Page 10 - City Plan

The City of Port Adelaide Enfield has a substantial role
in the South Australian economy, with 30% of Adelaide’s
industrial land, 20% of Adelaide’s industrial output, and
70% of Adelaide’s transport industry sites, as well as
playing a significant export role for the State. The area
also provides jobs for over 44,000 people. It is therefore
important that key economic assets and industries in the
area are supported.
Unemployment rates in the City however are higher
than for metropolitan Adelaide. Workforce participation
rates, education and skill levels are lower than
metropolitan Adelaide.
A low population and a lack of development around the
Port Adelaide Regional Centre, due to the demise of port-
related activities, have led to an underperforming Regional
Centre. Council, working closely with State Government,
will need to build on the current strategies to improve
the Centre’s performance if progress in the Centre is to
be visible. Current strategies include the Port Waterfront
development to increase the residential population, and
recent amendments to the Port Adelaide Enfield (City)
Development Plan provisions to encourage commercial
and residential (including affordable housing) development
in the Port Adelaide area. The proposed tram extension
to the Port Adelaide Regional Centre and Semaphore
Road will aid this revitalization, in particular for tourism.
Proposals for transit oriented development in the Centre
can provide opportunities for an increased residential
population for sustainable economic growth.
The Council area has a high concentration of traditional
industries, with only a small number of new or emerging
industries. Economic diversity of the City is low compared
with other metropolitan councils, making the City
vulnerable to changing economic patterns. The Air Warfare
Destroyer contract, and defence and mining related
industries, will provide an opportunity for some new and
more advanced industries to locate in the area over the
coming years.
To increase Port Adelaide Enfield’s economic diversity,
the City needs to foster the growth of new industries in
the region, such as eco-industrial and knowledge based
industries. This however presents both opportunities and
challenges in ensuring that the local community can take
advantage of these growing industries, and that local
employment is encouraged. Whilst recognising that this
issue is more aligned with the role of the Federal and State
Government there is an opportunity for Government at all
levels to work closely together to encourage and enable
appropriate skills development. For example, this could
be achieved by working closely with the four TAFEs, local
High Schools and careers and transition support and
training providers.
There are significant opportunities for industrial
development in the City due to its relatively large areas
of undeveloped and underdeveloped industrial land,
for example Northern Lefevre Peninsula and Gillman.
For this development to occur in an appropriate and
efficient manner, a strategic and coordinated approach to
planning and infrastructure provision by State and Local
Government and other major landholders is vital with
widespread master planning required for key areas such
as the southern part of Lefevre Peninsula.
Council places strong emphasis on sustainable
development, and acknowledges that there is significant
potential for industries in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield
to improve their energy and water efficiency. Major
industries in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield that have
an international focus (such as cement, soda ash, food
processing and foundries) have the opportunity to develop
international emissions-related sectoral agreements to
improve and export technologies and advances in energy
and water efficiency.
Council has concerns regarding the risks associated
with the close proximity of State significant industries
and infrastructure (such as Outer Harbor port facilities,
Tech Port Australia and Torrens Island Power Station)
to hazardous facilities and residential development. The
State Government has advised it is currently examining
the security arrangements in place for Outer Harbor port
facilities to ensure the ongoing provision of essential
services to the community.
A Strong and Diverse Economy
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