Burnside Council to consult community over possible sale of land to Pembroke School

Community land would be sold to the prestigious private school under a plan for a huge sporting fields upgrade that’s left Burnside Council residents “nervous”.

More than 700 sqm of community land could be sold to an elite private school in Adelaide’s east under its plan for a major sports expansion that would see nine homes demolished.

Burnside Council voted to begin community consultation on a possible revocation and sale of council-owned land neighbouring Haslam Oval in Kensington Park to Pembroke School, last week.

In a consultant report from URPS, the school was keen to buy four parcels of land, measuring at 706 sqm in total, between the school and nine properties it owns along Dunstan Ave, and a further “very small, leftover” parcel on the avenue.

Artists impressions of the view of Haslam Oval from the corner of Beulah Rd and Dunstan Ave. Picture: Pembroke School

It comes after the school’s earlier $25m upgrade plans – including a footbridge spanning Shipsters Rd and a new science, technology and art centre – were approved by the then Development Assessment Commission in 2017.

The community land – described as “seemingly haphazard” due to numerous street changes over many decades – was identified by the school while compiling a masterplan in 2015.

At the meeting, Pembroke principal Luke Thomson said the plan would upgrade “undeveloped playing fields” into “improved sports facilities”.

In a letter to the council, Mr Thomson said an upgraded Haslam Oval precinct would include an AFL-sized oval, soccer and hockey pitches, tennis courts, a new multipurpose gymnasium including basketball courts and indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art boarding house and a grandstand.

The plan includes the demolition of nine properties owned by the school along Dunstan Ave. Picture: Burnside Council

Pembroke School wants to buy more than 700 sqm of community land in five different locations. Picture: Burnside Council

Mr Thomson said several parcels of land would be “merged” with the oval and there were “compelling reasons” as to why the council should begin the revocation process.

In his letter, Mr Thomson said the land is of “no apparent benefit or value to the council … or to the local or wider community”.

“They are all oddly shaped, and of differing sizes, making all of them essentially of no use to the public,” Mr Thomson wrote.

“In our view … (it made) sense in any case for the community land classification of that land to be revoked and for the land to be transferred to the school.

“All of those pieces of land can be put to effective use by the school.”

However, the upgrade could come at the expense of local trees, a WAX Design report revealed.

The school is planning a major sporting upgrade at Haslam Oval. Picture: URPS

“It is noted that with the removal of dwellings to Dunstan Rd and the expansion of existing playing ovals to meet standard sizes, the removal of some established trees may be required,” WAX revealed in its report.

“Any removal of trees will be offset with a net increase in trees on the site.”

In a deputation to council, local resident Peter Nicolaci said there was “not enough information being provided” with extra sporting activities likely to be “intrusive”.

“The residents want to be a part of the process,” Mr Nicolaci said.

Artist impressions of Haslam Oval from the corner of Dunstan Ave and Borda St. Picture: Pembroke School

In a further deputation, local resident and town planner Greg Vincent said “there is significant community interest (in the proposal)” and residents needed to be fully informed.

He also had concerns with additional sport at the school, with noise from weekend matches occasionally “quite disturbing” saying “it’s very very busy (on weekends)”.

Cr Sarah Hughes said residents were “nervous” about the possible sale.

However, Cr Peter Cornish said consultation, which will begin on February 1 next year, was “the first step in a very long process”.