AU: Bid to cut red tape and unlock $50m in horticulture developments

Horticulturists say a change in planning laws to cut red tape has the potential to unlock $50m of development across SA, most of which is earmarked for the Adelaide Plains. The state planning department has backed calls to modernise laws which farmers say are stifling growth in the industry. The gross value of produce of the Adelaide Plains, which includes Virginia, Two Wells and Angle Vale, is $125 million. The overhaul comes after Adelaide Plains horticulture industry group Hortex Alliance raised concerns with the State Government over an anomaly in planning regulations.

Hortex Alliance chairman Dino Musolino said existing planning codes compelled councils to assess greenhouse developments as if they were industrial buildings. Mr Musolino said this meant horticulture businesses needed to install expensive fire-prevention measures, and this often discouraged development.

Mr Musolino said the fire-prevention measures were unnecessary because greenhouses were either made of glass, which doesn’t burn, or plastic, which would melt rather than catch fire.

Mr Musolino said a handful of multi-million dollar developments were in the pipeline for the Adelaide Plains and cutting red tape would help them come to fruition. He said council planning regulations, which were governed by state law, also crippled other primary industries.

Taylor MP Leesa Vlahos said the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure would set up a reference group to talk to the industry, planning experts and emergency services to modernise planning laws. Planning Minister John Rau would need to approve any changes.

Ms Vlahos said red tape had been holding back $50 million of potential investments but the government wanted to work with the industry to overcome the issue.

“We are looking to build new glasshouses, grow new jobs and increase our export capacity,” she said.

Source: adelaidenew.com.au