Aerial images of suburbs from MetroMap including Seaford Meadows, Sellicks Beach and Aldinga reveal how urban infill has resulted in them now being almost unrecognisable compared to how they looked at the start of this decade.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Seaford Meadows, which has gone from being mostly open scrub land in 2010, to a well-populated suburban area featuring a shopping centre, medical centres and is connected to the city by train.

In 2009, developer Fairland began building the first of its 1800 new homes in Seaford Meadows.

“We placed focus on affordability, housing diversity, modern conveniences and importantly provided a retail centre which allowed local business to thrive,” Fairland senior manager Scott Searle said.

“We worked with government and council to ensure we enhanced the surrounding environment and have provided new trees, connected parks and of course many playgrounds for the families who call South home.”

SEAFORD MEADOWS

There are more homes to come, with Hickinbotham due to start building 644 homes over five years on a 42ha block on the corner of Commercial and Jared roads.

Fairland is also behind a plan for 1100 homes down the road at Seaford Heights.

Urban sprawl has continued to extend further south with Aldinga’s population more than doubling from 227 in 2006 to 573 at the last Census in 2016.

Aldinga is one of SA’s fastest growing regions and Renewal SA and Onkaparinga Council have been involved in developing plans to cater for its growing number of residents.

A new super school from birth to Year 12 – catering for up to 1675 students – is expected to open on Quinliven Rd in time for the start of the 2022 school year.

Renewal SA is also planning for a new railway station and up to 1000 homes on the 94ha block of land.

ALDINGA

Sellicks Beach is also experiencing significant population growth with the number of residents rising from 1622 in 2006 to 2616 residents in 2016.

Friends of Sellicks chairwoman Hazel Wainwright – who was formerly the chair of the Aldinga Bay Business and Tourism Association – said a lot of families had moved into the area because you could buy beachfront houses at an affordable price.

She said the Southern Expressway becoming two-ways in 2014 had a “huge impact” on the number of people wanting to live in the outer south because it had made easier to travel to and from the city and now the anticipation of the new school was attracting young families.

SELLICKS BEACH

All high resolution aerial imagery has been provided by MetroMap.