Our Projects…

There is always a lot happening in and around the Barossa...

BAROSSA COUNCIL’S DRAFT GROWTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE SURVEY

Right now, until 1 May 2024, you have a very important opportunity to have your say, regarding the future of development and growth in the Barossa.  You can influence the future direction of the Barossa, by giving your feedback via a survey on significant growth and development options that the Barossa Council is considering.

You can read council’s draft Growth and Infrastructure strategy on their website here.
 
The draft strategy proposes potential growth and development in each Barossa town, including:

  • Extending some town boundaries for additional residential allotments

  • Creating Zones within some townships for three-storey developments

  • Re-zoning Rural Zone to Tourism Development Zone

  • Placing Employment Lands (Commercial Zones) immediately adjacent some townships

Barossa Region Residents’ Association believes it is vital that community members engage with and respond to the Barossa Council’s Draft Growth & Infrastructure survey. We encourage you to review these proposals and provide feedback regarding which strategies you believe will preserve, and which strategies you believe will detract, from the Barossa’s Character and Agricultural lands.

To assist you in completing the survey, we have pre-filled a survey form with responses that align with Objects of the Barossa Region Residents’ Association.  We encourage you to download this survey form here, and use this as a template to add in your additional responses.

Please email your survey response to barossa@barossa.sa.gov.au

 Our pre-filled survey response is based on the Objects of our Association – in particular:

 The conservation of the unique community character and heritage of the Barossa Region and adjacent areas, a region which is primarily depended on its vineyards, wineries, and agriculture,

AND

To protect the Barossa Districts' unique heritage, culture and integrity by maintaining and preserving the rural amenity, rural character and scenic vistas vital for tourism, and acknowledging that future development should be well designed and supports, rather than detracts from the dominant land uses.

 

Our response is limited to issues of Character Preservation and protection of Rural Land, and therefore only relates to a few of the survey questions.

 

We encourage you to consider our views, and if you agree, please include them in your survey response.

Again, we encourage you to read through all of the Development Opportunities outlined in this consultation for each Barossa town and insert your additional feedback via our survey template.

Consultation closes 5pm, Wednesday, 1 May 2024.

The below links will take you to view the proposals for your town. Please review so you are informed in your submission.

A RARE OPPORTUNITY

In March 2024, Barossa Region Residents’ Association gave feedback to help change the way councils operate in South Australia.

The Office of Local Government conducted a state-wide consultation to give the community an opportunity to provide ideas and suggestions on how communities can better engage with their councils through a council term and, particularly, at election time.

The review and consultation focused on these key topics:

  • How to better engage and participate with councils

  • How to encourage a greater number of more diverse candidates for election to councils

  • How to increase voter turnout

  • How to ensure that council elections are run efficiently and with the highest level of integrity

The overall aim of this consultation was to inform reform proposals and the development of the bill to amend local government legislation.

Protection Legislation

Issue:  The Character Preservation (Barossa Valley) Act 2012 (SA) is being challenged. This piece of legislation has been designed to protect the Barossa, its distinct character, essence and history. To review the current legislation, please follow this link.

What is at risk? 

The Barossa Region Residents Association Inc. (“Residents’ Association”) believes that current legislative provisions do not offer a statutory definition of what defines the character of our world-class Barossa landscape. Thus, the Residents’ Association believes that The Character Preservation (Barossa Valley) Act 2012 (SA) requires strengthening through a Subregional plan, further underpinned by a Regional Character Study, to ensure appropriate development policy to maintain and protect the Barossa’s heritage, agriculture landscapes, natural landscapes and townships.

Residents’ Association Action: The Residents’ Association is committed to advocating that State Planning Legislation continues to be progressive to meet future development growth.

Community Action

Issue:  Development on land zoned Primary Production that does not follow the Development Plans policies and guidelines.

What is at risk? 

If developments are approved for tourism or other activities that are not first and foremost Primary Production, the risk is that this land will be changed forever and the primary reason the Barossa is a world class region will be fundamentally jeopardised, setting continuous precedence for future development. 

Barossa Region Residents’ Association Action: The Residents’ Association is driving for a voice of the residents’ to stop these types of inappropriate development. We will make representations where we can that support our Objects and Purposes.

The Barossa Region Residents’ Association is always fundraising to help tackle these threats head on, to appoint and fund professional legal counsel, expertise in planning and other professional services to provide much needed advocacy support. 

All concerned members of our Barossa Community are asked to join together and contribute funds - all donations are welcomed and will play a key part in these endeavours.  Every donation, whatever amount, will be of great assistance.   DONATE HERE