Innovation and difference: city planning in Adelaide from 1972 until 1993 within the historical framework of the politics of city/state relations from 1836.

Abstract

This thesis is about the successful integration of strategic and statutory planning for the City of Adelaide during the period 1972 until 1993. It is a historical perspective of the City from the founding of Adelaide and South Australia in 1836 and their development until 1972; and then on the politics of planning in the City from October 1972 until December 1993. There are four themes in this thesis. In addition to the theme of integration, I will argue that the heritage of the City arising from Colonel Light's Plan in 1836, particularly the Park Lands, made Adelaide different from the other capital cities in Australia. Through the influence of key individuals there was a particular relationship and balance of power between the City and State in terms of their respective power and the governance of the City. I will argue that in the 1960s the policies of the Council and the statutory provisions of the State's Metropolitan Development Plan contributed to a considerable loss of residential population from the City. These issues provided reasons for major reform in 1972 when an innovative system of Interim Development Control was introduced and a Planning Study of the City subsequently carried out. After agreement between the City and the State an innovative and different legislative approach to city planning in an Australian capital city was introduced. I will argue that this legislation, which provided for a joint City/State planning authority for Adelaide, enabled critical political decisions to be made which facilitated the re-establishment of an inner city residential population. But it also maintained the City's role and function as the centre of the metropolitan area. I will also argue that planning legislation specifically for the City in 1977 was important as it not only provided for the continuation of a joint City/State authority, but also for five-yearly City Plans within which strategic and statutory approaches to city planning were integrated. This situation continued until 1993 when after a State Planning Review the separate legislation was repealed for political and technical reasons. Thus, after twenty-one years of innovation and difference in the City of Adelaide, a new State planning system was introduced partially modelled on the approach taken in the City.