Modbury shopping centre renews push for community land grab
A northern shopping centre will have a second crack at buying neighbouring green space for an expansion.
North & North East
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A Modbury shopping centre will renew its push to buy a portion of public land from Tea Tree Gully Council for a centre expansion.
The owner of Clovercrest Shopping Centre is expected to submit a new plan to the council, which would take up 5475sq m of the neighbouring Sir Frank Berryman Reserve.
It comes less than a year after elected members voted 7-4 against accepting a $1.36 million offer from Clovercrest for the land and $400,000 for upgrading existing community facilities.
Clovercrest wanted to build a two-storey extension over a road it owned behind the shopping centre, Tina St, featuring shops, a cafe and residential apartments.
The council is currently reviewing its August decision to reject the land sale offer, following a request from the centre owner Dean Kyros.
Mr Kyros said he would either resubmit the original plans or a modified version, depending on the result of the council review.
“We’re not sure what they want yet,” Mr Kyros said.
He said the proposal — which would “rejuvenate” the centre — would take up a “small percentage” of Sir Frank Berryman Reserve.
Clovercrest’s urban planning consultant, Ben Cunningham, said the local community backed its plans, pointing to a council survey last year which had 153 supporters from a total of 266 responses.
“There would still be a significant parcel of land left,” he said.
Council staff also recommended last year that the council accept Clovercrest’s financial offer,
Mr Kryos requested a report on the council review to be tabled by July to allow him more time to consider his position, an internal email from a council manager shows.
He could “put forward amendments to his original proposal”, it reads.
Resident Nadine Bubner, who was part of a community campaign to thwart the land sale, feared “the same fight would happen all over again”.
Tea Tree Gully Council’s chief executive officer John Moyle declined to comment as the matter was subject of an internal review
“It is inappropriate for us to comment until completion of the review,” Mr Moyle said.
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