Major Golden Grove housing expansion that will see 1500 new homes takes step forward

This is one of the equestrian centres at Golden Grove that could become housing under a plan for 1500 new homes, as the local council took a tiny step towards realising that vision.

A grand plan for 1500 extra houses in Golden Grove has taken a small step forward.

Tea Tree Gully Council elected members approved an investigation into possibly endorsing an application from YAS Development and Villawood Properites to rezone 109 hectares of land from rural living to masterplanned neighbourhood.

It could see 1500 new homes and nearly 4000 new residents at land east of Strachan Road.

On Tuesday night, Deputy Mayor Lucas Jones said it had become a “divisive issue” already with local residents.

“This is a very small step tonight (to) a bigger picture,” Cr Jones said.

“As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t a given. This should not be a given. It’s a big change.

“This is going to go on for quite some time.”

He also said residents had approached him with concerns about an increased bushfire risk, with residents having issues with traffic congestion during 2015’s Sampson Flat bushfires.

“They encountered huge problems leaving there because there were so many cars in that small space trying to use the existing infrastructure at the same time,” he said.

Voting for the investigation, Cr Rob Unger said the council needed a “seat at the table” and he had been informed it would not be a “rack em and stack em” development with “decent-sized quality homes built to a quality standard”.

He said he understood the “land has been earmarked for quite some time for this purpose”.

“It’s just a matter of time before it progresses,” he said.

Mayor Kevin Knight said the council should put itself in the conversation.

“I think having a seat at the table personally is a good idea,” Mr Knight said.

“We are not the approving authority… the State Government will be. Or they knock it back.”

Cr Lyn Petrie said it would be a major development for our city and one which will have a major impact on residents”.

Cr Jess Lintvelt said she was “a bit conflicted” but said it would be “short-sighted” to not look into it.

“I don’t know in the future if this is something I’d support,” Cr Lintvelt said.

Cr Bernie Keane said plans had been in place for “a number of years”.

“1500 homes up in that area is going to be a really big thing. This could be a really big problem for our council,” Cr Keane said.

“It’s going to put a lot of pressure on the education system.”

However, Cr Damian Wyld said the point of the motion was to get more information before endorsing an application.

“If we knock it on the head now, how on earth are we supposed to get those answers? If we don’t have a seat at the table, this process is almost certainly going to proceed without us,” Cr Wyld said.

EARLIER

A major housing development proposed for Golden Grove has been many years in the making an affected landowner says with the project tipped to create thousands of new jobs.

The Messenger revealed on Monday YAS Property Development and Villawood Properties has requested Tea Tree Gully Council endorse a zone amendment application, allowing for 1500 new homes and nearly 4000 new residents in the traditionally “semirural” suburb.

Elected members will consider the request on Tuesday night at a meeting of council, which could eventually rezone 109 hectares of land east of Strachan Road from rural living to masterplanned neighbourhood.

Master Builders Association chief executive officer Will Frogley estimated the development could deliver about 3800 jobs.

“This is great news for Golden Grove,” Mr Frogley said.

“Building new homes creates stronger communities and is unmatched in terms of generating employment and economic growth.

The owner of Pine Grove Stables said they were first made an offer several years ago. Picture: Pine Grove Stables.

“This is an exciting time for the north eastern suburbs, especially the 1500 construction businesses in the Tea Tree Gully Council area.”

It comes as a local equestrian centre owner said she was first approached by developers several years ago about buying her land.

Helen Vaughan, who has run the Pine Grove Stables agistment centre for four years, said the development had been “in the making for quite a long time”.

“It’s been several years,” Ms Vaughan said, who has about 20 horses at her Crouch Road centre.

Owners of a Golden Grove agistment centre were happy to sell. Picture: Pine Grove Stables Facebook.

She was undeniably “excited” about the new housing plans.

“We look forward to building something nicer and moving forward,” she said.

“We’ve had an offer presented to us that we were happy to accept and move on.”

The impacted land also includes the Golden Grove and Gainsborough equestrian centres.

However, local teacher Angel Galotta, who has lived in the area for four years now, said residents were “angered” by the proposal.

“We believe there’s no way the council can live up to the expectations of residents who live and work in the area,” Ms Galotta said.

The development could see an extra 4000 people living in the suburb. Picture: Tea Tree Gully Council.

“The current infrastructure simply cannot support this proposal.”

She said local roads were “inadequate now” despite recent upgrades to Golden Grove Road.

“Imagine what a further 4000 residents will add to the current congestion,” she said.

She also feared it would place additional strain on local schools which are already at capacity, with parking issues at Our Lady of Hope and Greenwith primary schools, and create an increased fire risk.

“We are on the edge of a fire-risk area, we are zoned semirural for a reason, not to mention we absolutely love the area how it is with its country feel,” she said.

Member for King Paula Luethen said the proposal would have a “big impact on my constituency”.

Tea Tree Gully councillor Jess Lintvelt, whose ward includes Golden Grove, said it would be “shortsighted” to not consider the proposal, considering recent demand for housing.

“Feedback from our community is top of my list. I am looking forward to the debate (on Tuesday night),” Cr Lintvelt said.

The SA Country Fire Service has been contacted for comment while Villawood Properties declined the opportunity.