There are no signs of work starting on the $200m development planned for the former Le Cornu site in North Adelaide

IT’S been eight months since a $200 million plan to develop the decades-vacant former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide got the nod. So far, nothing has happened and some are asking if it ever will.

Artist impressions of the proposed $200 million redevelopment of the old Le Cornu site at 88 O'Connell St, North Adelaide. Picture: Makris Group

NORTH Adelaide residents and councillors are fearful yet another plan to develop the former Le Cornu site will collect dust as not one brick has been laid on the site.

Under state planning law, projects must be “substantially commenced” within one year of approval, meaning plans for a $200 million luxury residential, retail and hotel development will lapse if work does not start by June.

The Planning Department has not yet received a request from developers the Makris Group for an extension to its building approval.

The Makris Group is yet to break ground at the site, which has been vacant for more than two decades.

Makris Group general manager Steve Ploubidis said the company was committed to the project.

He said it would apply for an extension by June, but did not say when, suggesting work would not start at the site by the deadline.

The former Le Cornu site in North Adelaide has been vacant for two decades.

Mr Ploubidis moved to hose down community concern about the future of the site.

“When you build a house it takes six months to get the slab down and that’s a $200,000 house,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“We’re talking about a $200 million development.”

Makris Group chief executive John Blunt also moved to quell concerns, saying the project was “well underway” and a legal agreement with Starwood Hotels to build the Sheraton Adelaide hotel was in place.

Con Makris (right) bought the site in 2001 from Wallis Cinemas and has long held plans to redevelop it.

“The Adelaide office of project management company RCP has been appointed to oversee the construction process, and consultants are being selected and appointed,” Mr Blunt said.

“On-site construction is planned to start by the end of the year.”

Cr Anne Moran said because no construction work had started, it pointed to another false dawn for the prime site.

An artist’s impression of the O'Connell St frontage, as part of the $200m development.

“Once again it’s clearly not going to happen,” Cr Moran said.

“Substantial development means digging and laying foundation and I doubt that is going to happen in the next few months.

“I’m very sad to say I told you so.

“I urge the State Government to compulsorily acquire the land if nothing happens this time.

“It’s a prominent site holding the whole of O’Connell St to ransom.”

North Adelaide Precinct Association president David Johnson doubted any works would be started by June.

“I think Makris has got to make up his mind and if he is unable to do the development he should sell it to someone who can,” Mr Johnson said. “I think he owes it to the community.”

Mr Johnson said residents had been commenting that the artwork, which was painted on the fence surrounding the empty site, would become “a major long-term fixture”.

North Adelaide Society chair Ed Briedis said residents had switched off.

“I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened,” Mr Briedis said.

“The ball is in (the developer’s) court and they are not returning serve.

“When you hear it for the first time you get excited, but when you keep hearing it over and over again and nothing happens you tend to ignore it.”

Cr Phil Martin said the stalled development was holding up a widespread upgrade of O’Connell St.

“There is no question this is the single most important development in North Adelaide,” Cr Martin said.

“If there is no building activity by the end of June, a lot of people will be concerned about whether the development is going to go ahead in the manner we all thought.

“I will be pacing up and down the site on June 30 if there doesn’t appear to be anything going on.”

A Planning Department spokesman said the Makris Group development was given an extended completion date when it was approved.

“The time for commencement remains at one year, but the time for completion was extended to five years, ” the spokesman said.

“If work does not substantially commence within one year, and the consent has not been extended, the consent would lapse.

“It is the applicant’s obligation to seek an extension of time.”