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Regional plan released for comment

Posted on March 4, 2010, 9:09am

South East residents are encouraged to have their say about how the region will look in the future.

Releasing the draft Limestone Coast Region plan this week for public consultation, Department of Planning and Local Government chief executive Ian Nightingale said the strategic document provided a coordinated vision for land use and development.

“This region encompasses part of the state’s wine industry, one of the largest forestry industries, as well as a fantastic tourist drive connecting fishing and holidaying towns including Kingston, Robe, Beachport, Penola and Port MacDonnell,” Mr Nightingale said.

“The planning strategy aims to protect and preserve the region’s environmental assets such as coastal habitats, wetlands and water resources and this can be done in a way that ensures that the region can continue to attract and sustain the population growth expected in the years to come.”

Mr Nightingale said the draft regional plan was the result of collaboration between state agencies and seven local councils, the Limestone Coast Regional Development Board, the South East Natural Resource Management Board and the South East Local Government Association.

“We know it is important to retain the character of local townships,” Mr Nightingale said.

“This regional plan will help to carefully grow the region by expanding on existing and new industries but planning for and prioritising where future development can and cannot take place.”

The region accounts for more than 2pc of the state’s land and with 65,400 residents, it is home to more than 4pc of the state’s population.

The draft plan coincides with the release of a discussion paper, produced by the South East Local Government Association (SELGA), to review development plans for the region.

Development plans detail local zoning and land use priorities to assess the appropriateness of development applications.

Public consultation on the government’s draft planning strategy and SELGA’s development plan review discussion paper will run concurrently to provide ongoing consistency between the two planning proposals.

Tatiara District Council, Kingston District Council, Naracoorte Lucindale Council, District Council of Robe, Wattle Range Council, City of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant will all be formally consulted as part the two-month consultation period.

The aims of the vision explained in the draft plan are to:

  • Promote industrial growth in Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Snuggery, Bordertown, Kingston and Millicent.
  • Manage growth to protect natural and industry assets.
  • Foster small, micro and home-based businesses.
  • Assist primary production to adapt to increasing variations in climate and water availability and so become more sustainable.
  • Strengthen the roles of townships, with Mount Gambier as the major regional city, Naracoorte as the major commercial and service centre, and Bordertown, Kingston and Millicent as supporting commercial and service centres.
  • Strengthen the tourism industry by building on the region’s natural and cultural assets.
    Retain built heritage and link it with tourism, especially in Robe, Kingston, Beachport, Port MacDonnell, Penola and Mundulla.
  • Support emerging industries, including the renewable energy sector.

Once finalised, the plan will become a volume of the South Australian Planning Strategy, which will give the regional plan statutory effect and provide formal direction to local councils and the private sector.

Public consultation runs until May 4.

A copy of the Limestone Coast regional plan can be found online.

Hard copies are available from local councils and copies are also available on CD.

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