Adelaide controversial projects and ideas: NIMBY community outrage stories of 2021
From a shipping container with an illuminated cross to a noisy basketball court, we’ve rated and judged the year’s biggest issues which had local communities yelling: “Not in my backyard!”
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They are the big projects and random ideas which often irk local communities and have residents screaming: “Not in my backyard!”
And in 2021 there were plenty of examples of neighbourhood-dividing proposals across Adelaide and beyond – from an errant shipping container with an illuminated cross, misplaced phone towers to a basketball court causing “unnecessary distress”.
Never heard of a NIMBY? It’s an acronym for the phrase “not in my backyard”, and is defined as residents opposed to proposed developments in their local area, who voice their support for strict land use regulations.
So, without further ado, we present our biggest and best NIMBY stories of the year.
Each has been rated on the NIMBY-ometer by our judge Miles Kemp from 1 to 10, with a high of 10 being the most NIMBY of all.
Warning: Sense of humour required!
Burnside’s $165k toilet
IN A NUTSHELL: Burnside Council’s $165,000 toilet that residents feared would be become a magnet for “sexual deviates”.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 10
THE STORY: Back in October, the council approved the toilet in Brock Reserve, despite clear objection from local residents who believed it would attract “unsavoury characters, drug users and sexual deviates”.
Based in a busy part of the reserve in Beaumont – the main entry point to Mount Osmond Reserve and a number of popular walking and cycling trails – nearly 80 properties were sent surveys about the proposal.
Trail counters revealed the area had a “high level of use” with around 7100 visitors each month but there were no available public toilets, a council report revealed.
It would be built close to the Dashwood Road footpath, away from nearby houses and only be open during daylight hours.
However, some residents argued it was unnecessary, “a waste of money”, would encourage anti-social behaviour, attract “unsavoury characters”, increase local crime and decrease open space.
“(It) would encourage relocation of unsocial behaviour and just another case of wasteful spending and disregard for prudent restrained spending of ratepayers funds,” one resident submitted.
“Complete waste of money. Will be a visual eyesore. Will attract the wrong type of people to hang around it. People doing drugs, sexual predators,” another argued.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Around 60 per cent of the ageing residents of Burnside struggle to make it to the toilet on time, but the council has not enough sympathy to help them with this problem. As the Millennials say, “rood”. How do I know; I’m a resident of Burnside Council, I’m ageing and, yep, you guessed it! That plus if you’re spending your day imagining what “sexual deviation” you can get up to with toilet “things” then you are spending too much time watching obscure internet videos, and you are the people we have to worry about.
Shipping container with the cross
IN A NUTSHELL: Auldana businessman removes shipping container with illuminated cross following community outrage.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 7
THE STORY: A protruding shipping container on the foothills property of self-made millionaire Lance Vater – which caused headaches for neighbours – was eventually removed without legal intervention.
Burnside Council had initially taken action in the Environment, Resources and Development Court to force Mr Vater to remove the structure from the entrance of his Auldana property, which was visible in sweeping views of Adelaide and sparked numerous complaints from local residents.
But Burnside chief executive Chris Cowley said the shipping container, which features a large cross, was removed on October 7 without court orders and his interactions with Mr Vater in regards to the removal of the structure were amicable.
“We chose not to go down the court route and engage lawyers, we chose a negotiated outcome, which was slightly longer, but I feel produced a better outcome for the community,” Mr Cowley said.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Mildly offensive to a tiny minority. But let me get this right; the little guy wants to build a low cost shipping container housing option (used for humanitarian purposes all over the world), which is environmentally friendly, encourages recycling, memorialises someone who championed all of the above, and all with a view over a gulf that looks remarkably like the Mediterranean. Hmm, wonder what Jesus would think?
Rostrevor public loo
IN A NUTSHELL: $190,000 public toilet in Rostrevor divides the community.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 5
THE STORY: Divisive plans for a $190,000 automated toilet in Rostrevor – which triggered rival petitions – was eventually given the official go-ahead in April.
Campbelltown Council committed financially to an “Exeloo” in Gurners Reserve despite “significantly” strong opposition from residents living in the area.
A council-run survey on whether to fund the community toilet was supported by 66 per cent of residents.
The majority of support came from people living further away from the proposed site, while those living opposite were generally opposed to the initiative.
Yet the proposal split the community, with rival petitions circulating in the lead up to the council’s decision.
Petition supporter Barbara Luna called on elected members to “stop this project here and now”.
“The vast majority of the adjoining property owners and ratepayers strongly oppose the proposal,” Mrs Luna said.
“Please don’t waste our money on recurring consultations … that divide the community.
“Gurners Reserve is a relatively small public space to warrant a toilet.”
However, opposing petitioner Peter Barone said the reserve was underused due to a lack of a toilet.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: What? $190k for a dunny? Problem solved; tell the residents you will save the money, and erect the old shovel stuck into the ground with a dunny roll threaded through the handle? Those were the days.
Phone tower at Grange bowls club
IN A NUTSHELL: Grange residents successfully oppose a Telstra tower proposed for local bowling club.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 8
THE STORY: Grange residents packed out a public gallery at a western suburbs council meeting in March to oppose plans for a mobile phone tower at their local bowling club.
Five residents addressed the Charles Sturt Council meeting, outlining their concerns over the Telstra phone tower planned for Grange Bowling Club, on Wilson Court.
“This is not about a bunch of Luddites saying we don’t want this – it’s about having common sense,” resident Haydyn Bromley told the meeting.
“When you drive around, there are towers popping up everywhere, and there doesn’t seem to be any organised regimen around it.”
The company’s application was eventually refused by the council.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Packed out the gallery? A smart council would have organised for the meeting to be live-streamed only (mobile phone-only deputations from the protesters), and then had Telstra turn off all the local phone towers for the duration. That and, as the 5G protesters say; “arrest Bill Gates”.
Bouncing basketballs at Felixstow
IN A NUTSHELL: Felixstow residents call for basketball court to be moved.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 11
THE STORY: Felixstow residents demanded the local council take “urgent action” and move a new basketball court which is the source of “unnecessary distress” for the neighbourhood due to the constant bouncing of balls.
Nearly 40 residents signed a petition calling on Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council to move the Felixstow Reserve court with young people playing games as late as 2.30am, breaching the 8pm to 8am curfew.
“The noise of bouncing basketballs … has caused unnecessary distress to some nearby residents,” the petition stated.
However, the council voted earlier this month to install CCTV cameras and consult further with the community before making a more permanent decision.
During the heated meeting the court was described as “torture” – with one councillor comparing the noise to Nazi experiments.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: The petition ended: “Extreme wretchedness abounds. If God had wanted young people we would have been born that way!”
Prospect 30m phone tower
IN A NUTSHELL: Prospect residents successfully oppose Optus phone tower.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 5
THE STORY: The rejection of Optus’ controversial plans for a near 30m communications tower in Prospect in August was described as a win for “people power” by a political candidate.
The $200,000 proposal was initially deferred by the council’s assessment panel to allow Optus to provide further information regarding alternative sites and why those options had been previously ruled out.
The company wanted to place the 28.3m 5G tower in the car park of Crowies Paints at 84 Main North Road.
College Ave resident and urban planner David Lloyd said the tower would be immediately adjacent to a residential zone and just 72m from an existing Telstra tower.
“This isn’t just an antenna, it’s a significant structure,” Mr Lloyd said.
“Our community here in Prospect East will be seen as an area to be avoided if we’re living under multiple industrial-style towers.”
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Can’t help thinking the rival Telstra was behind this petition. I imagine little rooms of 99-year-olds, cold-calling residents to tell them how 5G was the cause of the cancer which threatens to cut their lives tragically short.
Aldi and Bunnings plan for Glynde
IN A NUTSHELL: Residents say no to Aldi and Bunnings in Glynde
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 7
THE STORY: A new plan which could see Aldi and Bunnings stores built almost side-by-side in Glynde is “bad news” for the neighbourhood, a local resident said.
After its initial proposal was rejected, consultant URPS, on behalf of the German supermarket chain, proposed a code amendment for 19-26 Glynburn Rd, which would rezone 7423 sqm of land to suburban activity centre.
The site currently includes a service trade premises and an office with residential properties to the northeast and west and the Glynde Lutheran Church to the north.
Just 75m up the road, Bunnings has lodged an application to build a two-storey, $48m superstore on the corner of Glynburn Rd and Penna Ave.
Despite community backlash, the hardware store development would “not have a negative impact on this site” with traffic signals proposed at the that street junction, URPS submitted.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: The last thing the protester tools who live in this area want is more tools.
KFC, servo at Campbelltown
IN A NUTSHELL: Campbelltown residents unsuccessfully oppose plans for a KFC and servo near an aged care centre.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 9
THE STORY: Contentious plans for a KFC and X Convenience petrol station that forced pensioners to vacate their rental properties earlier this year were approved by the local council’s assessment panel last month.
Adelaide Planning and Development Solutions, on behalf of X Convenience, lodged an application with the Campbelltown panel for an eight-pump service station at 98 Newton Rd.
Pensioners at Bellara Village, on the corner of Newton and Gorge roads, were forced to vacate their homes after learning their rental properties would make way for a potential KFC and petrol station.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: If I lived at an aged care centre, I’d either be totally deluded about my longevity, or I’d be praying every night for as many “long-term” health effects as I could get.
Childcare centre at Hallett Cove
IN A NUTSHELL: Hallett Cove childcare centre plan rejected after resident blowback.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 9
THE STORY:
Residents and an MP in Adelaide’s south successfully fought a proposal for a two-storey childcare centre they said was out of character, and not needed due to the area’s ageing population.
An Hallett Cove resident said the proposal to build the establishment on the corner of Gledsdale Rd and Freya Ave, was a traffic accident waiting to happen.
“It’s honestly disgusting,” the resident said of the application which was rejected in November.
“I often see the Tuesday morning drop off at the high school and the U-turns parents make along that road as well as the amount of kids crossing the road.
“I’m honestly surprised someone hasn’t been seriously injured yet.”
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Drivers doing road things on a road. Peak wretchedness. Worse, pedestrians are crossing the road on foot, and getting in the way of one’s 10km/h gofer. Acknowledged, that is what the “ped” in the word stands for stands for but still? That plus young people are so annoying. I’m glad I was never young.
Flagstaff Hill childcare centre
IN A NUTSHELL: Two-storey childcare plan leaves residents fuming.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 9
THE STORY: Residents in Adelaide’s south were left reeling after plans to build a two-storey childcare centre were revealed.
Davenport MP Steve Murray said the $1.5m childcare centre proposed for Bolton Court in Flagstaff Hill was overkill for the street and believed the area is already a poorly planned hotspot.
“It is an industrial scale development which looks like a remand centre,” Mr Murray said.
“This is Flagstaff Hill’s hotspot, it straddles the shopping centre as well as the biggest primary school in area, it’s just overkill.”
Onkaparinga Council’s assessment panel will consider the proposal at a later date.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Yeah so the windows on this development maybe look like a remand centre so – LIKE PEOPLE ON REMAND – the kiddies can’t climb out, jump, abseil or hang-glide down to the street. But, OK?
Port Lincoln cinema $32m transformation
IN A NUTSHELL: More than 1000 residents oppose demolition of 100-year-old cinema
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 9
THE STORY: A $32m vision to transform Port Lincoln – including the demolition of the town’s 100-year-old cinema – sparked mass community anger.
Port Lincoln City Council debated the plan back in March, which would involve razing the historic cinema to make way for a $12m civic centre, with a new library, visitor centre, a 50-seat boutique cinema and a cafe.
However, the plans hinge on the council securing up to $18m in funding support from the State and Federal Governments.
The fight has only just begun with a community petition with over 1000 signatures demanding the council reconsider its plans.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Flamin’ mongrels. I’ll be damned if I’m letting you demolish the local cinema. I love walking past on the rare occasion I ever get off the sofa and stop watching SBS On Demand, ABC iview, Netflix, Stan, Foxtel and Binge. I never forget to get off YouTube on my mobile to admire the cinema when I walk past.
Protests outside Chinese consulate
IN A NUTSHELL: Joslin residents oppose Chinese consulate.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 10
THE STORY: More than 100 people protested the opening of a Chinese consulate in Joslin in March as Premier Steven Marshall addressed a crowd inside the compound.
The crowd, waving banners opposing the Chinese oppression of Uygur and Falon Gong people, shouted over the top of the VIP event inside the consulate grounds on Fifth Ave.
Amid angry scenes, two were arrested for assault and public disorder offences as police also closed off a long section of Fifth Ave while the event took place.
They also moved on some protesters from demonstrating on the fence line near gazebos that had been constructed to host the event.
Senator Rex Patrick told the gathered crowd on Fifth Ave that the consulate did not “belong in Joslin and, in fact, it doesn’t belong in Adelaide”.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Let’s get violent in Adelaide to force our views on other people, so we can stop all the violence to force views on other people in China. That’ll learn ’em.
Barnyard to bowsers at Salisbury Downs
IN A NUTSHELL: Servo and 17 homes could be built in Salisbury Downs under a barnyard to bowsers plan.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 7
THE STORY: It’s currently home to barnyard animals but a fuel station and 17 homes could be built on one of the largest allotments in Salisbury Downs.
A company called 48 Commercial Road Salisbury has lodged plans with Plan SA for a six-bowser X Convenience service station and residential land division with new internal public roads at 89-97 Kings Rd.
The servo, to be considered by the local council’s assessment panel, would be built on the site’s southwest, fronting Kings Rd, with 11 parking spaces and residential buildings on the remainder of the land.
However, it drew the ire of a local neighbour and Salisbury councillor Sarah Ouk who said it would make traffic congestion worse on Kings Rd.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: Warning; political satire and a fake letter ahead. Dear Sir/Madam, I live in a home in Salisbury next to where council are deciding if homes for 17 other families are to be built. I am also a councillor charged with taking a holistic approach to developing this already highly urbanised area. NONE of the barnyard animals that currently live on the site have suggested I have any conflict of interest concerns and I have asked all of them. Damn, forget it, I just realised how ridiculous this letter is. Yours, Cr somebody else.
$2.8m petrol station at Sturt
IN A NUTSHELL: Sturt residents oppose X Convenience petrol station plan.
NIMBY-OMETER RATING: 7
THE STORY: South Australian company X Convenience won approval for a contentious $2.8m petrol station after a marathon public meeting in November.
After deputations from nine people opposed to the project, Marion Council’s assessment panel backed the plans for the Sturt outlet which would replace a restaurant on the corner of Diagonal Rd and Miller St.
The project was approved four to one, with the dissenting vote coming from the only elected councillor on the development panel.
However, Sturt resident Geoff Bridgland said the project did not “complement” adjacent properties.
“The scale is enormous and is contrary to the character of the neighbourhood,” Mr Bridgland said.
JUDGE’S REMARKS: A whole nine protesters? All likely drivers, and all saying; “How very dare you have people fill up next to my house when I can just as well fill up next to their house”.
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