Major surplus land sales inject more than $123m into SA Government coffers
The sale of dozens of publicly owned sites, including old schools, has injected millions into State Government coffers. Explore dozens of major sales by Renewal SA since 2015 in an interactive map.
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The sale of dozens of publicly owned properties has injected more than $123m into State Government coffers over the past five years, an analysis of transactions reveals.
The Advertiser has compiled a publicly accessible map showing the location, sale price, size and ownership of 53 properties offloaded by the government’s land agent, Renewal SA, on behalf of government agencies since 2015.
The Advertiser can also reveal the government earned $19.74m from the sale of the 19ha former Magill Youth Training Centre site at Woodforde to SA developer Starfish Developments.
The company is transforming the land, formerly owned by the Human Services Minister, into the Hamilton Hill housing estate featuring some 400 properties in Adelaide’s northeast.
The single biggest property transaction handled by Renewal SA was the 16.5ha sale of land around the Glenside hospital site, earning nearly $30m from developer Cedar Woods which is building a medium-density housing estate.
In total, government departments reaped $123.4m from land sales orchestrated via Renewal SA between 2015 and 2020.
The Transport and Infrastructure Department and Housing SA handle their own property sales, which are not included in the figure.
Select a location from the drop-down menu to explore the sale data.
The Advertiser revealed on September 11 that the government had entered into a contract to sell 7.1ha of the 7.4ha former Fort Largs Police Academy at Taperoo to WA developer Peet.
The deal, contingent on Peet securing planning approvals, is expected to lead to the construction of some 350 houses on prime beachfront land and restoration of state heritage-listed buildings.
The value of the proposed deal is secret but the land in question has a capital value of $12.5m, according to valuation data held by Land SA.
Two thirds of the 54 surplus property sales handled by Renewal SA were former schools or preschools, predominantly in Adelaide’s northern suburbs and regional areas.
Most of those sites have since been sold to developers for housing. The sale of the former Enfield High campus on Grand Junction Road in 2017 for housing earned $16.9m.
Since 2011 the Education Department has sold 35 school, preschool or kindergarten campuses.
A department spokesman said “in general” half of the funds received from the sale of surplus education land is returned to the department for capital expenditure and the remainder sent to general government revenue
“In some instances however, the government has given approval for the department to retain an increased amount of sale proceeds which are reinvested into infrastructure improvements,” he said.
“If the land being sold is owned by the Crown and not the Education Minister in fee simple, then the department’s portion of the sale proceeds is reduced.”
The sales details come as the government contemplates the future of Norwood Morialta High’s middle school at Rostrevor, which will be relocated to the school’s Magill campus under a $51m upgrade to be completed by 2022.
Education Minister John Gardner said the department was reviewing the future of the Rostrevor site, including the area’s future education needs.
The school has two ovals and Campbelltown Council Mayor Jill Whittaker said the council would like the site redeveloped for community use.
“At the very least we would want to retain the ovals as there is a shortage of open space in this section of our council area,” she said.
“The significant trees along St Bernards Road are landmarks in the area.”