Adelaide primary school not happy as 36-apartment block for The Parade gets nod

A FIVE-storey, $12m apartment block has been given the nod in Adelaide’s east. It will become the suburb’s second-tallest building and a local school isn’t happy.

A FIVE-storey apartment block will be built on The Parade, Norwood, despite objections from St Ignatius’ College and a nearby business owner.

The Development Assessment Commission has approved the $12 million project at the corner of Portrush Rd, pending more detail on the design of the facade facing The Parade.

The owners — Kevin Chapley, Jo Chapley and Zack Kalamboyas — refused to comment on the approval, when work would start or how much the 36 apartments will sell for.

The building will be the second tallest in Norwood, with only the water tower behind it higher.

The tower is owned by the Manresa Society, an organisation associated with St Ignatius’ College, whose junior school is about 300m away on Queen St.

Representing the Manresa Society, planning consultant Grazio Maiorano said the apartments would overlook the water tower if the school went ahead with plans for a mixed-use residential and commercial development on the site or turned part of it into a sporting oval.

He also said the 44 parking spaces as part of the complex created a “significant parking shortfall issue” because Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council’s development plan required 65 spots for such a building.

Roger Richards, who owns Windmill Educational Toys and Equipment, next door to the development on The Parade, also lodged an objection.

He was more concerned construction work would interrupt trade at his business.

“A big building like that is bound to affect our business with construction going on,” Mr Richards said.

The commission dismissed the complaints.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Mayor Robert Bria said the apartment block was the type of development the council had envisaged when it changed zoning on The Parade in 2013 to allow buildings up to seven storeys on the shopping strip.

“I hope this development activates the Portrush Rd end of the Parade, which is starting to get some activity,” Mr Bria said.

Under changes made by Planning Minister John Rau last year, all projects more than four storeys high and worth more than $3 million go to the Development Assessment Commission.

Ms Chapley used the building as her electorate office when running for Labor at last year’s state election.