Are Campbelltown and Burnside councils really ready to make new $6.4m shopping hub off Magill Rd a reality?

IT’S been four years in the making but a vision to create a new multimillion-dollar shopping and cultural hub in Adelaide’s east, adjacent to this major road, finally looks set to become a reality.

Concept images for the revamped Magill Village were first released several years ago.

TRANSFORMING Magill Rd into a shopping and cultural showpiece is now a step closer – with two eastern councils set to agree on a start date.

Burnside Council is next week expected to discuss and endorse a $6.8 million final masterplan for the redevelopment, in a joint project with Campbelltown Council and the State Government.

This comes after four years of planning.

But, even if the final plans are ticked off by both councils, there would still be an 18-month gap before construction could begin.

The start date has been touted for March 2019.

Work on the project, first mooted in 2013, would begin by undergrounding the powerlines along the strip before installing new paving, seating, lighting and landscaping to create a village feel.

Burnside Council would contribute $3 million, Campbelltown $2.8 million and the State Government $1 million.

Chiropractic at Magill owner Sam Millard was not “overly frustrated” that work would not begin until 2019.

“It will be nice to have the council invest in this area,” Mr Millard said.

These concept plans were released in 2003.

“I think the people at the top end of Magill Rd needed something a bit nicer closer to home rather than having to travel down to Norwood or Burnside.

“The local business owners this side of town have been doing a great job for a long period of time with trying to be innovative.

“So, it’s nice that the council want to reward the local area up here. It can only mean that things this side of town will get even better.”

Bennetts Magill Pottery owner John Bennett was also keen for the councils to start the upgrade.

Local business: Sam Millard from Chiropractic at Magill and John Bennett from Bennett's Pottery have welcomed news the revamp is a step closer. Picture: Roger Wyman

“It will make the area look a bit nicer rather than having powerlines on Stobie poles,” Mr Bennett said.

The aim of the project was to revitalise the top end of Magill Rd as a shopping destination and create “a streetscape that supports vibrant street life”.

Transforming Magill Rd into a shopping and cultural showpiece is now a step closer as Burnside and Campbelltown ready to agree on a masterplan.

It would include building a village square at the ­intersection of Magill Rd and Pepper St, new shops, carparks and trees.

The councils spent $160,000 to develop the 2013 masterplan, including $100,000 from the Federal Government and research support from UniSA.

Campbelltown Council chief executive Paul Di Iulio did not respond to questions about when the council would endorse the plan by presstime.