Five Plans covering Regional SA
The State Government is committed to developing regional South Australia in a coordinated and sustainable way that protects the culture and character of the regions, while maximising opportunities.
Five Regional Plans will be prepared by mid 2010, including targets for population and land supply for both housing and employment in each Region.
The five country Regions will be:
- Eyre and Western Region
- Far North Region
- Limestone Coast Region
- Murray and Mallee Region, and
- Yorke and Mid North Region.
These Regional Plans will allow for upfront identification and resolution of key land use issues, including coastal development and appropriate protection of state and local heritage, native vegetation and other environmental assets.
The Regional Plans will also incorporate water and energy efficiency strategies and integrate transport and infrastructure planning.
The Regional Plans will be led by Planning SA and developed collaboratively with local councils, State Government agencies and Natural Resource Management Boards.
Regional communities will be able to have their say on draft Regional Plans as they are developed, with the Plans to be released for public comment before they are finalised.
The Regional Plans will also include Master Plans for major regional cities and towns.
Building on current work
These Regional Plans will build on work already underway.
A Regional Land Use Framework has already been produced for the Yorke Peninsula and Wakefield Plains (adopted in December 2007) and Frameworks are under development right now for the Mid-North, Far North, and Murray and Mallee Regions. A Coastal Development Strategy for the Eyre Peninsula Region was also adopted in October 2007, and will serve as a model for other regions.
The existing Regional Framework development process will need to be updated to include specific population, housing and other targets.
Master Plans are also currently being developed for several regional centres experiencing growth, including Mount Gambier (completed and adopted in February 2008), Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie. Other towns may also need to be Master Planned.
