Our western coastal suburbs are seeing first hand the effects of climate change coupled with urban development.  Many of the homes and businesses in these low-lying areas have been inundated or threatened during storm water events and high tides:

• Advertiser May 10^th 2016 – Wild wind, rain cause flooding and damage across Adelaide
• ABC News 9^th May 2016 – Wild weather lashes South Australia; flooding roads, bringing down trees and cancelling ferries

The State Government has now made planning changes to allow high-rise development of up to 12-storeys along the foreshore at Glenelg.

Meanwhile, Western Adelaide councils are working to identify the risks associated with climate change, and to develop a plan to assist communities and government in adapting.  Read more about the Adapt West project by the Cities of West Torrens, Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt:

• City of West Torrens – Adapt West
• Western Adelaide Coastal Residents’ Association – environmental issues

Planning for urban growth in these areas needs to be mindful of climate change and to be done very carefully.

Professor Bill Randolph, Director of the City Futures Research Centre at the University of NSW, has spoken out on the failure of Australian cities to get the balance right when it comes to population density.   He spoke on News.com.au today: Continue reading Population density: a difficult but essential balancing act →

Now that the new planning reform legislation has passed through the SA Parliament, it will be subject to a five year implementation program.  Here are some thoughts on the next steps and highlights from the Act, from Lawyer James Blindell (originally posted on LinkedIn): Continue reading Planning Reform – the Next Steps →