Hundreds of houses proposed for tiny Fleurieu town
It’s a little seaside town that’s home to one of the hottest housing markets in SA — and most popular surfing beaches. Now a council may rezone farmland for up to 250 new homes.
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A push to rezone farm land in Middleton could make way for up to 250 new homes, helping address a lack of development sites and fuelling business growth on the South Coast.
A consortium of landowners has approached Alexandrina Council in a bid to have a 20ha parcel of land rezoned to make way for housing.
Among them is Adelaide Development Company, the firm behind the Blackwood Park project at Craigburn Farm.
CoreLogic data shows over the 12 months to May, the median house price in Middleton hit $572,783 — up nearly 24 per cent — based on 50 sales.
In contrast, prices in Greater Adelaide rose 2.8 per cent.
Southern Alexandrina Business Association president Andrew Stewart expected the plans would help the South Coast region grow.
“The businesses will get more people in their shops, which will also have a flow-on effect through to Port Elliot and back to Goolwa,” Mr Stewart said.
The land, at Middleton’s western approach and on either side of Port Elliot Rd, is zoned “deferred urban”, meaning it is earmarked as a potential growth area.
“It’s basic farmland and it will be a shame to see it disappear,” Mr Stewart said.
“But you can’t deny people the chance of living here and you can’t hang on to everything all the time. Sooner or later land needs to be opened up to let people come into the area.”
Acting on behalf of the landowners, consultancy firm Ethos Urban has completed an economic assessment, finding Middleton’s vacant residential land is largely exhausted.
A report to Alexandrina Council said Middleton theoretically had a three-to-four-year land supply remaining.
“In reality, however, this supply is much lower as a result of available land sales,” the report said.
It found the supply in Middleton was “well short” of the 15-year supply benchmark set in the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.
Existing water infrastructure could cater for 150 allotments and SA Water is investigating capacity for up to 250.
Alexandrina Council will consider the rezoning plan this month.
The land parcel has four owners, and three of them, which collectively own 98 per cent of the site, have approached the council in a bid to make way for development.
Adelaide Development Company general manager Lael Mayer said the spot was “a logical extension to the township”.
He said a lack of development sites in the South Coast town appeared to be pushing up house prices.
The rezoning plans would boost business by attracting extra permanent residents to Middleton, which has a large transient holiday-maker population, Mr Mayer said.
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He said the last major land release in town, Middleton Shores, was more than a decade ago.
Alexandrina Council chief executive Glenn Rappensberg said the overwhelming majority of the “deferred urban” site was used for farming but homes made up about 2ha.
Hickinbotham Group is developing The Rise estate, between Victor Harbor and Port Elliot, which includes 358 allotments over 32ha.
Alexandrina Council has drafted a “statement of intent” to rezone the land, and if approved, will approach Planning Minister Stephan Knoll to kickstart the process, which includes public consultation.
Middleton Tavern owner Nigel Mack expected the rezoning would create jobs in town and more accommodation for potential employees.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au