Southern Expressway duplication sparks housing growth in Onkaparinga Council
TWO major shopping centre upgrades and a rise in new homes is underpinning the highest development activity in Adelaide’s south in four years.
TWO major shopping centre upgrades and a rise in new homes is underpinning the highest development activity in the south in four years.
Onkaparinga Council approved 3689 development applications in 2013/14 worth a total of $272.8 million.
Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said the Southern Expressway duplication, the electrification of the Seaford rail line and affordable housing was luring people to the district.
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A $45 million shopping centre planned for Scotch Ave, Flagstaff Hill, and a $6 million upgrade of the shopping centre on Pimpala Rd, Woodcroft, were among 59 commercial developments approved last financial year.
About 850 new homes were approved across the district, compared to 681 in 2012/13 and 652 in 2011/12.
Ms Rosenberg said the surge in developments would create jobs and boost business confidence.
“You only have to drive around to see the number of developments, and I think we’ll continue to see a steady growth,” Ms Rosenberg said.
“Building houses will create jobs, but it’s the other developments. like the major shopping centre upgrades, where there is potential for the most jobs growth.”
“I think people are attracted by land and house prices being cheap compared to the city and the first-home buyer grants has helped a lot of people get into it.”
The latest figures fell slightly behind 2009/10 when 4900 applications were approved, including about 1300 new homes and 100 commercial developments, totalling $383.4 million.
Fairmont Homes Group operations manager Brenton Allen said the company had trouble keeping up with the demand for housing in the south.
Fairmont Homes will release 1300 allotments in Seaford Heights later this year, following the sale of about 900 blocks in Seaford Meadows since 2005.
“Ever since we started developing in 2005 there has always been a demand, and the demand keeps coming,” Mr Allen said.
“The benefits of the south are the rail link to Seaford, the duplication of the Southern Expressway and employment opportunities with an Aldi planned for Seaford Heights.”
Onkaparinga’s regulatory services director Alison Hancock, who oversees planning, said the council had forecasted 45,000 new residents and 20,000 new homes by 2032.
Ms Hancock said that would lead to a broader mix of new housing, including more medium-density developments.
“We are also looking to improve customers experience with us through faster turnaround times in the development application process, with a greater focus on approving the simple applications faster,” she said.
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