The South Australian Government has announced significant changes to the Environment and Food Production Areas (EFPA), aiming to augment the supply of development-ready land over the next 30 years. This move is set to facilitate the construction of 61,000 new dwellings by altering the EFPA boundaries to coincide with the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP).
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the change was necessary to meet demographic shifts and housing demands. “We know our state is growing,” said Premier Malinauskas. “We want to make sure it grows in the right way. That means learning the lessons of the past, where growth has not been properly calibrated.”
The Premier continued saying, “We cannot see our suburban streets just continue to be carved up and subdivided in an uncontrolled manner.
“We must grow in a way that gives people choice, whether that be living in close proximity in the city or raising a family on a bigger block in the suburbs.”
The bill, which will be introduced to Parliament this week, proposes to amend the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. This amendment will ensure that the EFPA aligns with the objectives of the GARP, abandoning the previous 85 per cent infill development target set when the EFPA was originally established. The amendment reflects a shift in government policy, now devoid of specific quotas for greenfield versus infill developments.
The GARP identifies land within the current EFPA at Roseworthy, Two Wells, Murray Bridge, Victor Harbor, and Goolwa as potential future greenfield supply.
The proposed realignment affects less than one percent of current agricultural lands in the Greater Adelaide region. Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said the change would have minimal impact on prime agricultural land, “Changes to the legislation will align the EFPA to government policy… The total amount of land anticipated to be removed from the EFPA in the Greater Adelaide area is less than one per cent of the current area.”
The necessity for more housing is apparent as the GARP identifies the need for approximately 315,000 new homes over the next three decades. The plan includes both greenfield and strategic urban infill developments to achieve this target. According to Minister Champion, ensuring an ongoing land supply for housing development is crucial “to ensure we don’t face another housing crisis.”
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