The Roseworthy Township Expansion Development could be scrapped if the Light Regional Council and the developers do not accept changes proposed by the State Government and sign infrastructure agreements before 1 October 2016.

In a very forthright letter to the Council and Developers, the Planning Minister John Rau advised the Council and developers that it would require changes to the proposed activity centre which is located in the wrong area.

In his letter Mr Rau states “I do not consider the DPA appropriate for approval in its current form.” Mr Rau strongly suggests that the Council has ignored the advice he has previously provided to them, stating that he ‘expressly indicated’ that the area identified by the Council for a retail centre should not be used for that purpose.

Mr Rau goes on to say that the “DPA lodged by Council does not meet my expectations in relation to the retail investigations.” The Council and developers have also been placed on notice that any land not subject to a signed infrastructure agreement by the 1 October would not be rezoned.

Local Member, Tony Piccolo said that the actions of the Council and some developers in this matter have been less than desirable, whereby the whole re-zoning process is now under threat.

“This development is important for the region in terms of economic activity and jobs, so it has been very frustrating to see this process unnecessarily dragged out,” said Mr Piccolo.

“The parties to this DPA have to stop manoeuvring and the time for brinkmanship is truly over. “Peoples’ economic wellbeing is at risk here.

Mr Piccolo said the State Government made it very clear in early 2014 what its expectations were, but for some reason some parties thought they were free to ignore them.

“We are now at the point where the whole proposal could be scrapped.”

“If that happens, the Council and developers have only themselves to blame.”

Correspondence I have received from the Light Regional Council now suggests that they have got the message loud and clear and would be amending the proposal to meet State Government policies.

“The memo I received from the Light Regional Council provides me with some hope that the matter will be resolved by the Minister’s deadline.

“I am looking forward to the DPA being approved and investment dollars flowing into the area creating much need jobs,” said Mr Piccolo.