Goolwa Growth Concept Plan

We want to know where you think are the best places for Goolwa and surrounds to grow.

There are significant issues facing our Nation, State and also being felt by local communities in Alexandrina Council.

We are experiencing a housing availability and affordability crisis due to factors including an increasing population and reducing household sizes, there are changes happening to the climate and there is significant growth pressure, particularly around Goolwa.

Alexandrina Council has proactively planned for growth in and around Goolwa, preparing the Goolwa Town Plan: GO2030 Making Sense of Goolwa’s Growth Opportunities’ which identified a preferred growth scenario for Goolwa in a staged manner towards the north of the existing urban area. This growth scenario was reflected in the ‘town boundary’ in the State Government’s 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and was reinforced by the Environment and Food Production Area (EFPA), legislated in 2017 to protect areas of agricultural or environmental significance from urban type development.

Subsequent strategic work included: ‘Goolwa North Enquiry by Design Workshop – Outcomes Report’ (2016) which documented the findings and recommendations from an intensive, collaborative workshop with community and resulted in an agreed Masterplan (EBD Masterplan) to guide the future growth of Goolwa. The EBD Masterplan was used to inform a Council led Goolwa North Development Plan Amendment (DPA) that sought to rezone land at the Goolwa North location for residential and related land uses. Council decided not to pursue this DPA following the feedback received from the community during public consultation.

Since this time:

• a new planning system has come into effect bringing with it the ability for private land owners to undertake the process to rezone their land (a Private Proponent led Code Amendment (CA)). There are a number of such Code Amendments affecting land around Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island including the Goolwa North Code Amendment.
• The Greater Adelaide Regional Plan Discussion Paper has been released identifying Goolwa as a growth investigation area for both residential and employment lands, potentially beyond the current 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide ‘town boundary’.

Council has therefore engaged consultant, Holmes Dyer to prepare a new Concept Plan to help guide the future growth of Goolwa. The Goolwa Growth Concept Plan will assist Council in making informed decisions regarding:

• Proponent-led Code Amendments affecting the township
• Greater Adelaide Regional Plan growth targets
• Other strategic planning decisions regarding Goolwa

A number of investigations will inform the Concept Plan including:

• Population and demographic review
• Property market data and analysis
• Review of existing plans, strategies and other relevant documentation
• High level review of existing social infrastructure capacity and accessibility
• Service infrastructure availability and capacity
• Heritage and cultural significance
• Environmental factors

As part of this process Council is working with planning consultants Holmes Dyer to engage with the community and stakeholders regarding growth and potential locations for growth and have identified some potential sites along with the opportunities and constraints of those locations. Some potential options include growth between the towns of Goolwa and Middleton and shared growth across Goolwa, Middleton, Port Elliot and Hindmarsh Island.

Please have a look at these options, the constraints and opportunities and provide your feedback to us via the survey.

How to submit feedback:

• Online Survey (hosted by Holmes Dyer) - Goolwa Growth Opportunities Survey
• By Mail - please direct written submission to alex@alexandrina.sa.gov.au or by post to Att: CEO, Alexandrina Council, PO Box 21, Goolwa SA 5214, or
• In Person - Complete a hard copy survey at the Strathalbyn or Goolwa offices.

Submissions will be accepted by Council until 5pm, Friday 1 December 2023.