Controversial new building height limit slated for Main North Road
A ‘wedding cake’ development plan where building heights will soar in Prospect is being given the nod – despite community opposition. Meanwhile, fresh North Adelaide golf course designs are set to be revealed.
City of Prospect councillors last night voted five to two in favour of pushing forward with significant plans – estimated to cost around $60 to $70 million – to redevelop the city’s main oval, despite consultation revealing backlash from neighbours.
The council will now write to Local Government Minister Joe Szakacs asking for community land status for three parcels of land to be revoked so the area can be developed as part of the Prospect Lifestyle Precinct (PLP) plans.
It also endorsed a draft Code Amendment for community consultation. This includes a ‘wedding cake’ design approach to height and density, with lower heights of three storeys adjoining established residences, rising to a maximum of 12 storeys along Main North Road.
The plan incorporated a large new multi-purpose facility, new facilities for local sporting groups and for the council to partner with external developers to build a new residential hub on the edge of the precinct, sitting at the geographical centre of the city, with easy access to Main North Road.
Liberal candidate for the seat of Adelaide Julian Amato told InDaily that he was concerned the council was “not listening to people”.
“There’s a genuine lack of consultation, which is a concern,” he said.
“The council is trying to say that it’s only a small cross-section of people and that’s not reflective of the broader Prospect population. Well, then don’t bother inviting submissions if you’re just going to cherry-pick the data.”
Amato said he would call on Minister Szakacs to reconsider the land revocation proposal and would ask the Member for Adelaide Lucy Hood to “give her view of this”.
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“She has so far stayed out of it,” she said.
“Most residents said to me last night that they were very disappointed that she wasn’t there and that she’s not weighing in on this, particularly now that it’s become a state government issue.
“I invite the Member for Adelaide to provide a view on whether or not she supports this or does not.”
In a statement sent to InDaily, Hood said she would be meeting with the council next week to discuss the project.
“Unlike the Liberal candidate, I am a local and a ratepayer of the City of Prospect,” she said.
“As someone raising a young family in our community, I am personally passionate about investment in community facilities and housing opportunities that give South Australians, particularly young people, the chance to get their foot in the door of the property market.
“Whilst this is a council project, as the Local MP, I have consulted the community and ensured to pass on the feedback I have received to the council. I’ll also be meeting with them next week to discuss this project, amongst other local issues.”
Three pieces of land would see community land classification revoked if approved by Minister Szakacs, including the eastern wing of Prospect Oval, the south-east quadrant of Prospect Oval and Council-owned land at 142-148 Main North Road.
Council supported the move despite a consultation report showing community sentiment was “divided”.
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A total of 183 submissions were received from 171 unique participants. Council claimed 0.73 per cent of the population engaged formally in the process.
Results showed 62 per cent opposed the revocation proposal, while 57 per cent opposed the draft plan.
Council said there was a “strong correlation between proximity to Prospect Oval and opposition”, with residents in streets immediately adjacent to the precinct being 83 per cent opposed, citing a belief that “the outcome is predetermined” as well as concerns over a loss of trees and parking congestion fears.
Prospect Mayor Matt Larwood told InDaily that while the majority of people who responded in writing were against the land revocation, “that’s not to say the majority of residents were against it”.
“Over 14,000 residents were reached directly,” he said.
“Just because people don’t respond doesn’t mean they’re against it.
“Everyone I speak to who lives in Prospect… when I explain the concept to them and show them the drawings – everyone’s energised by it. There is a lot of positive momentum building.”
North Adelaide Golf Course update
Meanwhile, the state government is expected to reveal plans for the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course tomorrow that would reportedly see 4000 trees removed.
In June, the state government passed special legislation to take control of the site’s 93 hectares across Pirltawardli and its surrounds. The legislation allows its redevelopment to bypass certain planning laws to make the course “world-class” so it can host international events like LIV Golf.
The move prompted backlash from community groups, concerned with tree loss, building encroachment, privatisation, and transparency.
As reported by 9 News Adelaide, it was expected that the state government would announce tomorrow that 4000 trees would be cut down as part of the golf course’s renovation, 1000 fewer than what the state Liberal party had warned.
Premier Peter Malinauskas told reporters on Wednesday that plans are “not far away”.
“We’re very excited about it. An extraordinary amount of work has gone into the course development over the course of the last six months,” Malinauskas said.
“A lot of work is being done to make sure that we minimise the cost, the amount of trees that have to be removed without compromising the outcome, which is to take a public golf course and turn it into one of the world’s best public golf courses.”
