Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson wants to save Aldinga’s ‘green triangle’
Mayor Erin Thompson has written to the State Government urging it not to build homes on the ‘green triangle’ – in response to its latest plan for the 94ha development at Aldinga.
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Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson has asked the State Government to consider narrowing the future rail corridor at Aldinga in a bid to save the “green triangle” from residential development.
At a committee meeting this week, the council approved a letter from Ms Thompson providing feedback on Renewal SA’s draft plan to develop the 94ha vacant block bounded by Port, Main South, Aldinga Beach, Quinliven and How roads.
The plan includes a rail extension from Seaford, up to 1000 homes and the new southern birth to Year 12 school.
The draft structure plan will allow Renewal SA to determine future uses for the land, and the infrastructure needed to develop it.
Ms Thompson’s letter acknowledged that unlike an earlier plan for the site – which proposed building houses on the entire triangle block facing Port Rd – the eastern and northern ends had now been put forward as reserves.
However, she wrote that the full triangle should remain open space to preserve Aldinga’s “rural character”.
“The preservation of the historic and rural character of this primary arrival route to Port Willunga remains of greater significance and value to regional and state tourism than the residential yield potential of this land,” she wrote.
She requested the State Government consider narrowing the width of the land being set aside for the future rail corridor to enable increased development south of Quinliven Rd – offsetting the need to develop the green triangle.
“The 100m width allowed for the rail corridor is excessive and has significant ramifications for planning and development outcomes in Aldinga,” Ms Thompson said.
“By comparison, the existing rail corridor in Seaford (directly south of the station cutting) measures only 60 metres.
“We request that the State Government review and narrow the width of the rail corridor within the subject land at Aldinga.
“This would provide more land for residential development south of Quinliven Road, reducing the need for houses to be developed within the ‘green triangle’.”
Ms Thompson said the development of the rail line was still “many years away” so it was important to maximise the use of the corridor until the rail line was developed.
The draft plan revealed Renewal SA was planning to build the Aldinga Railway Station near the centre of the development, next to the school.
There is no funding committed yet for a rail extension but Renewal SA is planning for a park-and-ride to cater for 600 to 1000 cars.
She also said the council remained concerned about a “shortfall” of open space across the entire development, particularly given the likely daytime use of the reserves by schools and the expected growth of sporting groups.
Aldinga is one of the state’s fastest growing regions.
The draft structure plan can be viewed on Renewal SA’s website.