In reply to Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT (18 August) and answered by letter on 14 September.
  The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: I provide the follow-ing information on how the Planning Strategy and urban regeneration policies address concerns about urban sprawl.
Urban Sprawl
Trends & Concerns

• Adelaide is experiencing low population growth and an ageing population.
• Changing household structures are resulting in declining numbers of people living in some inner and middle ring suburbs.
• The metropolitan fringe and hills areas continue to attract a significant proportion of young families.
• Continued urban expansion directly impacts on infra-structure costs for Government and the community.
• Urban expansion also contributes to environmental degrada-tion and the encroach-ment of residential devel-opment on productive agricultural land and industrial areas.
• While fringe housing remains more affordable, the cost of increasing urban expansion will be felt in commut-ing times, reliance on private transport, access to ser-vices and facilities and investment by Government to infra-structure provision.
• Given the overall decline in housing construction re-cently, the latest survey on demolitions from re-develop-ment indicates a higher than anticipated level of activity happening within inner and middle ring suburbs.
• Much of the recently identified surplus Government owned land is strategically placed in the middle ring suburbs of Adelaide. Its availability and develop-ment is offering greater housing location and choice, thereby reducing demand for expan-sion of the metropolitan fringes.

• Accommodating growth and infrastructure within the built-up Adelaide areas and the confines of urban town-ships and slow-ing fringe growth.
• Encouraging greater housing choice mainly in the middle ring of suburbs over the next five years.
• Regenerating inner metropolitan residential areas.
• Undertaking comprehensive urban renewal to im-prove the quality of the urban environment in areas of disad-vantage and poor residential amenity or environmental quality.
• Linking housing and environmental improvement to opportunities for education, employment, social and cultural development.
• Making sure that living areas have access to work, services and facilities.
• Encouraging more houses to be built in the City of Adelaide.
• Undertaking urban infill development on surplus and under-used sites and dispersed among estab-lished dwellings, particularly around transport nodes and centres.
• Giving greater priority to the South Australian Housing Trust's redevelop-ment program.
• Redeveloping public housing areas to integrate them with adjoining commu-nities.

• There should be no expansion of township boundar-ies in the Watershed, except to incorporate existing fringe urban development; and
• Expansion of towns outside of the Watershed needs to be based on the protection of agricultural land, mineral resources, native vegetation, environ-mental and rural character and the economic provision of infrastructure, including connection to a sewerage or Common Efflu-ent Drainage scheme.

 
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