Plans lodged for a servo and 17 house subdivision in Salisbury Downs opposed by neighbouring councillor

A plan to turn land – home to roosters, geese, goats and a pig – into a servo and 17 homes is being opposed by a councillor who lives just three doors down.

It’s currently home to barnyard animals but a fuel station and 17 homes could be built on one of the largest allotments in Salisbury Downs.

A company called 48 Commercial Road Salisbury has lodged plans with Plan SA for a six-bowser X Convenience service station and residential land division with new internal public roads at 89-97 Kings Rd.

The servo, to be considered by the local council’s assessment panel, would be built on the site’s southwest, fronting Kings Rd, with 11 parking spaces and residential buildings on the remainder of the land.

Salisbury councillor Sarah Ouk and deputy Mayor Chad Buchanan at the Kings Rd site at Salisbury Downs. Picture: Matt Turner

Currently, the site is used for agricultural purposes with fenced areas for chickens, roosters, geese, a pig and goats, consultant Agon submitted.

Consultant URPS stated putting a fuel outlet on an arterial road makes “good planning sense” because it would be accessible to the local community and passers-by.

A single-storey detached home would be demolished for the plan while outbuildings, water tanks, pallets, steel sheeting, vehicles and crate piles are “among other random items” at the site URPS submitted.

The 10,870 sqm site was “one of the largest allotments” in the area, but was “unsightly and likely full of vermin”, it said.

Plans have been lodged for a six-bowser X Convenience service station. Picture: URPS

The land, which is largely vacant, has been used for a vegetable garden. Picture: URPS

Salisbury councillor Sarah Ouk, who has lived three properties away from the site on Kings Rd for 16 years, feared the development would worsen local traffic and congestion problems.

She said on some occasions, she had to wait up to 15 minutes to drive out of her driveway.

“It’s really bad,” Cr Ouk said.

Plans have been lodged for a servo to the west of the site, fronting Kings Rd, and 17 housing allotments behind it. Picture: URPS

A car recently crashed into Cr Sarah Ouk’s next-door neighbour’s fence. Picture: Sarah Ouk

She said the strip was also known for local hoons and a driver crashed into her next-door neighbour’s fence several months ago.

“People drive like mad,” she said.

“I don’t want to have another accident. I fear a car is going to run through my house.”

Cr Ouk said she would prefer hearing roosters crowing of a morning, despite some animals wandering into her property.

“I have to throw the chickens and ducks back over the fence,” she said.

Cr Ouk also maintained there were enough petrol stations in the area.

“I’m not sure we’re going to need another one,” she said

Salisbury Council Deputy Mayor Chad Buchanan said development of the site was “long overdue”, but so was a widening or duplication of the “heavily congested” Kings Rd.

The land has been used to keep chickens, roosters, goats, geese and a pig. Picture: Project Green.

However, in its application, URPS said the servo would create an extra 40 peak-hour trips on the adjacent road network, with an extra 14 generated by residential properties.

“Such additional volumes are low and will be within the capacity of Kings Rd and the broader road network,” it stated.

Internal roads would be created to service the new allotments, with a main access road to and from Kings Rd to the east of the servo.

An access road would be built to the east of the service station. Picture: URPS.

On behalf of the landowners, a URPS spokesman said there was no need for the applicant to demonstrate demand for the servo.

“Ultimately this will determined by the market and is a commercial decision made by the proponent,” the spokesman said.

“The proposal provides additional … housing for the community and a retail fuel use which provides employment and increased competition to help regulate fuel prices to the community.”