Cap: A development plan amendment which could pave the way for a major redevelopment of the Gawler Central railway precinct has been cancelled, but new planning laws could see it proceed anyway. PHOTO: FILE
A CONTROVERSAL development plan amendment (DPA) to rezone land along the soon-to-be electrified Gawler Rail Line has been canned, but only because planning minister Stephan Knoll believes new regulations will achieve the same result.
The Adelaide-Gawler Rail Corridor Uplift DPA was proposed in 2018 as a way to unlock land along the rail line for housing and retail development.
In particular, it looked to rezone the Town Centre Historic Conservation Zone, including land near the Gawler Central rail station at the northern end of Murray Street.
It also would have facilitated further housing development in the land along the rail line, potentially in the area known as Gawler’s ‘buffer zone’.
Council met the DPA with some concern when it was first presented to Gawler Council in January, 2019, with councillor David Hughes saying it had the potential to “put a wrecking ball” through Gawler’s character.
The DPA was due to be completed in July, but Mr Knoll has now called an end to the proposed changes ahead of the implementation of the State Government’s new Planning and Design Code in July.
The code will replace all existing development plans across the state, and according to a letter from Mr Knoll to Gawler Mayor Karen Redman, will facilitate the planning changes proposed in the DPA anyway.
“I understand that the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has worked closely with staff from your council and the City of Playford in developing the DPA for consultation,” the minister wrote.
“However, upon review I now believe that the policy framework as proposed under the draft Planning and Design Code will provide adequate guidance for the affected lands for the long term, in lieu of the draft DPA. On this basis, I am advising of my decision not to progress with the DPA.”
As a reaction to the now-cancelled DPA, Gawler Council commissioned an investigation by urban design planners Jensen PLUS into how the town’s existing infrastructure would cope with the retail and housing growth the DPA would bring.
According to a report at the special meeting, Jensen PLUS’ final report is due “shortly”.
Developer Sierra Leyton, which has long held plans for a major revamp of the Gawler Central railway station precinct had worked with DPTI and council on the DPA in hopes it could pave the way for the project to begin.
The proposed development could see a park-and-ride facility, bus interchange and high-rise apartment building built alongside the rail line.
