Proposed three-storey, six-bedroom apartment block for Port Noarlunga

A proposed 11m apartment block for Port Noarlunga would have six homes – with three bedrooms each – and shows the area is changing, a planner says.

An artist impression of a three-storey apartment building proposed for Welland St, Port Noarlunga.

A unique beachside three-storey apartment block proposed for a residential street in Port Noarlunga is a sign of the changing area, a planner says.

Development documents reveal the apartment block would contain six three-bedroom apartments with balconies and common rooftop garden, and 13 carparks in an underground basement. A section at the back is set aside as a barbecues.

A single-storey home on a 919 sqm Welland St block – which sold for about $1.15m in 2022 – would be demolished to make way for the 11.2m building.

Buildings in the area are generally limited to two storeys and nine metres, according to “designated performance features”.

DPFs are not planning code standards but a guide for authorities that doesn’t have to be satisfied in order for the development to pass.

Artist impression of a three-storey apartment building proposed for Welland St, Port Noarlunga.

Two other three-storey buildings are already built on either side of the proposed apartment block, Nick Simos from SA Urban and Regional Planning said, highlighting the changing area.

“If you look at Port Noarlunga, on the weekends it’s just packed – it’s become a major tourist attraction like Glenelg,” he said. “I had my relatives there on a Saturday and they couldn’t believe it.”

Mr Simos said the apartment block development hadn’t ticked “two or three boxes”, so he and the designing architect had worked with council to make it more “sympathetic” with the two three-storey buildings either side.

The unique look of the building came about after discussions with Onkaparinga Council, which requested a lighter-coloured facade, Mr Simos said.

Artist impression of a three-storey apartment building proposed for Welland St, Port Noarlunga.

Artist impression of a three-storey apartment building proposed for Welland St, Port Noarlunga.

Artist impression of a three-storey apartment building proposed for Welland St, Port Noarlunga.

The planning documents say vertical elements had been incorporated to draw the eye upward and reduce perceived mass, textures had been chosen to break up large expansions, and lighter colours would make the building less imposing.

Planning documents also say the building doesn’t overshadow nearby windows or neighbours’ private open spaces, nor does it obstruct existing views.

The apartment block would feature six dwellings of 153 sqm each, smaller than DPFs that prefer row terraces of 180 sqm dwellings at a minimum.

“This is something council requested in the design meetings – we worked in conjunction on this development so there were no hidden agendas,” Mr Simos said.

“The client was willing to work with council on the design features to keep it at natural earthy features, as council had requested.

“The architect has tried to complement the different characters of the area, you can’t replicate the old bungalows – the heritage architects don’t want you to – so he’s complemented it with colours and tones.”

Consultation closes on March 25.