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Timestamp: 2020-07-13 17:24:00
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Councillor Don PalmerDPA Archives DPA Archives Councillor Don PalmerDPA Archives
Community Engagement Charter Adopted by new State Government
Not quite a month in office and the new Government, through their Minister for Planning Stephan Knoll, has announced the adoption of the Community Engagement Charter.
This is the Community Engagement Charter developed by the previous State Government. Let us hope the new government follows the intent of the Charter.
Many in the community believe the previous Government, while waiving the big stick at Councils, did not practice what they preached. This may well have contributed to their election loss.
The Minister for Planning has announced the adoption and release of the Community Engagement Charter for implementation commencing on 27 April 2018.
Community engagement is at the heart of the new planning system that will be introduced over the next 3-4 years. The Community Engagement Charter (the Charter) supports new and innovative ways to talk to communities and other interested parties about planning issues.
The Charter changes the way that local and state governments are required to consult with the community during the preparation of changes to planning strategies and policies (such as rezoning of land).
Rather than legislative one-size-fits-all approach the Charter requires those consulting to tailor the engagement to suit the project and the communities who are interested and may be impacted by the proposed changes.
It recognises that with technological advances there are many options to successfully consult with communities. Local and state governments and other bodies consulting on planning matters will be required to meet the following principles in undertaking engagement.
Engagement is genuine
Engagement is inclusive and respectful
Engagement is fit for purpose
Engagement is informed and transparent
Engagement processes are reviewed and improved
The Charter has been informed by a staged consultation starting with the Planning Together Panel and input by a broader stakeholder group. The Discussion Draft of the Charter was then released for six weeks of public consultation. Following that the Draft Charter was released for another six weeks of public consultation before final amendments were made. More information on the consultation process can be found on the SA Planning Portal.
It is recognised that the Charter will need to evolve over time. In its first year, it will primarily be applied to the development of the new State Planning Policies, the Planning and Design Code, and Infrastructure Schemes as required under the new Act.
As the State Planning Commission prepares these documents, it will test the Charter and its application to allow for its ongoing evolution. During this time the Commission welcomes ongoing feedback to assist in monitoring and improving the Charter.
A copy of the Community Engagement Charter can be downloaded from the SA Planning Portal http://www.saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/our_new_system/community_engagement_charter:
City of Unley, Community Engagement Charter, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, Minister for Planning, Planning & Design Code, Planning Library, Stephan Knoll
Kaufland have confirmed their interest in the Anzac Highway Le Cornu Site
By presenting a development application Kaufland have confirmed their interest in the Anzac Highway Le Cornu site.
They recently lodged a development application for “a new retail development”. The proposed development is only for the front 60% of the existing LeCornu site . A development that will include a major supermarket, a range of small tenancies and office space.
A development which will not contain any residential component. Accordingly the 5 storeys height allowed under the new development plan will not be reached.
Other developers will be offered the remaining eastern rear 40% in due course. When this happens it may well be a 5 storey development.
The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) will determine the application and not Council. Under the current planning laws we are allowed only a commentary role. We are limited to matters of direct involvement. Such matters as:
encroachments, or the like.
Our Administration will review the proposal. In due course draft comments will be provided to Elected Members for our perusal and feedback before we submit them. We will then present them to SCAP.
Furthermore, the application will be subject to Category 2 public notification to adjacent properties. Notification will however be limited only to direct neighbours and property owners on the opposite side of the streets of the site within 60 metres of the boundaries of the site. Once the timing for Cat 2 notification is known, I will alert readers of this blog via my Facebook page.
In the meantime, I will seek audience with our administration so that I may view the detail of the proposal and offer assistance to Council’s input. I am aware of a number of concerns of near neighbours. I will ensure their concerns are considered in our submission.
Anzac Highway, Anzac Highway LeCornu site, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, Kaufland, LeCornu
As the government tries to take the lead on Planning Reform I implore them to follow Unley’s lead.
The Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure (DPTI), on behalf of the Minister, wrote to us late last year. They put a proposition to us to co-operate with them as they push ahead with the Government’s planning agenda.
In attempting to take the lead on planning reform they have asked councils to collaborate with them. They are asking us to sign a formal agreement to work with them. An agreement intended as a living document that will adapt as things evolve and change. An agreement recognising the need for a more “formal” elected member involvement and direction.
I implore them to simply follow Unley’s lead. They have agreed with Unley’s approach to good design but this has yet to occur in other council areas.
This week our City Strategy & Policy Committee will be making a recommendation to Council in response to the Government’s request. I expect the committee (of which I am a member) and indeed council to agree to work with them. To facilitate the efficient and effective development and implementation of the new planning system, the co-operation and contribution of local government is pivotal.
In a spirit of continued co-operation and as an investment in better “local” outcomes, a genuine commitment to involvement is warranted. However, this must work both ways.
They (DPTI) need to recognise our understanding of the local environment. They need to follow Unley’s lead. Furthermore, other councils need to follow Unley’s lead.
We have already, with a series of DPAs, achieved the population accommodation required by the Government’s 30-year plan. We achieved this with selective rezoning. It has been achieved with planning principles for transitioning to adjacent residential zones not achieved anywhere else.
Please Minister, whoever you may be after the upcoming election, follow Unley’s lead.
Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, John Rau, Local Government, Minister for Planning, Unley
People Power Does Work.
Don’t bother responding to this public consultation. You are wasting your time. They don’t listen to you. Thought that? Heard that?
I am here to tell you that People Power Does Work!
The Planning Minister recently advised that 4 of the “specific sites” recently proposed for zoning changes were not included in the approved development plan amendment. He cited significant community opposition as one of the motivators behind his decision.
He also agreed with the reasons given for opposition to those sites expressed by the local community.
The community says no
One of the sites was at Unley Road Malvern. Not many in the community were aware of the proposed changes. Communication by the Government was poor and the reason for this. One of the local elected members for Council, Cr Michael Rabbitt took it upon himself to alert the local community.
Jennie and I did this during DPA 2 a few years back. We made sure that everyone that would be affected by the proposed changes knew that the changes were proposed. We also encouraged, as did Michael this time, the community to put their views forward.
Speaking with Malvern residents yesterday at a celebratory street party I heard how those who spoke out were told by some they were wasting their time. They were told they were that no-one ever listens, that they won’t change the Government’s mind.
Wrong. They were listened to. People power does work. Not only were the listened to, they had the ultimate influence over the minister’s final decision. This, with 3 others was excluded.
The same occurred with three other sites in other Council areas.
It also occurred with DPA 2 I mentioned above. It occurred with the recent Unley Central DPA where both the Council and the Minister took notice.
Let me finish with a question for you. What is the worst thing that could happen if you don’t speak up?
City of Unley, Deputy Mayor Don Palmer, DPA, John Rau, Malvern, Minister for Planning, Unley, Unley Road
City Strategy & Development Committee concurs with Local Knowledge Assessment
Last night our City Strategy & Development Committee met and discussed the Ministers two DPAs. Refer my recent blog on the importance of local knowledge in a Development Plan Amendment.
We concurred with the Local Knowledge Assessment by our Mr Brown of the Ministers (Specific Sites) DPA. Led by my observations in support of his assessment and a motion moved by me the committee has recommended Council go further than his recommendation.
As noted in my last blog post Mr Brown provided an in-depth analysis of the Ministers DPA. This analysis demonstrated that the Specific Site DPA did not relate to his Design DPA. It fell well short of the parameters that Unley has previously demonstrated with our DPAs. Parameters that his Design DPA had been based on.
The Committee saw the Ministers DPA this way.
The most significant observations were the zoning the Le Cornu site as a Transit Zone and Unley Road Malvern as High Street. The other observation is the classification of the street behind Cappo as a primary street.
We concurred that the street behind Cappo is a narrow suburban street that should be classified a secondary street. Our recommendation will provide setbacks not provided in the proposed zoning. Setbacks that will soften the interface with the surrounding residential zone. Setbacks that will reduce the height along Chinner.
Both the Le Cornu site and the Malvern site unmistakably should both be business zones with setbacks along both Anzac Highway and Leader street, the latter to protect the interface with the residential zone to the south.
So long as setbacks are recognised we had no difficulty with the heights proposed at Le Cornu. We did however on the Unley Road site. We determined in discussions a height of 4 storeys, or even 3 with Business zone setbacks rather than high street. But we went further.
We determined that it was inappropriate that this site be included in the DPA. In a climate of low population growth, it was not necessary to isolate this site from its surrounds. Council has provided opportunity for significant growth (say 200 people) just down the road in the District Centre. This site we believe would potentially compete in a low market with the District Centre and the latter surely should be encouraged first.
Now, let us wait on whether Council concurs in two weeks or whether they would prefer changes to this recommendation.
Cappo, City of Unley, Deputy Mayor Don Palmer, Don Palmer, DPA, John Rau, Le Cornu, Minister for Planning, Unley Road
Tomorrow night we will see demonstrated the importance of local knowledge in a Development Plan Amendment (DPA).
A report from our Policy Planning Officer Mr David Brown on the Minister’s Corridors DPA will be received by Council’s City Strategy and Development Policy committee tomorrow night.
The DPA is a site specific DPA, including (in Unley) 4 sites;
The Le Cornu site at Forestville
The Cappo site on Glen Osmond Road
12-30 Anzac Highway Everard Park
299-307 Unley Road, Malvern
We will consider the DPA with the help of his analysis. The committee will then make recommendations to Council. Council can then consider in to weeks times making similar representation to the Minister.
Honestly, the Minister could do with having David Brown on his staff at DPTI. David’s analysis has identified a plethora of anomalies/discrepancies in the DPA.
There are discrepancies between the DPA and Unley’s previous parameters set in our Corridor DPA. Discrepancies also indeed between this DPA and his concurrent running (design) DPA (also being considered tomorrow night).
Too many to highlight in a blog post. Sufficient, that said, to demonstrate the folly of the Government’s move to progressively take Council out of the planning process. Sufficient to demonstrate that a State or Regional Government does not and cannot identify with local nuances.
I will be keen to hear the input of our independent members into the DPA and into David’s analysis.
His analysis should be the catalyst for quite a comprehensive representation on our part to the Minister. It is to be hoped that he takes on board our observations and suggestions, whatever they wind up being after Council considers the committee’s recommendations in two weeks’ time.
I believe the importance of local knowledge in a Development Plan Amendment will be demonstrated tomorrow night.
If you want to see David’s in depth analysis check it out here, item 9.
City of Unley, Deputy Mayor Don Palmer, Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, Minister for Planning
Minister Rau announces new DPA to focus on specific sites.
The Minister today announced a change in direction with his program of Development Plan Amendments. He announced a new DPA to focus on specific sites.
This DPA is known as ‘the Inner and Middle Metropolitan Corridor (Sites) Development Plan Amendment”.
In making the announcement he acknowledged difficulties with the Corridor DPA’s. He recognises too the redevelopment along the corridors may be a future thing rather than an early or soon thing. This means those incomplete or not commenced Corridor DPA’s will be put on hold.
The Minister is aware that there are sites that are ready to be redeveloped sooner rather than later. They have been identified too as being good opportunities for incorporating the other DPA he announced today, “the Inner & Middle Metropolitan Corridor (Design) Development Plan Amendment”.
He is focused therefore on a new DPA to focus on specific sites that provide the opportunity for early redevelopment.
Twelve sites in all have been identified. Six of these are in the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters. There are two in our neighbour, the City of West Torrens
For Unley this focus is on the following four sites:
12-16 Glen Osmond Road (The Cappo seafood site)
301-305 Unley Road Malvern (between Cheltenham & Winchester Street)
10 Anzac Highway (The Le Cornu site)
22-28 Anzac Highway, Everard Park (between KFC and Solver)
All 4 sites could be considered a catalyst site. A site where development might occur sooner rather than later.
Both DPA’s are open for public consultation as of tomorrow. Submissions are required by 25 July. A public information session has been set for City of Unley participants on 22 June between 4.00 pm and 6.30 pm. It will be held at the Latvian Hall, 4 Clark Street Wayville.
I encourage all who have shown an interest in the recent series of DPA’s to take the opportunity to look at this one, and take part in the consultation.
City of Unley, Deputy Mayor Don Palmer, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, DPA, John Rau, Le Cornu, Minister for Planning
Council face a DPA balancing act.
Development, DPA, Unley Central
Last Tuesday night’s Unley Central DPA public forum has presented Council face a DPA balancing act. A juggle between Community and the Government.
Yes, after your recent input we face a DPA balancing act. We must recognise genuine concern from rate payers. At the same time, we must put a submission to the Minister for Planning, the honourable John Rau, that he will respect and not throw back in our faces.
As I noted in my last blog post we will be looking at all submissions and we will identify what we can realistically use and what we will need to carefully consider before altering.
On the one hand, we run the risk of members of our community rejecting our next draft. On the other hand, we run the risk that the Minister will reject our submission to him.
We run the risk that he will see us as abrogating our responsibility. If this happens he will rule what happens and ignore us. The result for our community will be worse than what some believe is now the case with what we are proposing.
Minister Rau could quite easily rule that the DPA will see only one change to the zone.
That change would be to permit residential development. Residential development is currently the only restriction in this zone. There is no height limit, other than that imposed by the Airport.
Forget 11 storeys. Expect 25 storeys and more. Forget 3 storeys on the east side of Unley Road. The heights that apply now north of Unley Central along Unley Road is 5 storeys.
So, the challenge for Council is to put heights to the Minister that he will see as having a rationale acceptable to him. As I said above if we come back with a negative submission you, the community of Unley, will regret that Council did not work for the best possible outcome for them.
I am sure we will come back to you before any changes are put to the Minister. I ask you to show the maturity and the understanding I know the Unley community has, to work with us to ensure we can reasonably face a balancing act and have some control over the end result.
City of Unley, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, John Rau, Minister for Planning, Unley Central
Unley Community responds to the Unley Central DPA
Development Plan, DPA, Unley Central
What a night it was last Tuesday. Council hosted the community around the Unley Central Precinct. A night of emotion. A night to remember.
It is back to the drawing board as the Unley Community responds to the Unley Central DPA.
Last Tuesday night Council’s City Strategy and Development committee hosted a public forum. The forum allowed rate payers to further clarify their written submissions to Council’s Unley Central DPA.
Approximately 200 people provided written submissions and around 40 backed up these submissions on the night. Most but not all were against the draft proposals.
We received some valuable input from many. Input as to how we might change the draft before putting it to the Minister for approval.
I am sure the Committee and indeed Council will take these on board.
We must be careful though not to allow ourselves to get sucked into accepting misplaced submissions. There were several these. I have thoughts on this that will be the subject of another Blog post.
Many rate payers have forgotten that we (Council and rate payers alike) all agreed back in 2006 to put a proposition to the Minister. The proposition was to protect our historic conservation zones and our streetscape zones. We offered the Minister increased density in the main street corridors and in Unley Central.
What we have found as we have rolled out the various localised DPA’s is that many in our community have forgotten this. We have also found that the keep forgetting that this is not Council driven but Government driven. Our ongoing communication, written and verbal, is probably responsible for this.
I remind our community that if we don’t conduct these DPAs the Minsiter will do it on our behalf. If this were to happen we lose all control and the result will NOT be to anyone’s liking.
We have also found that our rate payers inevitably believe that we should be focusing on other areas to rezone. In other words, they are in opposition to rezoning their area in favour of rezoning other areas. What these people do not understand is that all areas of council apart from the zones including the Le Cornu site which was raised several times in the submissions received.
What do you think of Unley Council? That is what I was met with this morning by one of our Rate Payers.
Development Plan, DPA, Heritage, Heritage Buildings, Village Green
She was clearly distressed. They are tearing down the Council Chamber she declared. “We have to stop them” she said repeatedly.
Her concerns related to Council’s recent announcement about investigating redeveloping the Civic Centre Site. She understood Council was about to demolish the Town Hall and the Library. She believed that Council had sent her a letter confirming this.
Newspaper articles have refrained from identifying the Civic Centre site. They have used words like “towering over Town Hall”. Words like “radical proposal to cannibalise its own Council Chambers”. Ratepayers and others are also distributing flyers indicating Council WILL be building 8 storeys on the Village Green.
Please, please, please! Pay no attention to this alarmist dialogue. It is untrue. For the truth I invite you read my recent blog post.
And let me stress:
1 The Council is only considering whether or not to redevelop the Civic Centre Site. The Civic Centre site houses Council’s administration.
2 We are not demolishing the Town Hall or the Library. They are State Heritage listed buildings. As anyone who knows, we are very proactive in protecting our heritage.
3 We are not going to build over the Town Hall or Library.
4 We have no intention of building an 8 storey building on the Village Green.
5 We have not sent any letter saying otherwise.
6 We are simply looking into what opportunities a redevelopment of the Civic Centre site will provide to better serve the community of Unley.
7 The investigation will take some 12 months.
8 Our community will be asked to contribute what they believe we can achieve in considering such a redevelopment.
We will soon be asking you to help us determine what would be the best use of the Civic Centre site for our future community.
Can I close by asking you this question. Do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution?
City of Unley, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, Don Palmer, DPA, Unley, Unley Central, Unley Library, Unley Museum
Reminder to have your say on Unley Central
Development, Development Plan
A month ago today I blogged on the Unley Central Precinct project and asked for your input. That blog can be viewed here.
Thank you those of you who have already responded to the survey with the letter we sent you on the 5th of this month. The feedback we have received will be very useful when later next year we start putting together a Development Plan Amendment.
Those of you who have not yet responded to the survey we encourage to so do. Your thoughts on such matters as traffic, transport and parking will be essential as we attempt to create a Development Plan that meets Council’s vision for the Unley Central Precinct and the goals of the State Governments 30 Year Plan.
We have received some very worthwhile input from residents thus far and look forward to receiving more. We ask those of you have yet to respond to do so.
What we are looking for from you are your thoughts on the importance of a variety of impacts higher density development will have on the centre or heart of our City. This will provide us considerations on how to plan for the desired urban design, built form, land use, traffic, transport, and parking to guide the preparation of a Development Plan Amendment for the area. This DPA we hope to work on and present to the minister late next year after consulting with you on its contents.
We expect to invite your further input between now and commencing on the DPA once we can tabulate and prioritise the feedback we receive from you on this first consultation.
Councils vision as part of complying with the State Governments 30 year Plan recognised not just the built form but identified opportunities to improve the public realm and the movement through the area. A copy of this plan is available at www.unley.sa.gov.au/major-projects. This has prompted the series of questions to help guide your input.
Now it’s your turn. Please help us create a city of the future that can and does accommodate population growth but in a way that enhances the lifestyle of those living there.
Development, Development Plan Ammendment, DPA, John Rau, Minister for Planning
Minister Rau picks up the Planning Reform Pace.
Development, Development Assessment Panel, Development Plan, DPA
While Unley Council’s recent focus has been on Brownhill Creek the area that I have a passion for has been simmering in the background.
Our Deputy Premier & Minister for Planning has been working on his various planning strategies and a number of them are coming to a head as he picks up the Planning Reform Pace.
Here is a summary of what is happening as we speak.
Development Plan Amendments – Ministerial Initiated
Inner and Middle Metro Corridor Infill DPA – This DPA is to extend the Urban Corridors Zoning much further across the cities major transport corridors. Council has just received the Draft DPA from DPTI and is in the early stages of analysing the detail. Council has made some observations about this DPA which have already been taken on board by DPTI and therefore the Minister, such as leaving Goodwood Road’s heritage precinct alone for us to address in our own DPA sometime in the near future.
Existing Activity Centres DPA – The draft has recently been released by the Government for public comment until 21 October 2015. This has significant implications for Unley and again DPTI woudl appear to accept our take that with a number of conflicts with the Corridors DPA that this shoudl not be considered in the inner rim councils.
30 Year Plan Update
Our officers having been working with Departmental Staff on an updated 30 Year Plan, which is the Metropolitan Adelaide Planning Strategy. Officers will be provided with further briefings and invitation for feedback in the first half of October, with the expectation that a Consultation Draft of the 30 Year Plan Update will be released prior to Xmas.
Planning Reform Legislation
The Planning Reform Bill has been introduced into Parliament. As is often the case, consultation on the Bill has opened for 30 days from 8 September – a very tight consultation period not really cognizant of Council meeting time frames. For the Masochists amongst you can access the Bill at http://dpti.sa.gov.au/planning/planning_reform and let me know what you think.
More changes have been made to Development Regulations to make the Coordinator General the relevant agency with which to lodge Development Applications for dwellings and associated land division proposals in relation to the redevelopment of existing Housing Trust properties.
City of Unley, Development Plan Ammendment, DPA, Goodwood Road, John Rau
Building Heights along Greenhill Road the next challenge.
High Rise Development on Greenhill Road facing the south parklands was always expected under the Governments 30 year plan and Unley’s urban corridors DPA that was approved by the minister for planning back in January of last year. But what building heights will be seen when compared to that which was envisaged under the plan.
I am of the understanding that an 8 storey mixed use development is proposed for Greenhill Road at Wayville. If that is the case then once again we see the first application received under the new Development Plan testing the limits.
An Informal Referral from DPTI inviting Council’s comments on an 8 Storey Mixed Use (office and serviced apartments) development at 56 Greenhill Road Wayville has been received. Like the recent 7 storey development proposed for Cremorne Plaza on Unley Road the height of this development is outside that permitted in the Unley Development Plan.
The development plan permits 7 storey development along this stretch of Greenhill Road. 8 storeys will obviously push the envelope and this will no doubt attract some intense interest from the public at large.
DPTI I believe aim to table the application at the 24 September 2015 IMDAC (Inner Metropolitan Development Assessment Commission) DAC meeting. The required Category 2 public notification will have to happen shortly for that to be achieved. It may therefore commence as early as late this week for a period of 10 business days.
The application information will be supplied by DPTI for inspection in council’s Civic offices foyer by the public upon commencement of the Category 2 public notification.
It is proposed that elected members will be briefed on the development which is encouraging. There is no compulsion for this so it is appreciated. This will provide an opportunity for your elected representatives to contribute to Council’s comments.
Once the application is available for the public to view I invite you to check it out. Please then contact me if you have any questions that you believe needs to be addressed before the briefing.
City of Unley, Development, DPA, Greenhill Road, Wayville
Where we are with DPA 2
Community Plan, Development Plan, DPA 2, DPA2, DS&P committee
Further to my post on this website today about Council’s program of Development Plan Amendments I can comment more specifically on where we are with DPA 2.
After the strong contribution to DPA 2 by you, particularity those residing in Back Forest and Clarence Park, we conducted a preliminary review prior to the Council caretaker period for the November 2014 elections. The elections unfortunately delayed further progress until a complete review was presented to the new Development, Strategy & Policy Committee and then to Council in April 2015.
The review took on board your contribution and in respect of Black Forest and Clarence Park has all but recommended we maintain the status quo. In other words the proposed changes have been withdrawn almost in their entirety. Higher Density is still contemplated for the aged accommodation precinct at the South Road end of Norman Terrace, Everard Park.
Council also agreed with a suggestion from DPTI to split the Residential DPA into two parts:
Part 1 – east of a line along Goodwood Road, tram-line and East Avenue for final approval by the Minister for Planning
Part 2 – west of a line along Goodwood Road, tram-line and East Avenue for approval to release for re-consultation.
Part 1 was submitted in June 2015 for approval by the Minister for Planning. Approval is anticipated later in August 2015.
The necessary preparation of a revised DPA Part 2 (for the western areas – excluding Anzac Highway and Leader Street as these areas are now part of the Corridors Ministerial DPA) is being prepared.
Conclusion and submission of a revised draft DPA Part 2 to the Minister for approval to release for public consultation should occur by August 2015. The timing and coordination of the public release of the Residential DPA Part 2 will need to be considered in the context of the Minister’s Corridors DPA, and also with the Council’s General DPA, to avoid confusion and convergence of resource demands.
Where we are with DPA 2 right now. Watch this space as time marches on.
Black Forest, City of Unley, Clarence Park, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, DPA
Where are we with our Development Plan Amendments
Development Plan, DPA 2, DPA2, DS&P committee
With the recent announcement by the Minister that he plans a wide reaching Development Plan Amendment (DPA) focused on Activity Centres it is timely for me to report how we are going with our Development Plan Amendments.
The three current DPAs being pursued by the Development, Strategy & Policy Committee I chair are progressing as follows:
1 DPA 2
This has been split into 2 parts as you may remember from previous posts on this website.
– Part 1 (EAST) submitted for Approval of the Minister – June 2015. We await his rubber stamp on this.
– Part 2 (WEST) is being prepared for submission for approval to release for further public consultation, probably in August 2015. I will comment further on this DPA in a separate blog post. If you live in Goodwood or Clarence Park Wards this should be compulsory reading.
2 General DPA
The draft proposal was examined during this committees workshop in May 2015. We are now refining some of the proposals and the final draft being prepared subject to resolution of Minister’s DPAs on Activity Centres and Corridors.
The recently announced Activity Centres and Corridors Ministerial DPA’s will however affect the General DPA non-residential zones proposed revisions. It may slow this one down. This in turn may slow down DPA 2 as well as we had planned to take both out together to the community for your input.
3 Unley Central Precinct DPA
Our statement of Intent submitted in January 2015 was approved by the Minister on 31 May last. A tender is currently being processed to appoint a consultant team by August 2015 to engage stakeholders and the community and to prepare a draft DPA. We would expect to see this being completed by say March 2016. This is presuming that the Ministerial DPA I spoke of back on the 26th May does not require us to redirect resources to contribute to the Ministerial DPA.
The committee is poised ready to work through the next stages of each of these Development Plan Amendments.
City of Unley, Development, Development Plan Ammendment, DPA
Council Responds to Ministerial DPA
Community Plan, DPA
Unley Council this week responded to Minister Rau’s request to work with him on his Ministerial DPA. We have determined we would prefer to cooperate than to alienate.
In so doing we are cautious about how much we cooperate given the government’s history of decide and defend as its method of consultation rather than Council’s approach of engaging with our citizens.
We have tried to find the right balance between following the Governments DPA lead and ensuring the most sensitives areas of our council area, namely Goodwood Central and King William Road, are not treated with a governmental broad brush of one size fits all. We have also been mindful of what we can achieve given our limited resources.
In an attempt to retain some control where it is needed most we approved the motion below moved by myself as our response to the minister.
2. The Administration provide a response to the Minister outlining initial concerns, including but not limited to:
(a) exclusion of the sensitive historic and complex Goodwood central village area to the south of Leader Street to allow the timely preparation of a Precinct Plan by Council;
(b) exclusion of the complex King William Road commercial areas to the south of the Glen Osmond Creek until further targeted investigations and consultation can occur;
(c) consideration being given to establishing purely residential zones in appropriate areas, eg Leader Street (south side), Anzac Highway and Goodwood Road south of the train overpass;
(d) recommending a review of the current Urban Corridor Zone public notification criteria whereby development above the designated height or built form envelope limits be Category 3.
3. The Administration provide policy input as appropriate.
4. When there is greater understanding of proposed State Government consultation arrangements, further guidance be sought from Council as to the extent of involvement by the Administration.
In keeping the recent comments in my blog posts Council has recognised a need for us to influence as much as we can the results of this Ministerial DPA. We have, in doing so, recognised that there are certain areas that need our intimate approach more than others and have singled them out as areas best left for us to develop a DPA of our own in time.
Two key DPA areas that need our intimate approach are King William Road and Goodwood Road just south of the tram line.
Ministerial DPA to challenge Council
Community Plan, Development Plan, DPA
By speeding up the process of DPA’s to accommodate their 3o year plan the State Government has created challenges not anticipated by Council. All have the potential to compromise us publically and impact our bottom line budget.
I indicated in an earlier blog post that Minister Rau is seemingly hell bent on rushing the DPA reforms necessary to implement their 30 year plan. This is particularly so in relation to the inner metropolitan areas. He has advised an Inner and Middle Metropolitan Corridor Infill DPA is to be undertaken at this time.
This urgent priority for an unusually rapid progression of the re-zoning will require substantial effort by Council if we are to positively influence the outcome on your behalf.
Obtaining the best outcome for our rate payers means full cooperation with DPTI. It will require some contribution to the formulation of appropriate policy outcomes. It will also require some involvement in community engagement. This will require significant resourcing and will unfortunately put us in the public eye on the same page as the Government.
We risk being tainted by appearing on side with the Government’s broad brush approach. This is an approach which has been seen as confrontational.
Our approach is to take a more empathetic local approach bringing our citizens along with us rather than in opposition. Our forward DPA program (of some 5 years) is being ignored by the Minister however as it is taking too long. Ensuring detail always does of course.
Full cooperation will test our resources and significantly impact on our budget. Doing nothing and divorcing ourselves from the process will mean we abrogate our responsibility to our citizens by vesting complete control in the hands of the Government.
We have already felt the impact of his decision. We have had to divert the focus of our senior planner to address his request for observations from us and to advise how we might assist them. He required this from us with minimal time to respond.
This has meant we have delayed bringing our General DPA to a point where it can be consulted with publically. Returning DPA 2 to the public arena has also been delayed.
The next challenge is how much do we participate in their DPA with our have limited resources.
We can choose to co-operate fully including in the public consultation process. We can choose to simply respond from a council point of view as part of the public consultation process. or we can do nothing I guess.
Whatever we choose on Monday night there will be implications on our budget.
I will report on what decision we make after the minutes of the Council meeting are made available.