Update - July 2023
A Special Council Meeting was held on 12 July regarding the Evanston Park Code Amendment (Vadoulis). At the meeting a submission was considered by Council to provide Councils view on the Code Amendment.
Minister’s Advice to Council
The Minister for Planning advised that Council can hold a community meeting to hear the views of the community directly and further inform Council’s submission to the Minister. As such Council undertook an extensive community engagement from 25 May to 15 June 2023. Over 1,400 letters were sent to residents and stakeholders.
Council Resolution
At the Special Council Meeting (12/7/23) Council considered:
- Town of Gawler, Engagement Report on the Code Amendment
- Submission on the merits of the Code Amendment
- A draft Land Management Agreement.
After hearing community submissions and staff presentations the following resolution was carried:
That Council:
- Notes the additional community engagement undertaken by Town of Gawler. (Attachment 1).
- Receives the Town of Gawler Engagement Report – June 2023 (Attachment 2).
- Notes the merits of the proposed Code Amendment is at variance with the Gawler Community Plan 2030+ and therefore the community vision for the Town of Gawler. On this basis, the Code Amendment is not supported by the Town of Gawler
- Endorses the submission (Attachment 6) opposing the merit of the Code Amendment and provide a copy of this submission to Future Urban and the Minister for Planning.
- Include in its submission to the Minister a copy of the Town of Gawler Engagement Report as provided at Attachment 2.
- Endorses the draft Land Management Agreement (LMA), to provide additional infrastructure, landscaping and policy support (Attachment 4) should the Minister decide to endorse the Code Amendment.
Council has now provided advice of its submission to Future Urban for the Designated Entity and to the Minister for Planning. The final decision on approval of the Code Amendment is with the Minister for Planning.
Update - June 2023
The official consultation period for the Evanston Park Code Amendment is now complete.
However, Council will also be holding a public forum to hear the views of the community directly. This will further inform Council’s submission to the Minister of Planning – who is the decision maker on this Code Amendment. Come along to our public forum on Tuesday 20 June 2023, 7pm at the Gawler Civic Centre, for your final chance to have your say on the Code Amendment.
If you wish to speak at this forum registrations are essential and must be directed to council@gawler.sa.gov.au
Please see the information below for background reports on the proposed Code Amendment.
Background to Code Amendment
A Code Amendment is proposed on the Vadoulis site (550 – 554 Main North Road) to rezone the land from a General Neighbourhood Zone to an Employment Zone to enable a future bulky goods use.
Investigations and consultation have been undertaken by Future Urban on behalf of the proponent. As this is a proponent led Code Amendment it is the responsibility of the proponent to undertake investigations and consultations.
Future Urban completed its engagement with the community on 12 March 2023.
Location of the Affected Area for rezoning 550 – 554 Main North Road
Additional Engagement Required by the Minister
The Minister for Planning has advised that Council can hold a community meeting to hear the views of the community directly and further inform Council’s submission to the Minister. Council undertook an extensive community engagement from 25 May to 15 June 2023. Over 1,500 letters were sent to residents and stakeholders. A detailed Engagement Report will now be provided to the Council and subsequently to Future Urban and the Minister for Planning.
Background Reports
Draft Submission on the Evanston Park Code Amendment, which Council received for noting on 16 May 2023 is provided to inform the community as part of Council’s engagement process.
Council commissioned four Peer Review reports to review Future Urban reports:
Update - March 2023
Council recently held a Special Council meeting to further consider its input into the proposed land use rezoning (code amendment) at the Vadoulis site located at 550-554 Main North Road Evanston Park.
Key points:
- Council is not confined to the current consultation period in providing a submission
- Council will consult with our community on this matter
- Our submission will be powerful and comprehensive, yet fair
Council intends to put in a powerful and comprehensive submission once all information is available to ensure an informed response.
The landowner, via their consultants, Future Urban, is seeking to have the land rezoned from General Neighbourhood to Employment to facilitate further commercial development of the site.
The rezoning is currently proceeding through public consultation and submissions need to be forwarded to the proponent by 12 March.
Council at its meeting considered various matters regarding the current and intended processing of the rezoning proposal, in light of correspondence that the local member Tony Piccolo received from the Hon Nick Champion Minister for Planning dated 6 March 2023, that was forwarded to Mayor Redman and Council Members.
The Minister has clarified his expectation in respect to Council’s involvement and managing its own community engagement process.
Mayor Redman confirmed that ‘based on the Minister’s advice, Council will now, separately from the proponent, engage with our community in finalising our response.
Therefore, Council will now lodge a further preliminary submission within the current consultation period. It will note that Council is undertaking further assessment of a number of key issues including stormwater, traffic, tree management and associated infrastructure, with the expectation of completion of this work by the end of March 2023.
Further, Council will after the completion of the current consultation process, consider the community feedback received and the proponents responses to the issues raised (expected late March 2023), including the possible application of a Land Management Agreement to manage offsite infrastructure requirements and contributions.
This information will inform Council’s final draft submission to the proposed rezoning, which will then be released by Council to our community for consultation.
Mayor Redman states ‘this process will provide a further opportunity for our community to inform Council’s final submission as an informed, fair and powerful response’.
It is anticipated that Council will release its draft submission for public comment in mid-April.
Additional information
For additional infromation on the draft Code Amendment please contact Town of Gawler’s Senior Strategic Planner, Chris Hannaford phone 8522 9279 or Email council@gawler.sa.gov.au.