Madison Eastmond, Murray Pioneer

A local council has responded to a long-term state plan for the region through to 2051, outlining key issues within the proposal that are set to limit the Riverland’s “ability to grow and thrive”.

Found within the council’s May agenda, a formal response made by the Berri Barmera administration has been submitted to the Draft Murray Mallee Regional Plan, highlighting key issues including the need for co-ordinated infrastructure investment, recognition of the current district’s Growth Strategy, and concerns regarding underestimated population and housing forecasts.

On March 25 2025, the State Planning Commission released the Draft Murray Mallee Regional Plan for consultation via the YourSay platform, with the plan setting out a regional vision to 2051.

With the Planning, Development, and Infrastructure Act 2016 requiring that the council’s Strategic Plan and land use directions ultimately align with the final Murray Mallee Regional Plan, a report on the matter reads “given the strategic significance… and long-term implications… it is critical council’s voice is reflected in the final version (of the Plan)”.

Throughout the submission 14 key issues are raised, all with recommendation for consideration in the finalisation of the Plan, including:

• Regional Boundary Delineation and Data Accuracy: the council urges a reconsideration of the regional boundary framework to ensure the final Plan equitably reflects local conditions, planning work already undertaken, and full range of opportunities across the entire region.

“The current structure, which includes the Rural City of Murray Bridge within both the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan, and the Draft Murray Mallee Regional Plan, significantly skews growth data and distorts the distribution of regional properties,” Berri Barmera Council’s submission read.

“This approach risks overlooking emerging growth areas… and may lead to underinvestment in infrastructure, housing, and services where they are most needed within the region.”

• Alignment with Berri Barmera Council’s Growth Strategy: the council requests the Growth Strategy and its growth targets be explicitly recognised and integrated within the Regional Vision and Implementation Plan.

“The (Murray Mallee Regional Plan) Draft document appears to contain limited or no reference to the (directions and recommendations outlined in the Berri Barmera) Growth Strategy,” the submission read.

• Infrastructure constraints and the realities of regional growth: while the council supports the Plan’s recommendation concerning regional infrastructure and transport planning investigations, council suggest efforts must build on work already undertaken at a local level and outlined in the Growth Strategy.

“Acknowledging this work will avoid supplication, reduce delays, and help ensure that new investigations are well targeted and efficient,” the submission read.

• Population and housing forecasts underestimate local growth realities: council is concerned that both the Draft and Local Area Population Projections for South Australia (2021-2041) significantly underestimate population and housing growth potential of the Berri Barmera district.

“The high growth scenario forecast…projects an increase of only 251 houses by 2041 (in the district),” the submission read.

“This projection fails to reflect the current momentum and real-world development activity already underway across the district… such a low projection has serious implications for infrastructure planning and funding.”

• Regional migration trends and growth forecast assumptions: council urges a reassessment in light of recent development activity and strategic planning undertaken by council, for an accurate forecasting to inform planning policy, infrastructure delivery, and service provision.

“Council is concerned the draft Plan’s population growth assumptions appear to rely heavily on historical trends, with insufficient consideration of the major demographic shifts observed since Covid-19 pandemic,” the submission read.

• Structural challenges for regional councils and the role of growth: council would like the plan to acknowledge structural challenges — a small ratepayer base, delivering infrastructure and services across dispersed communities, and limited resources — and support regional councils in pursuing sustainable growth models.

“Without such recognition and assistance, the long-term viability of critical services in regional towns will be increasingly difficult to maintain,” the submission read.

• Vision 2051 — recognition of regional identity and risks: council urges the draft to more clearly acknowledge the defining environmental and economic assets of the Murray Mallee, particularly the significance of the Murray River and the region’s horticulture and agriculture production.

“Vision 2051 should not only celebrate the strengths of the Murray Mallee, but acknowledge vulnerabilities (to) set a pathway to support greater diversification, adaptation, and sustainability,” the submission read.

• Misrepresentation of regional service centres: council recommends that the final plan be amended to accurately reflect Berri’s role as the principal service centre in the Riverland, and ensure that future infrastructure and planning priorities are aligned with this reality.

“The draft Plan reflects a limited understanding of the functional role and settle hierarchy within the region, particularly in its reference to Barmera as a major service centre,” the submission read.

“The omission of Berri in this context is a critical oversight and undermines the strategic importance of the town within both the local and broader regional framework.”

• Housing constraints and impact on regional service delivery: council requires urgent support through Renewal SA and the Office of Regional Housing and/or other State Government investment to deliver purpose-built worker accommodation in Berri for government and essential service workers.

“Without targeted intervention to unlock housing supply, Berri’s ability to function as a regional service centre is at serious risk,” the submission read.

“Addressing this constraint is critical to meeting current service demands and supporting population growth and economic resilience across the Riverland.”

• Competing pressures in rural horticulture zones: council encourages the plan to address the ongoing tension between the need to preserve productive horticultural land and the increasing pressure from landowners seeking to subdivide for rural living.

“Greater clarity and policy guidance are required to help determine which areas should be retained for long-term production, and which could be transitioned to support alternative investment, or growth options,” the submission read.

• Implementation plan: not reflecting the recommendations and rezoning intentions supported in the council’s Growth Strategy, the plan prevents a streamlined approached to rezoning and developments.

“Many of the recommendations within the draft plan appear generic and do not sufficiently build upon the detailed panning work already undertaken by council,” the submission read.

• Support for green infrastructure and tree planting initiatives: council supports the inclusion of greening objectives within the regional planning framework. However, to ensure these aspirations are effectively realised on the group, they need to be much further embedded within the planning and design code.

“Stronger policy provisions and clear requirements around green infrastructure delivery will provide the consistency and certainly needed to support councils and developers in aching meaningful environmental outcomes,” the submission read.

• Tourism growth strategic investment in the Riverland: council recommends strategic investment, including funding for infrastructure upgrades, support for local tourism operators, and initiatives that promote the region’s offerings.

“By aligning with the South Australian Visitor Economy Sector Plan 2030, which aims to grow the state’s visor economy to $12.8b, targeted support for the Riverland can contribute significantly to this goal,” the submission read.

• Recognition of Aboriginal and cultural heritage and engagement: council recommends the draft Plan explicitly recognise Aboriginal land rights, cultural landscapes, and the importance of Traditional Owner partnerships in all aspects of land use planning, infrastructure development, and a natural resource management.

“Council is deeply concerned by the apparent lack of consultation with the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) in preparation of the draft Plan,” the submission read.

“The absence of engagement with RMMAC undermines the integrity of the planning process (and) risks overlooking important cultural heritage values, land management practices, and Aboriginal-led development aspirations.”

• Accessibility and inability of growth data and mapping tools: council recommends the consolidation of key population and housing data, a simplified user-friendly presentation of growth projections, and broader training opportunities, including face-to-face demonstrations of mapping tools to support community engagement.

“There are significant concerns regarding the accessibility of growth-related data, and the functionality of the web-based mapping interface,” the submission read.

“Improved clarity and usability are essential to ensure stakeholders, including residents, landowners, and local councils can engage with the Regional Plan.

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 18 June 2025.