Alexandrina Council is encouraging the community to have a say on what the future for the region should look like as part of the state government’s new Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP). 

The state government released its GARP discussion paper on 14 August as part of a three-month community consultation. 

The plan will replace the existing 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and identifies where housing and employment precincts will be developed and integrated with other infrastructure as South Australia’s population grows. 

The GARP identifies Goolwa for both housing and employment lands growth. 

Alexandrina Council’s Chief Executive Nigel Morris says the GARP has implications for the entire district, and it iss important for the community to consider the discussion paper and provide feedback. 

“We are keen to be an integral part of the State Planning Commission’s strategic planning decision making by identifying areas that might be suitable for growth and identifying the infrastructure needs to facilitate that growth,” he says. 

“The discussion paper has now been released and it considers where new housing and employment lands should be developed, how the state preserves its agricultural and environmental assets, and what major infrastructure will be required for future generations. 

“It tells us that current development activity planned for Goolwa and Victor Harbor is anticipated to provide more than 10,000 additional dwellings, and that there is scope for more development. 

“The discussion paper also states that it will be ‘particularly important to maintain the inter-urban breaks between Goolwa and Victor Harbor to maintain subregional identity, including of that of Middleton and Port Elliot’.” 

Alexandrina Council will make a submission during the public consultation period. 

The Commission will host a series of community information sessions, online and in-person, plus 10-minute Listening Posts for individual queries. 

A community information session is scheduled for 27 September at Centenary Hall in Goolwa, from 12pm-7pm. Booking can be made via Eventbrite.  

To read the Discussion Paper and find out more about the GARP and the consultation process, head to the Commission website.