Following years of planning and anticipation, the Strathalbyn Township and Environs Development Plan Amendment (DPA) was officially endorsed by the Minister for Planning, Hon Stephan Knoll MP in September 2018.

The endorsement means Council can ‘unlock the heart of Strathalbyn’ and re-zone four key areas to embrace the town’s distinctive character, while allowing for residential and economic growth. This will be achieved by providing a district centre zone for vibrant businesses, a residential zone to accommodate a growing community, an industrial zone to encourage investment and an open space zone to create the potential for the land to become a distinctive education and recreation community hub.

The Strathalbyn Township and Environs DPA follows the direction of the Strathalbyn Town Plan 2014-2024 which, following significant public consultation in 2013-14, identified a course of action to realise a vision for Strathalbyn that supports a growing community and retains the town’s country charm and heritage.

Alexandrina Council has a Development Plan that describes desired character and development outcomes, specifies the criteria against which land uses and new developments are assessed, and provides a range of planning policies. Council reviews the Development Plan to keep abreast with changes in development needs, government policy and community expectations. Updates and changes to the Development Plan must go through the process of preparing a Development Plan Amendment (DPA).

Preparation of the Strathalbyn Township and Environs DPA followed a number of steps through initial investigations and endorsement of a draft DPA, extensive public consultation, concurrent public and government agency consultation, detailed analysis and considerations, and finally, the submission and subsequent ministerial approval of the final DPA.