Housing boost on Barossas edge

A big new housing development has been announced on the western boundary of the Barossa Valley, on Adelaide's north-eastern outskirts.

Land at Gawler East will be rezoned to allow for housing across 219 hectares, close to South Australia's premier wine region.

There are plans for about 2,500 houses, which the South Australian Government says will help meet demand for affordable housing in Adelaide's north.

A disused quarry will be rehabilitated as part of the project.

The housing development is expected to take about 10 years, boosting the residential capacity of the Gawler area by about 25 per cent.

Gawler mayor Brian Sambell says the council is working with the developers to ensure the character of the area is maintained.

"We are very keen conscious of keeping that theme of that country feel," he said.

"And being where we are just outside of Adelaide and, you know, on the gateway to the Barossa, we need to develop something that's going to be sustainable and the north area is definitely an area where people are wanting to come now."

Opposition urban planning spokesman David Ridgway says the housing project is at odds with the Government's plans to develop land near transport infrastructure.

"We're not going to see any increased expenditure on public transport in that area until at least 2013," he said.

'With petrol approaching $2 a litre that's hardly affordable housing. It's a flawed policy."

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Thu 10th July 2008 - 06:13pm