West Torrens Council wants better deal for Brickworks land sale

A COUNCIL in Adelaide’s west has rejected a series of bids for a section of the old Brickworks at Torrensville — as it holds out for the “right offer”. Here’s why ...

WEST Torrens Council has rejected three offers to buy its remaining portion of the former Brickworks Markets at Torrensville.

Developers’ plans for the site included homes and commercial buildings.

The council discussed the sale at a confidential meeting last week.

It has refused to say how much developers offered for the land, or how much it wants to make from the sale.

The 1.6ha of land, which includes the state heritage-listed 1912 kiln, sits between the River Torrens and the new Woolworths Brickworks Marketplace development.

Some residents have told councillors they would like the site to become a restaurant precinct.

Mayor John Trainer said the council would be patient and wait for the right buyer.

“(The decision) involved factors of both the suitability of the proposed developments and the price that was offered to the ratepayers,” Mr Trainer said.

“We’ll just sit on it until something better comes along, either from the original expressions of interest or from others.”

Mr Trainer would not reveal what type of developments he would prefer on the site.

Councillor Kym McKay said it was important to find a developer with the right ideas for the site.

“The two main things we want to ensure are that we do get a reasonable return for that second land allotment and always in the mix is what is in the proposed development for the community,” Cr McKay said.

“I’ve spoken to people around the area and they would all like to see a restaurant precinct, coffee shops and the like through there.”

Five expressions of interest were lodged to buy the land, but West Torrens chief executive Terry Buss said that was narrowed to three after initial discussions with the developers.

“There was a combination of developments provided,” Mr Buss said.

“Everything from residential components on two of the offers, with a mixture of commercial, and the third one was purely a commercial, retail proposal.”

He said the council would carry out more than $1 million of restoration work to the kiln before any sale.