Hundreds of North Adelaide properties could be affected by a development plan, prompting the outgoing Lord Mayor to aim a rocket at the planning minister
A CONTENTIOUS development plan for North Adelaide that could allow schools and hospitals to expand on to more than 150 private properties has triggered a fight between the Lord Mayor and the Planning Minister.
A CONTENTIOUS development plan for North Adelaide that could allow schools and hospitals to expand on to more than 150 private properties has triggered a fight between the Lord Mayor and the State Government.
Planning Minister Stephan Knoll has come under fire from Lord Mayor Martin Haese for not winding back the controversial development plan created by the former Labor government.
Advice by the Adelaide City Council, obtained by The Advertiser, shows that 156 properties in the suburb can be used by North Adelaide’s schools and hospitals to expand outside of their present boundaries as a result of controversial rules introduced last year by former planning minister John Rau.
The advice states that as a result of the wording of the plan, the North Adelaide Large Institutions and Colleges Development Plan Amendment, the 11 institutions and colleges are able to buy up not just properties next to them, but across the road from them and use them to expand their operations.
This would require the existing owners to agree to sell their property.
The outgoing Lord Mayor, who last month stunned many when he announced he would not seek another four-year term, said the entire North Adelaide community should be concerned of the new developments, which he said could alter the very fabric of it.
He also blasted Mr Knoll saying the minister had not acted in any way to fix the problem despite assurances early this year.
“As the outgoing Lord Mayor, I feel compelled to voice my concerns about how poorly the council has been treated by the previous and current State Governments when it comes to the North Adelaide Large Institutions and Colleges Development Plan Amendment (DPA).”
“I am disappointed as the Council, its administration and local community had together worked in good faith for over two years with the previous State Government on the North Adelaide Large Institutions and Colleges DPA.
“We did this in the belief that any future planning outcomes were to be contained within the existing site boundaries of the eleven institutions and colleges.
“We were then shocked to learn that the insertion of the words “directly associated” in the DPA meant that it is now possible for the institutions and colleges to spread beyond their boundaries. This should be of concern to the entire North Adelaide community.”
Mr Haese said Mr Knoll could rectify the DPA by enforcing a ‘Section 29’ to wind back the scope of the amendment or commence an entirely new process.
Mr Knoll said he had to wait before making a decision.
“There are cases before the ERDC (Environmental Resources and Development Court) which the new State Government is awaiting the outcome of before we can make a decision,” he said.
That matter is regarding a historic Ward Street mansion — which Calvary previously proposed to bulldoze but has put it back on the market to rent out.
Residents have still taken the matter to court, The Advertiser attempted to contact Calvary about the court case and if it had any other plans to expand.
On top of that action Friends and Residents of North Adelaide convener and North Ward council candidate Valdis Dunis has a nearly 300 strong petition he will present to State Parliament.
“We feel that the institutions could just gobble up big chunks of North Adelaide,” he said.
“We are hoping to show Parliament that it is a big issue.”
Lord Mayor aspirant Sandy Verschoor said despite Mr Haese leaving the council, it should not give up the fight.
“We were dudded,” she said.
“North Adelaide is unique and needs to be protected … if it means new legislation then I will lead the push for new legislation if I am Lord Mayor.”
Fellow Lord Mayor candidate Mark Hamilton said the DPA was completely at odds with North Adelaide’s status as a heritage conservation zone.
“The North Adelaide community wants the increased height limits and plot ratios imposed by Mr Rau to be scaled back to something in keeping with the surrounding townscape as well as the reintroduction of the planning rule that to exceed the height limits and plot ratio allowances is a prohibited form of development,” he said.