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Mintaro Policy and Strategic Directions Review

This project was initiated by a range of government and community stakeholders to find ways to build on the heritage values of the town and achieve investment in development that provides for the economic vitality and social vibrancy needed for Mintaro's survival and growth.

Fundamental to the project was a three day 'Initiation and Immersion' experience resulting in site analysis and preliminary consultation with the community to identify their issues and ideas. During this time, the consultant team stayed in the township, participated in the life of the community and met the locals in the street and at the hotel and restaurants.

Community views expressed during the immersion experience revealed a range of different opinions regarding the desired future directions for Mintaro. There was, however, strong agreement on the need to:

  • protect the built heritage and township qualities of the core of the historic township
  • support the maintenance of a viable living township to ensure the sustainability of community services
  • improve township services and amenity
  • foster community cohesion
  • encourage tourism

Further research, policy examination and data analysis was undertaken before conducting a three day 'Planning and Design for Real' session. This process led to the development of draft directions for planning policy and concepts, and strategies to enhance the physical, social and economic potential of the town.

The project culminated in the preparation of a Strategic Directions Report which included preliminary design concepts for streetscape and community spaces. This report also provided the basis for a Plan Amendment Report which changed planning policy in order to protect the fundamental heritage character of the town and its surrounds, while also fostering economic growth and the ongoing vitality of Mintaro.

The Minister for Urban Development & Planning released the Ministerial Mount Barker Urban Growth Development Plan Amendment (DPA) in June 2010 for public consultation. This DPA proposes to rezone approximately 1300 hectares of rural land on the edges of Mt Barker and Nairne for residential and light industrial use.

With the aim of ensuring that its community was well informed and empowered to comment on the Ministerial DPA, the District Council of Mt Barker engaged URPS to run a series of information sessions for the local community. These six sessions were extremely well attended, with more than 300 people able to hear about and ask questions regarding the Ministerial DPA process and how to go about getting involved in this part of the planning system.

In a letter to the editor of the Mt Barker Courier, Jean Lovell of Nairne said that "Mt Barker Council is to be congratulated for its commitment to proper community consultation" and that URPS was "highly professional and responded in detail to questions in an articulate, honest and informed manner".

This is evidence of the success of these types of community information sessions and the goodwill and engagement that Mt Barker Council has fostered with its community through the process. We also believe that this type of process leads to informed and valuable input from the community to key planning initiatives such as this Ministerial DPA."