A draft plan for the future developmentof the Murray and Mallee Region has been issued for public comment.
Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Paul Holloway said the draft Murray and Mallee Region Plan was a strategic document that would provide a coordinated vision for land use and development across 50,000 square kilometres of the State.
“This region hosts some of our State’s proudest tourist attractions including national parks, the Coorong and the Riverland, as well as heritage rich towns such as Mannum,” Mr Holloway said.
Strategy out for public comment
“The region plan aims to ensure the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the Murray and Mallee’s key agricultural and horticultural industries.
“The plan not only encourages local industries to adapt to changes in weather conditions and water availability, but also seeks to protect and preserve environmental assets such as coastal habitats, wetlands and the River Murray.”
Mr Holloway said the aim of the draft plan was to promote industrial growth, particularly in Tailem Bend, Monarto, Berri and Renmark.
He said the roles and functions of towns would be strengthened, growth managed to protect industry assets, and long-term sustainability considered.
The draft plan also looks at ways to promote the use of renewable energy supplies such as solar, wind and geothermal technologies, and how growth can be managed to protect natural environmental assets along the River Murray, Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Ways to expand nature-based tourism are examined, focusing on the Coorong, the River Murray and the Mallee’s wilderness and conservation parks, as well as how built heritage can be retained and linked with tourism opportunities.
“We know it is important to retain the character of local townships in the region,” Mr Holloway said.
“This plan will help to carefully build stronger links between townships and develop the growing tourism industry by planning for and prioritising where development can and cannot take place.”
The draft plan is the result of collaboration between State Agencies and eight Local Councils, the Murraylands Regional Development Board, Riverland Development Corporation and the Murray Mallee Local Government Association.
The Minister said upon finalisation, the plan would become a volume of the South Australian Planning Strategy, giving it statutory effect and providing formal direction to Local Councils and the private sector for zoning in the future.
Public consultation on the draft plan will run till 23 September.
More information was available from www.dplg.sa.gov.au/go/murray-mallee-plan
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