McLaren Vale residents elated over as State Planning Commission confirms protection boundary changes off the table

McLaren Vale residents are celebrating after state planners confirmed a move was off the table that locals feared would surrender the region to developers.

McLaren Vale residents are rejoicing after the State Planning Commission confirmed it will not consider the merits of amending protections that safeguard the town’s prime agricultural land from development.

The Commission says it wont be considering any changes to McLaren Vale’s protection zone during its assessment of Character Preservation Districts, which forms part of an overarching review of the state’s Environment and Food Production Areas.

The commission is seeking public input into the review.

It came after residents raised concerns the assessment was the first step towards changing the town’s CPD boundary, which would pave the way for developers to seek a rezoning of large parcels of land off Aldersey St and turn them into housing estates.

They feared such a move would cripple the town’s tourist industry and destroy its character.

About 400 locals attended a public meeting, organised by Mawson MP Leon Bignell, in the Tatachilla Lutheran College gym on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter.

The Commission has released a statement saying it recently completed a detailed land supply analysis of the Greater Adelaide Area and concluded there was sufficient supply to support housing and employment growth over the next 15 years.

As such, it has determined “it is not necessary to remove any land from the Character Preservation Districts”.

It stressed that any changes to CPDs could only be made with the approval of both houses of State Parliament.

Local resident Dudley Brown, who owns Inkwell Wines and boutique accommodation Hotel California Road, said it was a “great outcome”.

“I think the most important thing is for the government to recognise that they can’t alter the boundaries using the process they were trying to,” he said.

“I think everybody will be really happy.”

Mark and Libby Lloyd at Coriole Winery in McLaren Vale.

Coriole Wines part-owner Mark Lloyd said there was a lot of concern and uncertainty surrounding the review.

“Once you start chopping away at (a protection zone) you don’t know where it’s going to go,” he said.

“I think they would be feeling that this is a threat that has been repelled, which is wonderful.”

McLaren Vale resident Diane Bradley agreed.

“We just dread (large housing developments) ever happening in the whole area,” she said.

However, Mr Bignell remained concerned about the issue and on Thursday wrote to the Commission, seeking clarification about the review process.

He said proposals to remove the land from the McLaren Vale protection zone had been classified as an “anomalies” for the purposes of the review and anomalies could be considered in the assessment regardless of whether there was sufficient land supply.

“From the comments made (at the public meeting), it was clear the people in this area do not want any more reviews because it creates uncertainty for everyone in the region,” he wrote to the Commission.