Salisbury Council votes against housing on former St Jay’s site
“Fifteen wankers on Facebook” who ran a campaign against residential development on public land at Salisbury have won their battle, with the council voting against housing.
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Salisbury Council has ended an acrimonious debate by deciding to completely remove housing from a $2.7 million upgrade of the Salisbury Oval precinct.
Elected members have voted unanimously to restrict development on public land to community-oriented facilities such as a retirement village, medical centre or sports complex.
Their decision follows a campaign which saw thousands of residents sign a petition objecting to the sale of Neales Green and the site of the former St Jay’s recreation centre to developers.
The campaign was supported by a social media group calling itself Salisbury Council Watch, prompting one councillor to call its main proponents “fifteen wankers on Facebook”.
Salisbury Council last month obtained legal advice over comments posted on the Salisbury Council Watch page about Mayor Gillian Aldridge.
The advice was presented to councillors behind closed doors but Ms Aldridge, who absented herself over a conflict of interest, since has decided not to take legal action.
Elected members met again on Monday night, when they adopted a recommendation from the council’s planning and policy committee to approve the masterplan without residential development.
The housing originally was proposed for Neales Green, which had its community land classification revoked several years ago in preparation for residential development.
It also was earmarked for the St Jay’s site, where a community recreation centre had been demolished, leaving a large carpark and open space with mature gum trees.
Residents learnt about the housing when the council released a masterplan for community consultation, leading to the petition and social media campaign.
The masterplan was then revised without housing on Neales Green and sent back out to community consultation with an online survey.
The survey attracted criticism over questions which opponents claimed suggested housing remained an option for the St Jay’s site.
Elected members decided on Monday to block any residential development on the land.
Ms Aldridge said the council would now start detailed design work on recreational facilities and landscaping along the Brown Tce portion of the oval “taking into account suggestions from the community regarding what they would like to see included in the space”.
“The Salisbury community has strongly demonstrated its desire to hold onto our open space at Salisbury Oval and council has listened,” she said.
“We understand the importance modern sporting and recreational facilities play in enhancing community wellbeing, offering greater opportunities for people of all ages to participate, and ensuring Salisbury is a great place to live.
“The rejuvenation of the Salisbury Oval, along with the development of the new Bridgestone Athletics Centre just down the road, will cement Salisbury’s status as a progressive and flourishing city that continues to expend its provision of recreational and sporting experiences for its expanding community.”
Ms Aldridge said the St Jay’s site and land purchased by council from the adjacent Salisbury Bowling Club would be retained.
“This land will be used to expand opportunities through future recreational, commercial sporting uses and/or commercial health and wellbeing services for the aged care and sports medicine sectors,” she said.
A report detailing options for the future use of the St Jay’s site is due to be presented to the council by next April.