Council first commenced considering the merits of the balance of the land at Jane Eliza in 2015.

Since 2015 Council has undertaken the following engagement on the Jane Eliza project:

*Council's prudential report pursuant to section 48 Local Government Act 1999

From July 2022 Council has been in commercial negotiations with Council’s development partner Wel.Co. Given the confidential nature of the negotiations and the delays due to the 2022/2023 Murray River floods it has been difficult to provide updates to the community on the project.

Wel.Co has acknowledged that developments of this scale raise important questions for the community and has committed to an open and transparent consultation process where local residents and stakeholders can voice their concerns and receive accurate information.

Updates on public consultation opportunities will be shared via Council’s website and communication channels, PlanSA, and local media channels.

As part of Council’s Development Strategy and approach to market the following target project vision was set:

• Resolving Council’s current housing supply constraints. The Jane Eliza represents 45% of the available land supply in the Renmark Paringa Council area.
• Future proofing long-term population and economic development opportunities for Renmark.
• Delivery of a nationally significant tourism marina asset and supporting infrastructure.
• Delivering superior level of township and region-wide amenity in a high-quality, master-planned estate.
• Build on the livability of Renmark making it a destination for tourists, but also a place locals are proud to call their home.

Council and Wel.Co have negotiated the following outcomes:

• Delivery of the provision of a high-quality, mixed-use, master-planned estate to address current and medium-long term housing supply.
• A nationally significant off-river tourism marina and associated marine industry.

On 7 December 2021, Council launched a National Expression of Interest campaign.

Wel.Co submitted an expression of interest and demonstrated the capabilities, experience and vision for the site that Renmark Paringa Council was looking for.

Wel.Co became Council’s preferred development partner in July 2022.

Council and Wel.Co entered into a Land Facilitation Agreement in March 2025.

Wel.Co is a nationally recognised and proven developer that has invested in dozens of areas in need of increased housing opportunities. Wel.Co particularly prides itself on its regional projects, citing the opportunity to work with passionate and active communities.

A number of their recently completed and active project can be found here:

Yallarah, Echuca

Gracewood, Mallala

Harlowe, Bendigo

The South Australian planning process will ensure the newly developed Jane Eliza area will be suitable for residential development.

To ensure the development of this area does not put the current Renmark township at increased flood risk Council has engaged the services of Tonkin Consulting (Tonkin) to consider the impacts of the floodplain consumption of the Jane Eliza expansion.

Tonkin’s initial advice was received by Council on 7 March 2025 and can be viewed here.

The proposed Jane Eliza development does not show a significant difference in flood risk for the Renmark township and broader community.

Further modelling and investigations into the impact (however minor) of the development will continue as the process continues.

Findings from these assessments will be shared with the relevant authorities and the community through the formal planning and consultation process.

This flood modelling will also provide Council with an understanding of the actions required to be carried out on the existing levee network in the event of a bigger flood event in the future.

A Land Facilitation Agreement (LFA) is a legal document outlining the key commercial terms of the relationship between Council and Wel.Co.

The signing of the Land Facilitation Agreement (LFA) is another step in the process towards the development of Jane Eliza.

The signing between Council and development partner Wel.Co formalises the relationship between the two partners and allows Wel.Co to now invest in undertaking detailed due diligence on the project.

A Code Amendment is a proposal to change the policies, rules, or mapping within the Code.

The Jane Eliza will require a Code Amendment, which Council has initiated in partnership with Wel.Co.

Minister Champion's Code Amendment Letter

Part of the process of the Code Amendment will require consultation is undertaken in accordance with an engagement plan.

To understand the Code Amendment process in more detail visit here.

Council has also identified others areas within the Renmark Paringa Council area to ‘unlock’ for housing opportunities. The areas have been identified in the Renmark Paringa Growth Strategy. However, the other land identified is not adequate to ensure a continued supply of land is available for Renmark to grow.

Renmark has been identified as a desirable place to live. In February 2025 alone, 728 people registered serious interest* in buying listings for houses in Renmark indicating significant pent-up demand.

*realestate.com.au

Jane Eliza will deliver a nationally significant tourism marina asset for Renmark and the Riverland region, further catalysing the long-term growth of this strategic economy.

The development of this asset will position the community to be able to market our region and the tourism offering to new and exciting markets.

New developments are required to be made up of at least 15 per cent of affordable housing, as outlined in the Planning and Design Code's Affordable Housing Overlay. Council and development partner Wel.Co recognise the importance of ensuring a range of housing options, price points and opportunities will be available in the Jane Eliza development.

The development of land entails some level of risk.

The LFA signed between Council and Wel.co sets out the commercial terms of the project, establishes responsibilities and allows each party to manage risk.

Council will remain the land owner however the development risk of the project will be with Wel.Co. Developing complex regional development sites was a key consideration in choosing a commercial partner for the development of Jane Eliza. Wel.Co have substantial experience and excel in this area.

Due to Wel.Co’s strong brand reputation in developing projects such as this and due to the long-term nature of the project, it is envisaged to attract a skilled labour force to the region. Plus, give existing businesses the confidence to continue to employ more people and extend their services and offerings.

The project is expected to generate employment opportunities over a period of 15+ years, providing long-term viability for local businesses and career pathways for young people entering the workforce. The scale and duration of the development will create a full lifecycle of opportunities—from apprenticeships and trade certifications to skilled roles in construction, retail, hospitality, and long-term community services.

By attracting investment and increasing economic activity in the region, the project will support not only immediate construction jobs but also sustainable business growth, ensuring that local trades and service providers benefit from ongoing work. This will help to create a more resilient local economy with enhanced career opportunities for current and future generations.

The development will be supported by infrastructure upgrades to ensure it integrates smoothly with the existing community. As part of the planning process, assessments are conducted on transport, utilities, and essential services to ensure they can accommodate future residents.

To ensure continued growth in Renmark Paringa is successfully managed Council has developed a Growth Strategy identifying current infrastructure and services and what is required to accommodate growth.