Why Unley residents don’t want 11-storey towers to be built in ‘village style’ suburb

RESIDENTS living in Adelaide’s affluent inner south are opposed to plans to create high-density living in their character-filled and “village-like” home suburb.

pic today at their Historic home called" Heywoo" at Addiscombe Place ,Unley Park are Faye and Steve McCallum who are selling the historic Home and Moving to the Adelaide Hills . The home was also used in the movie Shine.

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ALLOWING 11-storey “towers” in the heart of Unley would ruin its look and feel, residents say.

Unley Council has published the first round of feedback on its Unley Central Precinct Plan, which encourages high-density living on Unley Rd, between Marion and Thomas streets.

Responses from 140 residents and businesses showed “very limited support” for 11-storey buildings, with close to one-third of respondents raising concerns about high-rise developments.

“High-density living is not Unley Village style,” one resident wrote.

Another feared “towers would dominate and destroy the village character”.

Yet another said tall buildings would ruin the amenity of the area’s historic landmarks.

“High-rise near Soldiers Memorial diminishes its significance to little more than a building forecourt,” the resident’s submission said.

“The parklands (should) remain the buffer between the city high-rise and Unley’s residential areas.”

Concept designs — released earlier — looking east across Unley Rd, that includes a tram line. Supplied: Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Under changes to the council’s development plan, buildings up to 11 storeys would be encouraged on the western side of Unley Rd, between Soldiers Memorial Garden and just south of Frederick St.

Unley’s Oxford Tce civic centre site is also earmarked for buildings of up to 39m.

Five-storey buildings would be permitted on the eastern side of Unley Rd, between Frederick St and Thomas St.

Friends of Unley Society spokeswoman Ros Islip was concerned that a “shallow” community consultation process had left residents in the dark about the high-rise push.

“Unley residents generally have no knowledge of the enormity of the proposal and the impact it will have on the community,” Ms Islip said.

“Publicity inviting the community was poor and it did not mention seven to 11-storey buildings on the Village Green.”

Concept design — released earlier — for rejuvenation of Soldiers’ Memorial Gardens with mixed-use developments. Supplied by Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Unley chief executive Peter Tsokas said specific information about maximum heights was not included in consultation material because there was currently no upper limit in the precinct.

“We are seeking input from residents about what they would like to see in the Unley Central area — the development plan amendment is just one element of this,” Mr Tsokas said.

He said a workshop involving staff, traders and residents would be held next month to work on more detailed plans.

A final development plan amendment is expected to be released for community consultation by midyear.

One family’s perspective

Unley resident Kate Rowan with her children Annabel and Charlie Grivell at Unley Oval. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

KATE Rowan has a simple hope for the future of the suburb her two young children will grow up in.

“As Charlie (8) and Annabel (6) grow up, we need to make sure we preserve the sense of community that we identify so strongly with in Unley,” Ms Rowan, of Unley, says.

“That means preserving our public open spaces — particularly Unley Oval — and making sure that as we move towards higher density that it is done carefully and in a way that suits the area.”

As Unley Council consults on a vision to transform its city heart — with plans for high-density living, more communal spaces and a tramline on Unley Rd — the Eastern Courier Messenger spoke with the Edmund St mother-of-two about the suburb’s future.

Ms Rowan said high-rise developments and population growth were inevitable — and the “right thing to do” — but must be done properly to preserve Unley’s charm.

That also meant protecting what she considered the area’s most popular public space, Unley Oval.

“It is one of the main attractions and we use it all the time,” Ms Rowan said.

As populations rises, so too will the strain on public transport, carpark spaces and — of most concern to Ms Rowan — the suburb’s primary schools and kindergartens.

“There is significant pressure on local schools already — Parkside Primary is at capacity — and we need government schools upgraded because we do not want out kids in overcrowded classrooms,” she said.

“I think if we can manage all of these things there is no reason why our children cannot grow up and enjoy all the wonderful things that we currently do in Unley.”