Amendment to Parks Community Land Management Plan

Council is seeking your feedback on a proposed amendment to the 'Parks' Community Land Management Plan that would allow for a temporary change in use on Community Land. For example: a reserve could be used for temporary car parking to accommodate the construction of major infrastructure projects like the major redevelopment of the Mount Barker Hospital.

What is a Community Land Management Plan?

It is a legislative requirement that every council create and approve Community Land Management Plans (CLMPs) that explain how they will manage and use community land to benefit the public.

CLMPs outline why the council owns the land, its goals and policies for managing it, and how it will track progress toward these goals.

Mount Barker District Council has CLMPs for Parks, Natural Areas, and Community, Recreation and Sporting Facilities. There are also site specific management plans for some parcels of land where needed, for example the Glebe.

What does the proposed amendment mean?

The proposed amendment is for the 'Parks' CLMP and would provide an avenue for Council to approve short term or temporary licences over Community Land to accommodate the development of critical infrastructure that supports Mount Barker District Council's vision to be the most liveable region in South Australia.

The proposed amendment would support the temporary change of use of Community Land for car parks or work compounds where the temporary land use would be ancillary to an approved major project that benefits all residents and rate payers of the district.

Not everyone can make an application for a temporary change in use of Community Land. The proposed amendment only allows for applications to be made to Council from the Crown, or a Minister or other agency or instrumentality of the Crown or Minister. The amendment does not support applications by private developers for private commercial developments/outcomes.

A temporary change could be up to five years.

If a temporary change in use of Community Land is granted, the applicant must restore the parcel of land to its original state or better at the end of the temporary licence period.

Example of how the proposed amendment would work

The upgrade to the Mount Barker Hospital has been long sought after by the community. The new Mount Barker Hospital development will see a major redevelopment on the existing site and provide greater access to high-quality health services closer to home for the expanding population of Mount Barker and the Adelaide Hills region.

A major redevelopment like this requires a large number of construction workers that need to be accommodated.

Council have been approached by Built, the Managing Contractor of the Mount Barker Hospital redevelopment, to use the community land known as Paterson Reserve (corner of Wellington Road and Hurling Drive, Mount Barker) as car parking for the construction workers.

The proposed amendment to the 'Parks' CLMP would make allowances for Council to approve the temporary change of use.

The temporary licence would be until the completion of the Mount Barker Hospital development and include measures to:

• minimise the disturbance to neighbouring properties
• protect trees and the historic sundial
• reduce dust and noise
• return the reserve to its current or better condition on completion

How you can have your say

Council is seeking your feedback on the proposed amendment to 'Parks' Community Land Management Plan with consultation open from 9 April to 11 May 2025. The proposed amendment would allow for a temporary change in purpose to Community Land for car parking/work compound associated with major infrastructure projects that benefits all residents and rate payers of the district.

You can have your say by:

• completing the online form
• sending an email to yoursay@mountbarker.sa.gov.au
• writing to Mount Barker District Council, PO Box 54 (6 Dutton Road), Mount Barker SA 5251