Onkaparinga Council considers legal costs of blocking Hickinbotham Group’s new estate at Seaford Meadows
ONKAPARINGA Council is considering spending up to $300,000 to try to stop a $215 million Hickinbotham housing estate.
ONKAPARINGA Council is considering spending up to $300,000 to try to stop a $215 million housing estate in Seaford Meadows.
The council has voted to obtain “more detailed” legal advice about launching a judicial review in the Supreme Court against the Hickinbotham Group’s development at the 42ha site.
The review would look at whether the State Commission Assessment Panel made an error in approving the application, rather than the merits of the proposal.
If the appeal was successful, the panel could cancel or reassess the application, however, the developer could also lodge a new application.
Cr Bill Jamieson said the council should support residents who wanted the site to remain as open space.
“There are 28,000 people who signed a petition against the development,” Cr Jamieson said. “It is appropriate for us to go through this process and defend them.”
However, Cr Heidi Greaves said the panel’s decision was valid and “ticked all the boxes”.
“I know some residents have not been happy about the consultation and some elected members were unhappy … but understand it has followed procedure,” Cr Greaves said.
“We have residents crying out to us to watch our pennies, but then we simply spend money on legal advice.”
A report said it could cost the council between $15,000 and $25,000 for legal advice, and $75,000-$100,000 if a trial went ahead. If the council was unsuccessful in its appeal, it might have to pay the panel and Hickinbotham up to $100,000 each.
Port Noarlunga South Residents’ Group spokesman Gordon Penhall said people from all over the world enjoyed coming to look at the proposed housing site, which is home to kangaroos and local celebrity Gary the Goat.
The land was zoned residential in 1988.
A Hickinbotham Group spokesman said the company was “continuing to work with the Onkaparinga Council and relevant bodies to progress the approved statutory development process.”
He said the company had held extensive community consultation.
The legal advice will be presented to the council after its November election.