Coles amends plans for $50 million Norwood shopping centre redevelopment to retain cork tree
A RETAIL giant has redrawn its plans for a new $50m shopping centre in the heart of Norwood to ensure two beloved old trees don’t get the chop.
NORWOOD’S cork tree appears to have been saved from the chainsaw thanks to a community campaign that has persuaded Coles to redraw its development plans.
Coles has changed its design for Norwood’s new $50 million shopping centre to keep the 120-year-old cork tree and a large river red gum, both in the car park off Edward St.
Coles SA property manager Hamish Brown said the centre’s floor plan had been reduced to allow for more parking, enabling the trees to be kept.
“The cork tree and the large river red gum ... will be retained,” Mr Brown said.
“We have listened to the feedback from the council and the local community and redesigned our plans accordingly.”
He said the company had come up with a “smart design” to ensure the redevelopment considered the community’s and council’s concerns.
“Many other key features of our original plans have been retained, including a cafe overlooking James Coke Park,” Mr Brown said.
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters’ Development Assessment Panel rejected Coles’ plans for Norwood Mall in March.
It was unhappy with Coles’ plan to axe the cork tree — planted by prominent furniture maker Henry Buttery in the 1890s — and the gum tree.
It also found there was insufficient parking to cater for the expected rise in customers.
The Save the Norwood Cork Tree Group quickly formed to campaign for the tree, which is listed on the National Trust’s significant trees register.
“We’re happy Coles has come to what we think is a reasonable decision,” group spokesman Jim Dunk said.
“It’s good the cork tree is being preserved, along with the large gum, because community support to save those trees was very strong.”
NP & SP Mayor Robert Bria would not comment on Coles’ revised plan, saying it was still the subject of an Environment, Resource and Development Court appeal.
Coles appealed the panel’s decision in a bid to trigger mediation between it and the council.
MORE: Coles appeals decision preventing it from proceeding with $50m Norwood Village plan
The revised plan — which includes a Coles supermarket and a restaurant — is due to go before the panel tonight.
f it is approved, construction would start next year, with the project expected to be take up to 18 months to complete.