Land of critical importance for future food production will be identified in seven South Australian regional plans set for release later this year.
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With 300,000 additional houses needing to be built in the state in the next 30 years, farmer advocacy groups are lobbying for an agricultural land audit to be part of the planning process.
Grain Producers SA and Primary Producers SA want to see, what they see as, mistakes of the past - where valuable agricultural land in areas like Mount Barker, Virginia, Angle Vale and Gawler and surrounds has been covered in housing - not repeated again.
The state government and its Planning Minister Nick Champion have responded to the calls by saying the land audit concept would be "encompassed" within the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan and six other plans, which will be released for consultation from September.
The plans will "guide development and fulfil the vision of the State Planning Policies" for the Kangaroo Island, Yorke and Mid North, Eyre and Western, Far North, Limestone Coast and Murray Mallee regions.
Mr Champion says any future development will have to include a "considered mix of greenfield and infill".
"We are looking at increasing urban density in metropolitan areas such as Smithfield, Prospect, West End Brewery and Noarlunga, which are already well connected through existing public transport options," he said.
"While greenfield developments allow for master planned communities on larger blocks.
"In saying that, South Australia's food producing and agricultural regions are important areas which we need to respect and treat with great care.
"These areas are crucial to our state's food security, economic growth, local jobs and South Australia's global reputation as a premium producer of food and wine."
LGA seeks clarity on faster planning approach from state government
South Australia's Local Government Association has warned a new state government approach to land division shouldn't compromise quality planning decisions, otherwise a housing crisis would quickly turn into an infrastructure crisis.
During the announcement of its Housing Roadmap last week, the state government said local councils would be "under pressure to assess land divisions faster or risk being stripped of their responsibilities".
Strict timeframes will be imposed on councils to assess land division applications and if not achieved, the state government would "take control through a new Land Division Assessment Panel".
LGA SA's chief executive officer Clinton Jury said while productive agricultural land was currently protected within the planning system and rezoning processes, and shouldn't be impacted by the new approach, more information was needed from state government on its plan to implement shorter assessment periods and planning decisions.
"Councils are eager to facilitate more housing in their regions, however this must be done with careful long-term growth and strategic planning in partnership with communities," he said.
"Fast-tracking shouldn't compromise quality and consistent planning decisions, or we risk the housing crisis turning into an infrastructure crisis.
"Maintaining local amenity, ensuring sustainable and quality growth, and protecting the service needs of towns and suburbs are equally important - it's about getting the balance right."
Mr Jury warned that pressure on development applications and planning workloads in councils had increased as housing demand lifted, leading to continued planner shortages without the added pressures of shorter timeframes.
He did acknowledge that housing shortages were limiting businesses from hiring workers, particularly in regional areas.