South Australia's original dynamism and success as a cradle for new ideas is being lost through our government's ongoing failure to adequately engage the experience and concerns of the community. 

In order to redress this backwards slide, better planning is needed

The Civic Trust has identified 10 actions for better consultation and is seeking your support in refining and promoting a new model for the government's formulation of policies and plans. See further details in the Media Release of 13/4/11, AdelaideNow June 21 and AdelaideNow Aug 3.

In conjunction with the Awards & Brickbats program, the Australian Civic Trust is seeking contributions of ideas and expertise in those civic matters such as transport, planning, water, food, population and our environment that need greater involvement by both the public and independent experts. Recent articles include Kevin O'Leary's article on the need for a new approach and Darian Hiles on more inclusiveness.

Australian publications include National Urban Policy - Our Cities, Our Future (18 May 2011), the Building Better Cities program of the Hawke and Keating governments and the State of Australian Cities report of 2011. Overseas benchmarks:

Oregon

• Planning Goals
• Citizen Involvement

New York

• Community-Based Planning: Overview
• Community Districts
• Land Use Review Procedure

Blogs are being established to build public involvement in key issues. Be the first to add your comments.

• The SA Strategic Plan, in its current form, is a slight improvement on previously but is still has serious consultation deficiencies.
• The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide was ignored in the Mt Barker development against major public protest. 
• Planning for Water in SA does not seriously consider other far cheaper options such as purchase from upstream and stormwater recycling.
• The lack of planning for Food and consideration for the community's need is a serious health concern. 
• Population trends and causes of increases are inadequately analysed.
• Transport planning was conducted in 2003 but now seems to be ignored. This needs to be conducted in conjunction with social trends, urban development and the environment if it is to benefit us in the future.
• Climate Change: The Federal Government commissions reports but then misrepresents them.
• Even Australian companies are disadvantaged by the Federal Government's secret dealing with mulltinationals and even they are demanding better consultation.

We also invite people who have put in submissions to government and not received an adequate response to advise us, either by email to austcivictrust@gmail.com or through responses to the blogs, so that we can plan how to help. See also:

Powerpoint - Evaluation of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide: Powerpoint presentation by Kevin O'Leary (5 April 2011).

Send comments and expressions of interest to austcivictrust@gmail.com 

Community Alliance SA, an independent group of community organisations, has been established for legislative change and the coordination of community groups.