Mapped: Hundreds of new projects totally nearly $200m to help to boost the Adelaide Hills economy and drive new jobs

Despite major bushfires and COVID-19, the Adelaide Hills economy is powering ahead with no less than 135 major projects either under consideration or under construction across the region. EXPLORE THE MAP.

Heathfield High School student captains Aimee Lacey, 17, Libbi Nutt, 17, Constance Kilkenny-Jones, 17 and Gavin Jones, 17, see drawings of their school's new $13.6 million expansion – one of 135 new developments for the Adelaide Hills. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

• Revealed: The Adelaide Hills’ 25 most influential people
• Twenty-three projects that could help stimulate the Hills economy
• Click here for more news from the Adelaide Hills

New residential developments, school upgrades, business expansions and tourism ventures are among a wave of projects ready to boost the Adelaide Hills economy.

Exclusive data obtained by The Adelaide Hills News shows more than 135 commercial projects – worth more than $196.5 million – have been lodged through the Adelaide Hills Council, Mount Barker District Council and State Planning Portal between July 2019 and August 2020.

Major land divisions topped the list with a combined total expense of $53.08 million.

Key projects include the construction of 28 two-storey dwellings and the creation of 46-lot community divisions at Buchanan Drive, Woodford, a 180 group-dwelling retirement village at 17 Hawthorn Road, Mount Barker, and Stirling’s first major infill housing development at 21 Pomona Road.

Meanwhile, upgrades to education facilities followed in close second, with a total of $48 million spent across 24 school and childcare centre projects.

More than $31 million are also being invested in sport facility upgrades at a range of clubs, including Oakbank Racing Club, the South Australian Police Pistol Club, Northern Hills Pony Club and Oakbank Golf Club.

Mt. Lofty Women's football players Kate Chapman, Lucy Northcott, and Hannah Douglas-Hill are excited about planned upgrade to their change rooms at Heathfield Oval. Picture Dean Martin. Picture Dean Martin

However, the standout statistic comes from the Hills tourism sector which, with 34 projects with a combined worth of more than $12 million, recorded the highest total of applications lodged for any specific category.

The Adelaide Hills Council director of development and regulator services Marc Salver said the data was promising for a region impacted by both bushfires and COVID-19.

“I think the number of development applications we receive spells very good news for our economy and are a sign that we’re doing okay, despite what’s going on in the world,” Mr Salver said.

“When I look at our data for the first six months of the year, compared to this time last year, we’re actually up one per cent in applications – excluding the bushfire (applications).

“The data also matches what we’ve been recording for well over a year, that being more commercial development applications coming through.

“In the past, the top development applications used to be houses, but in the last couple of years it’s been commercial activity, so last year it was the $7.5 million development for the Bird in Hand Winery, The Aldi development in Stirling – that was $7.2 million – and then we had the Hills Christian School at Verdun, that was $4.3 million.”

A concept image for 20 Pomona Rd, Stirling.

MORE NEWS:

Funding secured for new Heathfield Oval change rooms

Hills copper mine hopes to reboot local workforce by 2021

Families to benefit from two new childcare centres in Hahndorf and Mount Barker

Mount Barker Council general manager for planning and development Marc Voortman said 2020 produced a record number of development applications.

He said the real estate sector in particular was fuelling development across the council region.

“The forecast is that before the end of this calendar year, so six months into our calendar year, will be ticking over 600 new allotments (being approved),” Mr Voortman said.

Concept plans for the Mount Barker Primary School Redevelopment. Source: SA Planning Portal

“That’s a pretty significant increase in activity … as we would usually see around 400 new allotments per year created in Mount Barker.

“Some significant commercial investments are also being made, including a new school being under assessment, two aged care facilities, tourism accommodation and a new supermarket that’s under construction in Nairne.

“So it’s been one of the busiest six months we’ve had yet as we’ve seen a massive increase in development.”