the site after decades of use as a rail yard, which makes it unsuitable for low density housing. It also protects industries such as Genesee & Wyoming Australia from any incursions of housing into areas that might impinge on its operations. Importantly, containing development opportunities to key corridors such as this one will protect the things we value about Adelaide such as the character of our suburbs, heritage buildings, parks and open space.

The gazetting of the DPA last Thursday triggered an eight-week consultation process, to be conducted by the Development Policy Advisory Committee. People can submit their views on the proposal to DPAC in writing and at a public meeting to be held at the Mercure Grosvenor Hotel on North Terrace on 8 December this year. Members of the public have until Wednesday 17 November to lodge their submissions with DPAC by mail, email or fax.

I have decided that this development plan amendment should be on interim operation. In other words, development applications for this area will now be assessed against the zones, maps and policies proposed within the draft development plan amendment. In the past I have used interim operation to extend protection to heritage items identified in draft DPAs and recently during consultation on the caravan parks DPA. In this case I have decided to introduce this development plan amendment on interim operation to provide for the timely and orderly development of this area consistent with the targets and outcomes sought by the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.

Members of the public should not then be concerned that the consultation process will not take their views into account. In the proposed updated zoning there are many areas of policy that can be refined as part of the consultation process as we work towards the best outcome for this area. Changes can occur if considered appropriate, and the views raised by individuals, organisations and the local councils affected by the proposed DPA will certainly be taken into account. To that end, the Department of Planning and Local Government has initiated preliminary discussions with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and the City of Prospect.

This area was previously zoned general industry within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and light industry across the boundary in the City of Prospect. The DPA retains a part of the existing light and general industry zones to allow Genesee & Wyoming Australia to continue to conduct its freight operations. Other areas have been zoned mixed use at sites along the Adelaide-Gawler rail line and Churchill Road. This mixed use zone will provide an opportunity to change the face of Churchill Road north of Regency Road.

I add that the Prospect council is currently working on upgrading the appearance of Churchill Road south of Regency Road. By accommodating retail services ranging from supermarkets through to specialty shops as well as commercial operations such as bulky goods retail outlets, the corridor along Churchill Road will be rejuvenated. This zoning also allows for light industries such as low impact manufacturing, storage or warehousing.

Heritage sites within the development plan amendment are located within a central area and are associated with the Genesee & Wyoming Islington rail operations. The Islington workshops are recognised as fundamental to the history and development of South Australia and have been listed as heritage items. The apprentice shop, electrical shop, foundry, fabrication shop and its annexe and the chief mechanical engineer's office are located within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and have been listed on the South Australian Heritage Register. This protection remains in force as part of the rezoning.

The changes incorporated into the development plan amendment are consistent with the targets in the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, with Islington identified by the plan as a key industry area within the western zone. Notwithstanding this development plan amendment's interim operation, I very much encourage individual members of the community, residents and industry groups to lodge a submission and work with the government to grasp this opportunity to harness the economic potential of this site in a way that creates jobs and improves the visual amenity of a degraded industrial precinct.

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