More homes for regional South Australia

Land for more than 2700 homes across two sites in regional South Australia will be released to help ease demand for housing. The state government has unlocked access to the land at Goolwa North, on the Fleurieu Peninsula and at Fisherman’s Bay on Yorke Peninsula.

The government did not release land north of Gawler, where two private housing developments have begun at Roseworthy or nearby Freeling and Two Wells.

Member for Frome Penny Pratt said, “Riverlea, Concordia, those areas are set or earmarked for land release and development is ongoing.”

“The Master Builders Association reports that there are still about 14,000 houses still under construction in SA, construction is strong,” she said.

The housing market in South Australia is has been competitive, with regional house prices up by 13% for the month of February.

“Regional housing is a very palatable option for people who are perhaps still working in the city and looking for that country commute. But I know that there's a balance we need to strike between how much arable prime farming land we concede to construction and country population growth,” she said.

Farming land in the outer urban fringe has previously been protected by the South Australia Government from housing developers including the wider Light Regional Council planning submission for Roseworthy Region which was orginally rejected.

“People in my community are sensitive to how much land, country farming land should be released,” she said.

“I think the government needs to get the settings right for the land that is already released. Around Roseworthy, Freeling and Two Wells, the infrastructure is the critical element and water connection has been problematic for people who have bought blocks of land only to find that the water won't be connected for many years to come,” Ms Pratt said.

Ms Pratt was concerned about furture expansion of housing and services, “before more land is released in [the electorate] Frome, I want to see government agencies ensuring that people who are building and living there get the services they need.”