- Wattle Range Council is applying to rezone ten parcels of land in the Lower South East.
- The South Australian state government is calling on local communities to provide feedback.
- Areas were identified under a long term plan by Council.
Consultation on a rezoning application in South Australia is set to open in the coming months, potentially delivering more housing around growing centres including Mount Gambier and Robe.
Wattle Range Council is applying to rezone ten parcels of land in the Lower South East, specifically around the townships of Millicent, Penola, Beachport and Glencoe.
The South Australian state government is calling on local communities to provide feedback on the Wattle Range Council application.
“This is a major rezoning application which would apply to ten different areas across the Lower South East and I think it’s great the Council is looking at ways to provide more housing in the community,” said Minister for Planning, Nick Champion.
“Like all our regions, there is significant stress on the local property market in the South East, with an increasing population and incredibly low rental vacancies.
“We are interested to hear what the local community thinks about the proposed changes and what kind of impact it would have on the area.”
Selected under a 25 year strategic plan
The parcels of land up for rezoning were identified under the Council’s 25 Year Strategic Land Use Plan, to be used in accommodating housing and employment growth, as the population surges in nearby major centres, Mount Gambier and Robe.
“Wattle Range Council recently developed a comprehensive Strategic Land Use Plan to provide development pathways for the next 25 years,” said Wattle Range Council CEO, Ben Gower.
“The plan was established in conjunction with each of our 13 townships through multiple community engagement sessions that took place over a 12 month period.
“After reviewing the amount of land available for development, we then initiated the above Code Amendments to address any gaps in the property market.
“Now that the Minister has approved the initiation of the Code Amendments, we would like to hear from our communities once again to ensure there are no surprises before they are implemented. Further consultation sessions will be occurring in mid-2024.”
Homes and farms
Should the rezoning be approved, areas identified will see a wider range of housing, including rural living opportunities. The rezoning, if approved, will also facilitate accommodation and employment uses on strategic sites located close to town centres.
The Council’s application notes that it will protect productive farming land in the area, as well as provide accommodation to support the region’s bustling tourism sector.
“I have been working with all tiers of government to seek solutions to the housing shortage that exists across my electorate,” said Member for MacKillop, Nick McBride.
“I am pleased the Wattle Range Council is taking a proactive approach by seeking to open up land for development.
“A shortage of affordable housing has significant personal, financial and economic impacts. It affects the way businesses can operate and makes it difficult to attract workers across vital sectors including agriculture and food processing.
“I encourage the community to provide their feedback on the proposed rezoning option and hope that it leads to a positive outcome.”
