Blogawler

A strong and vocal crowd greeted the Planning Minister Mr Paul Holloway at a protest rally against urban sprawl and the draft 30 year plan at  Mt Barker on the 8^th of November.

The Minister addressed the meeting with the take home message that the 30 year plan was designed to concentrate urban growth in designated areas. He also said the plan was designed to stop unregulated sprawl and ultimately protect agricultural land.

 In response, the people of Mt Barker voiced their concerns about the rapid increase in population in the region. In particular about the loss of valuable agricultural land to housing, damage to the environment, the supply of water and power and the lack of general infrastructure.

A number of other speakers also voiced similar concerns. In particular the South Australian  Farmers Federation are very concerned about the loss of prime agricultural land, the effects of climate change and shifting rainfall patterns and the threat to food security if agricultural land is lost.

 Gawler resident Paul Koch also spoke at the meeting about the concerns the Gawler Community have over the 30 Year plan which mirrored most of the concerns identified by the Mt Barker community.

 Mr Koch spoke on the  70:30 ratio for infill over green field developments. He highlighted the fact the development between Gawler and Roseworthy seems to be considered as infill. He felt that this was simply changing a definition to suit the planners.

“ it is difficult to agree that development between the two towns is considered as infill where presently there is only prime productive land. It seems an attempt to make it appear there is more infill than green field development. For the majority of people they would see this as greenfield development”

“ To most people in Gawler and surrounding region the 30 year plan is a recipe for urban sprawl with excessive population growth. There does not seem too much appetite from developers to take on serious infill projects – they seem to prefer the easy option of sprawling into agricultural land’

 Mr Koch also said that it is important that the different residents groups work together as the issues are exactly the same. By working together they collectively have a stronger voice when talking to the Government. 

The rally helped to highlight the growing concerns about the 30 year plan and its net result of moving development to the fringes of the city and the detrimental effects this will have on existing communities.