Feedback from targeted and extensive community engagement has provided insight into how the community envisages development in the township should proceed and what to encourage and discourage in the township area.

It was identified that there is a key policy gap for the nuances of the main street representing various character elements valued by the community. Proposed policy ‘levers’ that include Character Area and Gateway Overlays, a Character Area Statement, plus zone revisions, aim to improve on existing planning policy to identify these character elements and protect and enhance the unique character and overall amenity of the township. This also recognises the importance of the key role that McLaren Vale township plays as a major international tourist destination and gateway to a renowned wine region.

Community feedback also identified a desire to amend the building height for the existing Suburban Main Street Zone (current maximum building height is one storey). McLaren Vale is currently mostly single storey but with some two storey buildings in main street locations (some of which are heritage listed). There was generally strong support to update policy to reflect a two-storey maximum (up to two levels / 9 metres) for the main street.

The investigations, analysis, review and community input undertaken has informed and established a framework for future land use and development to accommodate projected population growth with aims to increase economic activity and employment to make it a better place for those who visit, work and live in the area.