The South Australian government has approved another mass land release to boost the number of homes amid housing unaffordability and a shortage of rental properties across suburban Adelaide.
With work to begin next year and the first residents expected to move in by 2026, the project will set aside blocks for about 1,900 homes at Aldinga and Noarlunga Downs south of the CBD and at Golden Grove in Adelaide's north.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said a minimum target of 15 per cent affordable housing had been set, but developers would be encouraged to "exceed those targets".
"Our population is now growing at a rate that we haven't experienced for some time in South Australia and that is putting pressure on the housing market," he said.
"We're going to need a lot more people coming into our state to fulfil the economic trajectory we're on. We know that thousands of workers are going to be required for the AUKUS project alone, but they need somewhere to live.
"That's why we've got to get blocks on the market ASAP, so that tradies can get to work building those homes."
The largest of the proposed developments will be at Aldinga, where two areas have been set aside for 800 homes, either side of land earmarked for a future extension of the Seaford rail line.
The government said that project would be led by its urban development agency, Renewal SA, which will "start its search for a development partner" this week.
At Golden Grove, 500 homes will be built on land that is currently privately owned but will be rezoned for residential use.
The government said residential development would "not occur within a 300-metre buffer" around a local quarry.
The Noarlunga Downs development of 600 homes in the vicinity of Goldsmith Drive will include 80 social houses, and will be under the control of Renewal SA and the SA Housing Authority.
"Land supply is by far the biggest factor that determines housing affordability and there's been a real crisis in South Australia over the past few years," Master Builders SA chief executive Will Frogley said.
"The cost of land's gone up by about 30 per cent in many areas.
"Today's announcement gives thousands more South Australians the opportunity to own their own home."
Mr Frogley said releasing more land would put "downward pressure on prices right across the board".
"Building new homes is also the only way to address South Australia's rental property problem. There's a severe shortage," he said.
The government said the projects were on top of what the minister for housing, Nick Champion, described as the "single-biggest land release in the state's history", which was announced in February and will result in 23,700 new homes across Adelaide's north and south.
"We know that we have to have housing supply in these areas so people can get their first homes and, most importantly, people can build communities," he said.
'We don't have the roads', local says
Opposition Leader David Speirs — who on Sunday called for boosted measures to reduce business and household energy bills — said that, while the land release would not provide immediate relief, putting more blocks "onto the market to enable the construction of new homes" was a welcome move.
"We know there is really significant housing constraint down south," he said.
"There's so little room for growth there.
"Anything that sees more supply for this unprecedented housing demand is a good thing."
However, some locals in the Noarlunga area have expressed concern about the strain 600 new homes will place on infrastructure.
Morphett Vale resident Aidan said more housing would mean "more idiots on the road", a concern echoed by other locals.
"We don't have the roads or the infrastructure for it," local resident Tracy said.
"The roads aren't there, the parking isn't there, so it's just cramming everybody in when we're a huge country.
"Every Aussie loves space around them, don't they? Isn't that what we pride ourselves on?
"I think it's just greed."
However, others expressed support for the idea.
"More housing availability, the better, and more affordable housing, I think that's the key especially in these areas. No-one's earning the big bucks down here," resident Kathy said.
"There's been vacant land everywhere for quite a long time. So, if they can fill that up with housing, why not?
"We're so close to McLaren Vale, we may as well have more people."
