Bunnings revises plans for mega store in Adelaide’s south east but some vocal locals say they still don’t want it

A HARDWARE store giant has revised its plans for a new $42m mega store in Adelaide’s south east. It’s won some locals over — but others remain firmly opposed to the development. Here’s why ...

AN amended plan for the contentious $42 million Bunnings store on the old TAFE site on Goodwood Rd has met a mixed response from Panorama locals.

The hardware giant has acceded to residents’ calls to cut a planned Shepley Ave entrance from the plans.

It has also proposed installing traffic lights at the site’s sole entrance, on Goodwood Rd.

Panorama Clapham Community Group spokesman Neil Baron welcomed the amended plans.

“Bunnings has shown good faith by being open and listening to our concerns,” Mr Baron said.

“They attended community meetings to see what our situation was and we said plans were unacceptable so they changed them.

“They needed to understand our concerns about traffic management and having the new lights and crossing makes it a … safer proposal.”

Panorama Clapham Community Group, along with the Say No to Bunnings Panorama group, have protested against the development since the company bought the site more than a year ago.

The Say No to Bunnings Panorama group has collected almost 2100 signatures against the development since October last year.

Residents who have signed the petition say the development is not wanted, is inappropriate for the site and the area already has enough hardware shops.

Group member and local resident Peter Bryant said the new plan was still disappointing because there would be too many traffic lights on local main roads, forcing motorists to use residential streets to avoid congestion.

Traffic experts expected an extra 4500 vehicle and truck movements every day, overloading the already congested Springbank, Daws and Goodwood road intersection.

“It is untenable to consider a commercial development that will simply add thousands of vehicles to an area that already suffers from congestion and high traffic,” Mr Bryant said.

“This will make things worse.

“The council should be considering options which seek to build a better and stronger community by adding people not concrete and corrugated iron,” he said.

Bunnings property general manager Andrew Marks said the company would continue discussing the proposal with Mitcham Council.

Mitcham’s Development Assessment Panel is expected to assess the application in March.