It has been an exciting start to the year with the Government of South Australia making significant announcements regarding land releases, affordable housing projects and regional housing.

These initiatives form part of the government’s A Better Housing Future plan which seeks to increase supply and make housing more accessible to more South Australians, with greater choice in the type and location of the home they choose, whether to rent or to buy.

Through a number of these programs, Renewal SA will have a crucial and ongoing role in the supply of quality, affordable housing in Greater Adelaide and the regions, and the provision of opportunities for delivery by the private sector.

These programs will also bring a host of opportunities for further collaboration with industry, local government, investors and the development and construction community.

The single largest release of residential land in the state’s history was announced in February, targeting at least 23,700 new homes for South Australians within the next five years.

It includes the rezoning of 235 hectares of land at Hackham that has created the capacity for at least 2,000 new homes, as well as the identification of land for re-zoning for a further 10,000 homes at Dry Creek, 10,000 at Concordia and 1,700 at Sellicks Beach.

To put that in perspective, this represents more than double the number of allotments released in Mount Barker in 2011 and four times the number released at Mawson Lakes in the early 2000s.

As the lead agency for release or development of government land, Renewal SA will play a key role in unlocking the potential of these large projects, amongst a host of other initiatives and projects across Adelaide.

This week, the government announced that this transformational opportunity on approximately 45 hectares of land at Aldinga is being returned to the market and presents a unique new opportunity for developers to deliver an exemplar master-planned community in an area with a critical need for more housing.

An attractive, climate-resilient, low-to medium density neighbourhood is envisioned, featuring a range of housing – including affordable and community solutions – with open green spaces and connections to surrounding residences, businesses, schools and parks.

The site will be sold via a single-stage Request for Proposal (RFP) process which opened on Wednesday, 3 May 2023 and runs until 3pm (ACDT) Thursday, 22 June 2023. Documents are available via the SA Tenders and Contracts website.

Selection of the successful preferred developer is expected to occur within months, at which stage we will enter negotiations to secure a development agreement with the preferred proponent in anticipation of works beginning by 2025.

In Noarlunga Downs, we will be delivering 600 homes including integrated affordable and social housing, in partnership with the South Australian Housing Authority.

This purposefully designed development will be delivered across two land parcels to the east and west of Lovelock Drive in what will be a significant infill project to transform approximately 22 hectares of under-utilised space into a burgeoning new community, close to key amenities.

The release at Noarlunga Downs follows Renewal SA-led development opportunities identified earlier this year as part of the government’s A Better Housing Future plan and its commitments under the National Housing Accord, which seeks to deliver 50,000 new social and affordable homes across Australia from 2024.

These development-ready projects submitted for funding support through the proposed $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund include: Bowden (96 rental apartments across two projects), Prospect (72 rental apartments across two projects) and Playford Alive (249 new homes including 25 affordable rentals).

This is the beginning of a pipeline of homes to be delivered across South Australia and we will continue to look at opportunities to unlock land for housing development across the entire state.

Adelaide City Council has announced Renewal SA as the preferred proponent to purchase the former Adelaide Bus Station site on Franklin Street as part of an ambitious plan to deliver unparalleled levels of affordable housing to Adelaide’s CBD.

The precinct will be known as Tapangka (Ta-pun-ka), which in Kaurna language, means the experience of going on a journey. This project will take us on a journey of reconciliation, a journey of home ownership, a journey towards sustainability and a journey of collaboration between the city and the state to achieve the best outcomes for the CBD and the wider community.

The proposed project will deliver two mixed-use, high-rise buildings that will include almost 400 apartments of which 35% will be targeted as affordable, including affordable sale apartments and affordable rental apartments. The precinct will also include a 208-key hotel and will be the first CBD location to feature the emerging build-to-rent apartment model.

The precinct will leverage Adelaide’s new confidence and international outlook by being bold in design, unapologetic in purpose and wholly focused on making people’s lives richer, easier and more connected – all the while targeting carbon neutral operations.

This is a significant economic opportunity and a chance to set a new benchmark for inner city living. To deliver this project we will need to enlist the most experienced and expert development partners from the private industry, the not-for-profit sector, other levels of government and our First Nations people and local communities.

Bringing stakeholders ‘on the journey’ through ongoing engagement will form a strong part of Renewal SA’s governance on the project and instil an early sense of civic pride and ownership.

Construction of the Tapangka precinct will be staged and is expected to commence in early 2026 with opportunities for designers, developers, builders, and other stakeholders to participate.

Renewal SA has reached an important milestone, the halfway mark of our first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan March 2022- March 2024. Don’t hesitate to reach out to talk to us about how we can work together as we embed a culture of respect and continue our ongoing commitment to acknowledging, celebrating and embracing First Nations peoples, communities and cultures.

Best Wishes
Chris Menz