Council rezoning could see 700 new allotments built in tiny Eyre Peninsula coastal town

Fewer than 200 people live in this town on SA’s Eyre Peninsula. But shrinking the minimum property size under a new plan would make way for 700 extra homes.

An Eyre Peninsula town of just 186 people could get more than 700 new homes under a proposed rezoning that would dramatically reduce the area’s minimum property size.

Under the present zoning rules at Ceduna Waters, on the peninsula’s west coast, the minimum allotment size for dwellings is one to two hectares, or 10,000 to 20,000 sqm.

The District Council of Ceduna’s proposed shake-up would bring the minimum allotment size down to 2000 sqm over a 260ha section of the town, potentially creating up to 706 additional allotments for dwellings.

The council’s proposal document said the change would respond to a strong demand for smaller allotments, but noted the total number of new dwellings would probably be lower than the maximum yield of 706.

The area proposed for rezoning at Ceduna Waters. Picture: Supplied

“Allotments in the 2000 sqm range are appropriate to minimise infrastructure costs and are a size which can be more readily maintained by residents,” the proposal said.

“Larger allotments are commonly associated with agricultural activities, however the soil type (highly calcareous sandy loam) through the region of Ceduna Waters is not conducive to productive agricultural growing.”

The proposed code amendment, which needs state government approval after the process was initiated last week, also responds to an expected growth of the town’s population.

State government projections predict the area will grow by 307 people between 2021 and 2041, requiring another 129 dwellings.

Development at Ceduna Waters would also provide accommodation for workers at the Port of Thevenard, where trade is forecast to grow 2.8 million tonnes per annum to 3.2 million tonnes per annum in 2070, according to Flinders Port Holdings.

The Eyre Peninsula in the state’s west is forecast for growth. Picture: Supplied

Ceduna Waters is a small town on SA’s Eyre Peninsula. Picture: State Government

The council’s proposal said as of September 10, there were just three houses available to rent in Ceduna and Thevenard combined.

It said demand was “limited” for one to two hectare allotments under the present zoning, and the new zoning would remain “very low density”.

Ceduna Council Mayor Ken Maynard told The Advertiser that attitudes towards large allotments had changed in the past two decades.

“Twenty-odd years ago, people were looking for rather large blocks, but now people are realising that perhaps large is not necessarily good,” he said.

“I think most of the people that live in Ceduna Waters now are people that originate from Ceduna, moving out there.

“It’ll take a while for demand to grow. There’s no way we’ll see an expansion of 700 houses.”

Of the 145 allotments presently at Ceduna Waters, 101 are between 2ha and 2.5ha.

The 2021 census recorded just 50 families living in the coastal town, with a median age of 38.

Ceduna Waters homes must have private rainwater tanks with a minimum storage requirement of 45,000 litres, because SA Water infrastructure at Ceduna presently does not extend to Ceduna Waters.

Originally published as Council rezoning could see 700 new allotments built in tiny Eyre Peninsula coastal town