Adelaide City Council knocks back push to scrap Hutt St Centre planning review
Adelaide City Council will go ahead with a review into the Hutt St Centre, despite the centre’s head labelling it a waste of ratepayers’ money.
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A controversial legal review into whether the Hutt St Centre is in breach of planning approvals will proceed after a push to stop it was blocked.
Adelaide City Council knocked back Cr Robert Simms’ attempt to stop the investigation into whether the centre had contravened land approvals.
The investigation was touted by Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde last month amid claims from nearby traders and residents that the centre’s increasing scale and services broke planning rules.
SA Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said on Wednesday he would do “everything in (his) power” to protect the centre, which could include bringing the issue into State Parliament.
Hutt St Centre chief executive Chris Burns said the review was “an unfortunate and unnecessary waste of ratepayers’ funds”.
He said the centre had already conducted a review into current and historical development approvals as part of its response to concerns about its recently approved redevelopment.
“This is a wasteful distraction when funding could be better spent helping the most vulnerable in our community,” Mr Burns said.
“Due to the subjectivity of the proposed review, the centre may need to contest its outcomes, which would be a further waste of limited funds.”
In April, the centre was given approval to press ahead with a $2.2 million upgrade, despite strong opposition from traders and residents who said crime would rise in the area.
Currently, it sees about 200 people per day.
After the meeting, Cr Simms said the council’s decision was “senseless” and he was “profoundly disappointed”.
“Council has failed the most vulnerable members of our community during this economic crisis – it is a shameful failure of leadership,” he said.
Mr Malinauskas said the council’s decision was “simply wrong”.
“The Hutt St Centre is a vital service, which has supported some of our most vulnerable people,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“It deserves our support so it can continue to help Adelaide’s homeless.”
Meanwhile, Hutt St Traders Association president Collette Slight said the “important” review was “fair”, “equitable” and would help rebuild the Hutt St as a premier city precinct.
“The politicisation and manipulation of this issue is unfortunate, to put it mildly,” she said.
“It has left a sour taste in the mouths of many local residents and businesses who merely wish to have the confidence that every business and organisation on the street is acting in accordance within the law.”
Construction of the centre’s redevelopment started earlier this month.