Planning Minister’s decision on Southern Barossa Winery & Tourist Accommodation
11 May 2026 Media statement: Planning Minister approval of large-scale 150-room, 6 storey hotel & winery development on rural land, Williamstown
The approval by the Minister for Planning for development of a 150-room, 6 storey hotel, function centre and winery development on rural land on Hoffnungsthal Road, Williamstown is of great concern to the Barossa Region Residents’ Association.
The scale and intensity of this development is not envisaged in the Barossa Character Preservation Act, which specifically protects the agricultural land and rural vistas of the Barossa.
The project was declared an ‘Impact Assessed Development’ by the Minister, thereby avoiding assessment at the local Council Assessment Panel, and removing the opportunity for verbal representations from the community. This Ministerial approval pathway sets a precedent for future largescale projects on rural land to avoid local assessment, removing the voice of the Barossa community.
Barossa Region Residents’ Vice President Cathy Wills reflects, “This represents a missed opportunity by approving tourist accommodation infrastructure that does not reflect an authentic Barossa experience or draw from our unique sense of place. Similar design and built form can be found in urban hotels across the globe.”
“Barossa Region Residents’ Association continues to advocate for strengthening of State Planning Code policies, to reflect the intent of the Character Preservation legislation, and to ensure future protection of our vital agricultural land and rural landscapes, and appropriate development and investment.”
The Barossa community raised many concerns regarding the development: protection of the Barossa rural land and special character, traffic and congestion, bushfire risk, infrastructure impacts and design and lack of data to substantiate demand for large-scale hotel accommodation, which have not been satisfactorily resolved in the assessment process.
Our position on large-scale tourist accommodation on rural land:
Barossa Region Residents’ Association does not support large-scale hotel development on rural land.
We support the development of premium, luxury tourist accommodation within the Barossa, appropriately designed and appropriately located.
We value the important economic benefit and job opportunities that increased tourism brings to our region, and we advocate for large-scale premium tourist accommodation to be located within Barossa townships, so that the economic benefit is shared with local cafes & restaurants, retailers and traders.
Barossa Region Residents’ Association supports the Character Preservation Act and recognises that the Barossa’s scenic vistas have a unique economic value, attracting visitation to the Barossa and deserving protection from inappropriate development and landscape intrusion.
We support the current state planning policy that provides for small-scale tourist accommodation on rural land, to ensure the preservation of the Barossa’s vital agricultural land and valuable rural landscapes.”
Quotes by James Lindner, President, Barossa Region Residents’ Association:
“Barossa Region Residents’ Association is pro-development and investment, but this should be driven by a plan that is written by the community for the community. By having a community-led plan for the Barossa, we lead developers and development, rather than being developer-led.”
“We are concerned that these key decisions are now being centralised at state government level, and that they set a dangerous precedent that suggests the process can dismiss the regional voice.”
“The Barossa Region Residents’ Association was designed to elevate the community voice, to be at the heart of decision-making. So make sure you get involved, let us know what you are feeling, and we will be the voice of the collective. We want to continue to honour our past by protecting our future.”