Onkaparinga councillor ‘advised’ to abandon bid to halt legal action over $215m Seaford Meadows development

An Onkaparinga councillor has dropped her bid to stop the council’s legal action against a $215m Seaford Meadows housing development — after phone calls from the Mayor and CEO.

The Seaford Meadows site of the $215m housing development by Hickinbotham Group. Picture: Supplied

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An Onkaparinga councillor was “advised” to abandon her attempt to halt upcoming legal action against a $215 million housing development at Seaford Meadows by Mayor Erin Thompson and council boss Mark Dowd.

Councillor Marion Themeliotis planned to move a motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting requesting elected members revoke their decision to try and overturn the state planning authority’s approval of the Hickinbotham Group’s 625-home development in the Supreme Court.

However, she said, she received a call from Mrs Thompson and Mr Dowd on Tuesday afternoon “advising” her not to go ahead with it.

Councillor Marion Themeliotis. Picture: AAP / Keryn Stevens

“Withdrawal of that notice of motion is from advice from our mayor and our CEO today that I received at 3.30pm over the phone,” Cr Theomeliotis told the meeting.

“Personally, I believe the notice of motion is actually the best way forward for this council.

“Mounting up to a $300,000 challenge is a huge risk to our community but apparently on advice from our mayor (based) on a conversation she has had with two residents they have agreed to take on the huge risk.”

Mayor Erin Thompson said the decision not to proceed with the motion was “ultimately determined” by Cr Themeliotis as it was “premature”.

“Whilst we were feeling confident about our ongoing conversations with Hickinbotham to achieve better outcomes for our community, we were not able to reach a point prior to last night’s meeting that would allow us to provide enough reassurance to withdraw from the earlier decision to proceed down a formal legal process,” Mrs Thompson said.

“Given that we were not able to reach this point prior to last night’s meeting; the motion to rescind the earlier decision of Council was ultimately determined by Cr Themeliotis to be premature.”

She said the council should be trying to negotiate with the Hickinbotham Group rather than dragging them through court particularly as the 42ha block is zoned residential.

“We are sending a strong message to the developers … that not only do we not want any development, that we won’t negotiate, that we are not looking at putting jobs in our city, we are not looking for growth in our city.

“If this chamber gets it wrong, it will be a monumental stuff up for our city.

Gary the goat and his mob of kangaroos. Picture: Supplied.

“It will end up that not only will we have housing all over the place with a monumental amount of infill, we won’t have any ability to negotiate with developers — they won’t want to come to the table and discuss anything with us.”

But Mrs Thompson said that while the council was in discussion with Hickinbotham, the council had a deadline to be able to appeal SCAP’s decision.

Former councillor Gail Kilby also slammed the council’s decision as a “waste of money” and “not in the public’s interest” during an address at the meeting.

The Hickinbotham Group was given approval last August to build on the Commercial Rd site — home to the south’s famous Gary the goat and his mob of kangaroos.

The council voted to seek a judicial review, determining whether the planning commission made an error in approving the development, last month.

If the appeal was successful, the panel could cancel or reassess the application, however, Hickinbotham could also lodge a new application.

The Port Noarlunga South Residents Association has fought against the development for the past two years and even threatened to get in front of bulldozers in order to save Gary the goat’s home.

Head of the Port Noarlunga South Residents Association Gordon Penhall on the land at Seaford Meadows. Picture Roger Wyman