Rezoning of Adelaide's inner metro applauded by UDIA

Major boost for people wanting to live closer to the city

Today’s announcement by the South Australian Government to rezone Adelaide’s inner metropolitan area and offer stamp duty concessions for off-the-plan apartment sales has been welcomed by the state’s peak representative body for the urban development industry.

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (SA) says the Government’s new policy measures designed to create up to 18,500 new homes in the inner metropolitan area will support growth of communities and businesses in city fringe locations.

“Adelaide must grow up as well as grow out, so the State Government’s announcement is certainly a positive step forward,” said Terry Walsh, UDIA (SA) Executive Director.

“This new policy represents a well-integrated package of measures that will support balanced urban growth in Adelaide’s inner metropolitan area.

“In particular, we congratulate the Government on extending the stamp duty concessions for off-the-plan purchases of apartments in newly rezoned areas – something the UDIA has long called for in all areas across greater Adelaide.

“We also applaud the decision to give responsibility to the Development Assessment Commission to approve development plans of five storeys or higher in the newly zoned areas.”

Mr Walsh says the UDIA congratulates local councils, including Unley, West Torrens, Prospect and Norwood, Payneham and St Peters for their support of the Government’s plans.

“We commend the various local councils who took the initiative to approve the development plan amendments that will alter the rezoning in their respective areas,” he said.

“In consulting with their communities, the councils have been able to identify and rezone areas along key road corridors that represent fantastic renewal opportunities for the betterment of their local communities.”

Mr Walsh says there is “a crying need for infill and renewal development across Adelaide” and is encouraged by the Government’s increased focus to improve planning.

“We fully support the increasing attention on infill housing development, and continue to urge state and local governments to be active with progressive planning reform to meet changing market demands and providing better housing in existing urban areas for young people and growing families through to retiree households,” said Mr Walsh.

“The UDIA is looking forward to working with the Government to showcase the development industry’s ability to produce well designed medium density housing and contemporary, mixed use communities to enhance these city fringe locations.”

Established in 1971, the UDIA (SA) represents the interests of the development industry in South Australia in collaboration with all levels of government. It seeks to represent all sections of the urban development sector, including developers, councils and service providers such as engineers, planners and surveyors. As the fifth largest contributor to output in SA, the property development industry employs 56,000 people or 7% of the state’s total workforce, and accounts for almost $9 billion or 12% of Gross State Product.

FURTHER INFORMATION:  Please contact
Terry Walsh, UDIA (SA) Executive Director, on 0408 704 790 or
Kieran Hall from Hughes Public Relations on 0422 147 151 or kieran@hughespr.com.au