The South Australian Government has introduced new legislation before Parliament that will aim to promote more urabn renewal projects and limit urban sprawl.

State Miunister for Planning, John Rau, said that the new laws are crucial for the controlled development of Adelaide and the surrounding areas.

“It is clear that urban renewal projects will be critical to the future of Adelaide if we are to limit urban sprawl,” Mr Rau said.

“These types of redevelopments are not sufficiently accommodated within the current planning system, which is more geared towards greenfield development.

“This Bill sets out a new urban renewal planning process that will empower Renewal SA to implement its programs and allow further development such as the Bowden precinct to occur across metropolitan Adelaide.”

The Bill includes a new process for planning and developing declared urban precincts. In addition to providing powers to the Urban Renewal Authority, this new process may also be

available to councils looking to undertake urban renewal projects.

Other key changes proposed in the bill include:

  • Placing the Urban Renewal Authority on a statutory footing – elevating its status from being the product of subordinate legislation to that of statutory body.
  • Providing statutory powers to assist in the delivery of urban renewal.
  • Renaming the Housing and Urban Development (Administrative Arrangements) Act as the Urban Renewal Act.

“We have considered interstate models in putting together this Bill whilst input was also provided by the Government Expert Panel on Planning Reform,” Mr Rau said.