THE Dry Creek salt pans would become the next West Lakes under a plan to build 10,000 homes on the land, Salisbury Council's chief planner says.

"It will be a unique form of development and we as a council are keen to get involved where we can to help see this project come to light," Salisbury's city development manager Greg Waller said.



"West Lakes was salt marsh but, as it has been shown with this project, these developments can be turned into very desirable living."



The salt pans owner, Ridley Corporation, is in talks with the State Government about building 10,000 homes on land west of Salisbury Highway and Port Wakefield Rd, as reported on adelaidenow.com.au last week.



Salisbury Council says the plan is inline with the State Government's 30-Year Plan, which forecasts 169,000 extra people living in the northern suburbs by 2040.



Mr Waller said the target was realistic and could be substantially met by building homes on the salt pans and relocating the Bolivar Waste Water Treatment plant to make way for housing.



"We believe that these two developments are a lot more appropriate than other developments that have been flagged further north, such as Buckland Park," Mr Waller said.



"There is already sound infrastructure in the Salisbury area, along with good access to public transport and facilities including schools and shops."



He envisaged the mass of people would come from an increase in the birth rate and migration.



Mr Waller said continued growth of industrial land in Edinburgh would provide enough jobs for the rising population.



"One of the overwhelming strengths of the northern suburbs is its access to employment land, in particular at greater Edinburgh where there is 1500ha of land west of Edinburgh that will become the employment hub of the north.



"It is predicted that 70,000 jobs would be created in this area in industries such as defence, mining and manufacturing."

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Originally published as Dry Creek salt pans 'to become next West Lakes'