Plan to investigate high-density housing opposite West Lakes Shopping Centre approved

A PROPOSAL to allow high-density housing on land opposite West Lakes Shopping Centre has overcome its first hurdle after Charles Sturt Council voted in favour of a plan to review its zoning.

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A PROPOSAL to allow high-density housing on land opposite West Lakes Shopping Centre has overcome its first hurdle after Charles Sturt Council voted in favour of a plan to review its zoning.

The owner of the Westfield West Lakes Shopping Centre, Scentre Group, will fund a review of planning controls banning potentially hundreds of homes from being built on the 20ha site bordered by West Lakes Boulevard, Turner Drive and Brebner Drive.

The council voted to overturn a decision by its city services committee last week who voted 3-2 against giving in principle support for a planning review.

Charles Sturt Council endorsed the draft statement of intent by Scentre Group to begin a privately-funded development plan amendment process to allow for the potential rezoning of the site for housing.

Councillor Paul Sykes said it would be “remiss” of the council not to allow an investigation.

“It might tell us that the original motion was the right motion but lets do an investigation and understand exactly what could be done,” Cr Sykes said.

“There’s no point making a decision without all the information.”

It is now up to Scentre Group to undertake the review and submit it to the council for consideration — a process which could take 12 months.

Masterplan SA director Greg Vincent, on behalf of Scentre Group, told the council’s city services committee that his clients wanted the flexibility to incorporate residential development on the property in keeping with the housing redevelopment of the former Football Park site across the road.

“The proposal has the potential to generate significant social, environmental and economic benefits for the local and broader area, subject to an appropriate policy framework and appropriate planning and design,” he said.

“This is particularly in regard to the benefits associated with the increased activation of the site with mixed use including residential and the efficient use of the existing services and public transport.

“The current residential development restrictions within the Retail Core Precint are … outdated and they can limit the reasonable development expectations for the subject land.”

He added that the proposal was in keeping with the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide.