The proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam mining and processing operation would lead to a predicted population growth for the township of Roxby Downs from the current 4,000 people, up to a population in the order of 10,000.

As a result, a Draft Master Plan for the proposed expansion of Roxby Downs is being undertaken.

What is a Master Plan?
A Master Plan is a document that describes, in words and with maps, an overall  development concept including present property uses, as well as future land and infrastructure plans.

The Master Planning process has already included community input at a number of steps along the way to ensure it is consistent with existing development and community plans to meet a range of objectives, including:

• providing suitable road links to the existing network and easier access to town centre
• facilitating greater choices in housing type and in flexibility of design
• consideration of local climatic conditions (ecologically sustainable development)
• creating open space areas for additional recreational purposes and potentially for additional education and community facilities
• retention, where practicable, of the dune system for conservation purposes and for public use and access
• providing safe and convenient walking and cycling trails
• conserving, where practicable, existing significant vegetation and other natural features
• protecting, where practicable, recorded Aboriginal heritage locations
• promoting water sensitive urban design.

This will ensure sustainable growth of the town focused on the economic, social and environmental characteristics of Roxby Downs and its residents.  The Master Plan will provide a framework for the further development of residential, commercial, industrial, government and community land and facilities. The purposes for which this development will occur include housing, shopping, service businesses, local industry,

The Draft Master Plan and Development Plan
The Roxby Downs (Municipality) Development Plan 2003 will be amended to incorporate the Master Plan framework for development of the town. This amendment and the Draft Master Plan will be available for community comment while the EIS is on public exhibition.

Ultimately, the Development Plan amendment must be approved by the State Minister for Urban Development and Planning. Members of the community will have further opportunity for comment on the Draft Master Plan as part of the state government’s Development Plan amendment process. The plan is then submitted to the Minister for approval. Once approved, the Roxby Downs (Municipality)
Development Plan 2003 will be amended to incorporate the Master Plan framework for development of the town.

In the meantime, the Minister has initiated development control over the town commercial centre to ensure development does not occur in areas that could compromise the long term objectives of the Master Plan.

What has been done so far?

Residents were asked to have their say about the Master Planning for the proposed expansion of Roxby Downs. Consultation initiatives included meeting our community liaison officer at a stall on market day, a survey distributed to households and staff of BHP Billiton, one on one interviews with key people and a series of focus groups.

Comments received from the community through these initiatives have assisted the Olympic Dam EIS team in informing the design team to prepare a Draft Master Plan for Roxby Downs.

In addition to the Master Plan, the Roxby Downs Council requested the Minister for Urban Development and Planning to prepare a new zoning plan for the Town Centre. A draft of the new plan was outlined in a draft Plan Amendment Report ('Roxby Downs Town Centre PAR'), which was released for two months of public consultation in April 2007.

What is a PAR?
A PAR is a Plan Amendment Report, it is the document through which local councils notify the public, and seek state government approval, for proposed changes to existing Development Plans.

Development Plans are regularly amended to reflect updated local council or State Government policy, introduce changes to zoning, or to implement a new vision for future development (Section 30 of the Development Act requires that local councils formally review the Development Plan for their area every three years; the Act also requires that Development Plans be consistent with the broader State Government Planning Strategy).  

Amendment occurs through the PAR process, a process that is commonly initiated by a local council or by the Minister for Urban Development and Planning. The PAR process, is detailed on Planning SA’s website, it includes the requirement of describing and illustrating the proposed changes to a Development Plan and for formal public consultation on the PAR.

Roxby Downs PAR
The Minister for Urban Development and Planning has prepared this draft PAR at the request of the Roxby Downs Council to address the future growth management of the Town Centre area.  This is a South Australian government led process and separate from the EIS process.

The draft PAR for Roxby Downs proposes changes to zoning in the town centre to:

• locate similar activities in the town centre near each other to enable orderly development, e.g. the recreation and sporting activities and clubs located together, tourist accommodation together, business activities together, shopping facilities together and educational facilities together 
• reinforce Richardson Place as a ‘main street boulevard’
• encourage the development of new shops and businesses, which in turn would promote competition. 

More information can be found at Planning SA’s website.

What is the next step?

Master Plan

Once the Draft Master Plan is completed it will form part of the Environmental Impact Statement submitted to the State and Australian Government for approval.

PAR

The Development Policy Advisory Committee (DPAC) will report on the consultation to the Minister. Following receipt of that report, the Minister will decide whether to make any changes to the draft, and then whether to adopt the PAR. If the PAR is adopted, the changes will then be made to the Municipal Council of Roxby Downs Development Plan.

Find Out More

Information Sheet No. 2 contains information about the Roxby Downs Master Plan.

Roxby Downs township website: www.roxbydowns.com

Information on the Roxby Downs PAR at Planning SA