Adelaide Hills town revamps planned amid Mount Barker district population boom

Some of our quaint Adelaide Hills towns are set for a massive population boom, and the Mount Barker Council is considering some dramatic changes to deal with the influx.

Macclesfield Hotel Publicans Jen and Justin 'Yorkey' York are ready for the population boom. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

• Calls for a passenger train from Mt Barker to Adelaide

A new RV park, public transport boost, extra shops and the possible rezoning of a large swath of land at Meadows are among plans for Mount Barker’s growing townships.

Mount Barker Council has released long-term visions for Meadows and Echunga, and is also working on plans for Macclesfield and Callington.

About 16,600 people call Mount Barker home, and by 2040, the council expects that figure to balloon to 40,000, making it the second largest city in SA.

But the area’s ‘tree change’ appeal, and resulting population boom, is also trickling down into its neighbouring towns.

Meadows is already home to 1900 people but the council is expecting that number to grow by 34 per cent over the next two decades.

Nairne’s population is due to grow by 20 per cent, Macclesfield’s will increase 12 per cent, and Littlehampton will see a 9 per cent boost.

The district’s acting general manager of planning and development, Marc Voortman, says the region has already seen large-scale growth and the plans will help the region keep up with the transformation. The move comes as families are seeing the hills as a charming alternative to Adelaide’s far north and south.

“You’re living in amongst beautiful landscaped areas and see primary production land from your doorstep, and we have high numbers of volunteers, a great community atmosphere and growing sporting clubs,” Mr Voortman says.

“Given the fact that Mount Barker is so rapidly growing … a lot of concentrated effort has been put on Mount Barker (but) we’ve got 16 townships as a district that are all deserving of our attention.”

The council is keen to find out if locals want a 19ha area of land on the edge of Meadows rezoned, to help cater for growth.

An RV park flagged for the town’s recreation ground will help attract more grey nomads to stay in the area, helping boost the local economy.

There is already a raft of walking and horseriding trails in the area but the council will consider ways to draw more people to them — through measures such as new parking areas, marketing or places for horses to drink.

The council is also considering introducing a dog park, supporting new traders’ groups and looking for anchor retail tenants.

Meadows Community Association secretary Chris Zanker says about 60 people turned up to a recent public meeting about the council’s vision for his hometown.

He wants parking spaces protected and the council’s ‘Deferred Urban Zone’ stay as it is — rather than making way for more housing and shops.

“Meadows is a conservative country town — it’s not a Mount Barker or Seaford Meadows,” Mr Zanker says.

“We’re a bit concerned about traffic and parking — there are a few big events where parking is at a premium.”

The council is looking at ways to address poor public transport in the region, which has lagged behind the area’s population growth (see separate story).

Raine & Horne Meadows owner Gary Dawe says demand is increasing for hills-based lifestyles, and the local real estate market is also picking up steam post-election.

“People are moving around more. Years ago, you only went to Adelaide once a month and now it seems just down the road,” Mr Dawe says.

“It’s not far if you relate the place to the likes of Sydney, where you can drive for two hours to get to work. People can get from Meadows and Maccy to Adelaide in 45 minutes.”

Matt Cockerill, 28, and his fiance Annie Foskett, 27, have recently moved into an old 1800s cottage in Meadows. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Matt Cockerill, 28, and his fianceé Annie Foskepp, 27, recently moved to Meadows after Matt spent about six years there with his family as a teenager.

He’s since lived in Campbelltown, Woodcroft and McLaren Vale, but the relaxed and quiet hills lifestyle drew the couple back and they settled in an 1860s cottage about three weeks ago.

Now he’s back in Meadows, he expects to spend more time at his local footy club and hopefully squeeze in some volunteer work with the CFS.

“It’s just the relaxed nature of it here and the community vibe — knowing people in the community,” Mr Cockerill says. The couple plans to wed at nearby Kuitpo Forest in December.

At Echunga, Mount Barker Council wants to overhaul the RSL Garden of Remembrance, which it says is underused.

That might include an adventure play area, mountain bike pump track and new picnic spaces.

Consultation on the Meadows plan closed this month, while the council is accepting comment on the Echunga vision until August 15.

It will consider changes in Macclesfield during August and Callington in October.

Macclesfield publican Justin ‘Yorky’ York says he always wanted a pub, and the dream came true after spending time mining in places including Roxby Downs and Prominent Hill.

He sees the occasional block get carved up in town, and says plenty of new faces have turned up at the watering hole since he took it on three years ago.

But growth in ‘Maccy’ will always be dwarfed by population increases in Mount Barker and Nairne, Mr York says.

“As you drive out, Mount Barker’s town boundary just gets changed all the time,” he says.

“All of our customers are farmers and local traders — 90 per cent of our business is all locals,” he says.

“It’s still country and everyone pretty much knows everyone in town — so if you do something everyone knows about it.”

Amid all the extra interest in the area, calls are being made for a new rail service to Mount Barker for Adelaide.

A recent report to the council showed more than half of the employed Mount Barker residents left the district each day, most travelling to Adelaide.

Paul Henley, spokesman for the SA Regional Rail Alliance, which is pushing for a rail renaissance across the state, says Adelaide trains should have returned to the area “a long time ago”. The report showed that by 2040, an extra 11,700 people — or about 290 bus-loads — would need to travel to and from Adelaide each day unless there were significant increases in local employment options.

Transport overhaul needed

By Michelle Etheridge

Mount Barker Council chief executive Andrew Stuart says he’s hopeful improvements to the Hills’ ailing public transport system will soon be on the way.

A public transport study for the Adelaide Hills-Fleurieu area recommends a raft of measures to fix inadequate services in the region.

More than 1300 people responded to a survey about transport in the Adelaide Hills, Mount Barker, Alexandrina, Yankalilla, Victor Harbor and Onkaparinga districts.

The project, managed by Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, found that bus services in the Hills were very low or non-existent, except for during peak times to and from the CBD,

The report also found public transport to the region was “significantly” underfunded per capita, transport was not supporting economic growth and there were too few Park ‘n’ Ride spaces. The study recommends considering a “rapid bus transit system”, new routes and on-demand bus trials in townships.

Mount Barker Council also wants the State Government to investigate a future rail corridor. Mr Stuart said following a meeting with senior Transport Department staff this week, it was agreed the first priorities would be bus service improvements and potential new park and ride locations.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the new SA Public Transport Authority Advisory Board would review all services to help drive patronage.

“As part of the bus contract tenders for the Adelaide Hills, we have asked bidders to provide options about how we can improve services and increase patronage,” Mr Knoll said.