Hickinbotham searches for solution for Gary the Goat as residents rally to save his Seaford Meadows home
THE developer behind a housing development at Seaford Meadows says it will consider the future of celebrity Gary the Goat, as residents turn out to a rally to save his paddock home.
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DEVELOPER Hickinbotham has enlisted the help of environmental experts to determine Gary the Goat’s future when his Seaford Meadows paddock is carved up for housing.
The announcement comes after about 40 residents rallied outside Port Noarlunga Arts Centre on Saturday, where Hickinbotham was hosting an open day to discuss its $215 million plan to turn the 42ha block on Commercial Rd into 700 houses.
The protestors had marched from Beck’s Bakehouse to the centre, holding placards calling for Gary and the mob of kangaroos he lives with to remain at the site.
Hickinbotham managing director Michael Hickinbotham said in a prepared statement that while a plan for the site was yet to be revealed, it would include 6ha of open space and address the community’s environmental concerns.
He said ecologists had been employed to help decide Gary’s future.
Mr Hickinbotham would not elaborate on whether Gary would be relocated or remain in Seaford Meadows.
“As part of our overall plan, high quality, functional open space will permeate through the community space …” Mr Hickinbotham said.
He said another open day would be held before the end of the year to update residents.
Seaford Meadows resident Glenis Tenison-Woods attended the rally because she feared the impact 700 new houses would have on existing infrastructure.
“To build 700 houses is ridiculous,” Ms Tenison-Woods said.
“Let’s reduce that number and do something there for the community.”
Hackham West resident Brian Nansen told the Southern Times Messenger at the open day that he was worried the development would turn the area into a “slum”.
“If there’s not the demand then a lot of that housing is going to be low-cost housing,” Mr Nansen said.
“I’m concerned there’s not going to be the demand and then you’ll create slums.”
Mr Nansen was among dozens of residents who filtered through the hall during the morning to ask questions or raise their concerns about the development.
Julie, who declined to give her surname, stood on the roadside with a sign that said ‘Compromise: All of the land north of the Nelson Street line stays green’.
“I think we need to do whatever it takes to get the message across – it’s not just about the kangaroos and Gary,” she said.
“We accept there’s going to be houses on that block but we want compromises on how many and how much green space is there.”
Last year, more than 8000 people signed a petition calling on Renewal SA to backflip on its plan to sell the land.
According to Hickinbotham, the project would create about 1200 jobs over eight years.