How Bunnings is fighting back in the Adelaide ‘burbs: $42m mega Panorama store back on the agenda
LESS than five months after vocal locals squashed Bunnings’ plan to build a $42m mega store in their part of suburban Adelaide, it is back on the agenda. Here’s how the hardware giant’s fighting back.
- Residents defeat Bunnings’ bid to open suburban mega store
- Bunnings forced to rethink plans for Goodwood Rd store at former Panorama TAFE
- Bunnings still dreaming of new $42m SA mega store in Adelaide’s inner south despite delay
- Anger over Bunnings’ plan to redevelop ex-Panorama TAFE site into new store
BUNNINGS is pushing ahead with its fight to build a $42 million store in Panorama, backed by the local mayor who has labelled the vacant development site an “eyesore”.
The company’s general manager Andrew Marks says Bunnings is working with Mitcham Council to address concerns about designs for the former Tafe site, centred around landscaping, paving and a lack of trees.
The hardware giant has had the site earmarked for a mega store for years, purchasing the former TAFE site in 2014.
However, the council’s Development Assessment Panel last month rejected a second application to build a warehouse on Goodwood Rd, also calling for better fencing and a review of rubbish collection hours.
“Bunnings will continue to work collaboratively with the relevant authorities throughout the application process and is looking forward to bringing investment and jobs to Panorama,” Mr Marks said.
Almost 100 residents turned up to a development panel meeting in August to protest the plans, which were knocked back.
Their concerns centred around the belief that the building would be out of character for the area and create traffic problems.
However, Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear last week said he hoped the development would be now be approved as soon as possible.
“It’s an eyesore now – it is horrid,” he said.
“I have been there and there are squatters, people defecating in the building – it’s just disgusting and full of vermin.
“If we say no to everything then we become a council known to be anti-development and anti-progressive.
“It’s time for Mitcham to move out of this retrograde position.”
The site has been vacant since Tafe SA closed its campus at the end of 2013.
If approved, the new warehouse would create 340 construction jobs and 190 permanent roles.
Mr Spear said Bunnings had been “fabulously responsive to council and addressed most of our demands and it is council’s opinion it should be approved”.
Meanwhile, Panorama resident Neil Baron has lodged proceedings in the Environment, Resources and Development Court, to appeal the development panel’s decision to reject the application.
Mr Baron said locals had been worried about traffic heading to the back of the site.
“We were very concerned with the rear access that we would have tradies and all these people short-cutting through the area,” he said.
“We discussed that with Bunnings and they decided to block it and we were happy with that.
“If someone else were to go there, there would be no certainty that would happen.”
Mr Baron’s case will return to court for a conference on February 28.
The Say No to Bunnings Panorama resident group has collected more than 2000 signatures against the development since October 2015.
Spokesman Peter Bryant did not respond before presstime.