‘Historic town’ to get supermarket giant many didn’t want

A DISCOUNT grocer has been given the approval it needs to build a large supermarket in Adelaide’s south, despite concerns it will ruin the image of the “historic town’. But it has made some concessions.

The Friends of Willunga Basin and Friends of Port Willunga had raised concerns the supermarket would cause traffic congestion and ruin the town’s historical image

ALDI will open a supermarket in Aldinga by the middle of next year, ending months of public debate.

The state’s Development Assessment Commission (DAC) this month approved Aldi’s plan to build a 1700sq m centre with four shops and a 108-space carpark at 209 Port Rd.

It was the company’s second bid to build the supermarket, after its first application, approved by the DAC and Onkaparinga Council earlier this year, was appealed by two residents’ groups in the Environment, Resources and Development Court.

The groups — The Friends of Willunga Basin and Friends of Port Willunga — were concerned the supermarket would cause traffic congestion and ruin the town’s historical image.

In April, Planning Minister John Rau changed rules for retail centres to allow for shops with more than 900sq m of floor space, meaning the Aldi complied with planning rules and its approval could not be challenged.

Friends of Port Willunga chairwoman Stephanie Johnston remains worried about the development.

An Aldi spokeswoman said the original application would be withdrawn once formal approval for the site was granted.

She said building was due to start in early 2017, and the store scheduled to open by the middle of next year.

As part of the approval, a proposed 10.4m-tall sign must be removed or lowered below the building’s roofline.

Friends of Willunga Basin chairman Geoff Hayter said lowering or removing the sign was a “small victory”, along with Aldi agreeing to plant trees along its northern boundary.

“We’ve had a couple of small wins and we’ll take that,” Mr Hayter said.

Friends of Port Willunga chairwoman Stephanie Johnston remained concerned about increased traffic and the supermarket tainting the town’s historical image.

“One of the reasons we tried to keep a limit on the retail area was also to do with impacts on all the streets all around,” Ms Johnston said.

“While I still believe the thing shouldn’t be built in the first place, I guess we’ve done the best we can.”

Onkaparinga corporate and city services director Alison Hancock said a roundabout would be built to improve access to the supermarket and On The Run service station and alleviate traffic congestion.

“We’re currently negotiating funding and construction arrangements with both Aldi and On The Run, as well as the (Transport) Department, who will construct a roundabout at the intersection of Port Rdand Main South Rd,” Ms Hancock said.