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Protection for local wine regions

28 September 2011

Independent checks and balances will ensure the protection of Barossa and McLaren Vale from urban sprawl and inappropriate industrial development under legislation to be introduced in State Parliament.

The legislation would be subject to a four-week consultation period to give the community a final chance to consider the measures to end urban sprawl in these valuable tourism, wine and agricultural districts.

The Government also effected an interim Development Plan Amendment (DPA) for the Barossa and McLaren Vale districts which complements the legislation and is operative immediately. This will require the Development Assessment Commission to consider any development applications that may be at odds or inconsistent with the new legislation.

The DPA will work to avoid an influx of inappropriate development applications prior to the legislation being enacted.

The legislation, developed following an extensive six-week community consultation process, would protect the districts by restraining certain types of development.

While the legislation will end urban sprawl, it will also improve opportunities for appropriate development that will support the character of the areas, such as sympathetic tourism and wine industry projects.

Under the Bill, the independent DAC will be appointed as the authority to assess applications for land divisions in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.

The legislation says that the DAC must refuse applications that propose additional allotments for residential development, or industrial development that would be detrimental to the special character of the districts.

In other words, under the Bill no new residential development will be allowed outside town boundaries in the Barossa and McLaren Vale districts.

Industrial development will only be allowed if it fits with the character of the districts.

The legislation also aims to provide certainty for future investment in the districts. All future development will need to be guided by objectives set out in the Bills. These objectives, like the constraints, reflect the many suggestions put to the Government during public consultation.

The Bills (including the maps) are available online.