On 16th December 2012, the Community Alliance SA’s celebration of the 175th anniversary of Colonel William Light’s Plan for the City of Adelaide was attended by members of the executive committee, including the President Mr Tom Matthews and Dr Helen Wilmore. Following on from this celebration, Mr Matthews visited the town of Gawler on 21st December. Gawler was the first country town in the state of SA and its town plan was also devised by the surveyor Colonel William Light. Mr Matthews met with Dr Wilmore and Mrs Shirley Humphrey, both of the Gawler Region Community Forum, and was taken on a tour of the town and areas earmarked for future urban growth.

Since 2007, the Gawler Region Community Forum has expressed its concerns with the State Government’s proposed large-scale urban expansion of the town and surrounding areas. The concerns include issues such as traffic, provision of infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, lifestyle, environment, and food and water security. The State Government’s planned expansion of Gawler and surrounding areas will see the population increase threefold.

“The nearby expansion of Roseworthy for 95,000 people will also bring extra pressures for the rail and road systems” said Mrs Humphrey.
“The scale is staggering. This is just as awful as what’s happening in Mt Barker, but on a greater scale” said Mr Matthews. “I can’t believe the Government wants to add 40,000 more people to this beautiful country town. I can see that Gawler already has a problem with too much traffic.”
“Where are all these people going to work?” asked Mr Matthews.
“What about the agricultural land that will be lost from Concordia and Roseworthy? That’s our food bowl” said Mr Matthews.

“The State Government is not listening to the people of Gawler when it comes to planning and development” said Dr Wilmore. “A lot of problems could be avoided if only the Government would properly consult with local communities and involve them from the initial planning stages”.

For further information please contact:
Shirley Humphrey, 8522 3694
Convenor & Spokesperson, Gawler Region Community Forum Inc.
Dr Helen Wilmore, 8522 3019, helenp.wilmore@bigpond.com
Committee Member & Spokesperson, Gawler Region Community Forum Inc.
(Also a Community Alliance SA Committee Member)
Tom Matthews: 0429 337 453
President, Community Alliance SA Inc., PO Box 520, Goodwood SA 5034

Stop this farce of community consultation after big development decisions are made.

Historically, interim operation powers were used to provide a protective measure to stop inappropriate development, such as the demolition of heritage buildings, while public consultation on a new Development Plan regime takes place. However, recently these powers have been used to push through development even before public consultation has occurred. This is what happened with the interim DPAs for the Capital City, Regulated Trees and Statewide Windfarms.

Although the Community Alliance SA is not aligned with any political party, Mark Parnell MLC of the Greens, has plans that address some of the concerns the Alliance has with the current planning system, beginning with the interim operation powers. Mark has used information from the Alliance to identify our planning and development issues and the key areas needed for reform. He has already introduced the Interim Development Control amendment bill, to change the appropriate section of the Development Act. There will soon be a vote on this bill in the Legislative Council (Upper House).

This proposed new legislation is very important to the Alliance as it is something WE have asked for. It’s time to support Mark’s Bill by lobbying local MPs in the Lower House and the members of the SA Legislative Council (Upper House). Keep checking our website and facebook for updates and information on when the vote in the Upper House will happen. It will be great to fill the public gallery! The vote in the Lower House will be at a later date, but please start lobbying local MPs as soon as you can.

To help Alliance member groups and other concerned members of the community, we have prepared a Lobbying Kit. The kit includes information about this Bill and possible future Bills, why we want an end to the current Interim Ministerial DPA legislation, and how to lobby politicians for their support. In the Lobbying Kit, you will find everything you and your Group needs to successfully lobby politicians.

If you would like a copy of the kit, or if you need help or advice on your lobbying, please give Alliance President Tom Matthews a call (0429 337 453) or email (tom1991@iinet.net.au). To see the Parnell proposal, use this link:

http://markparnell.org.au/speech.php?speech=1189