Adelaide City Council to investigate whether Hutt St Centre is operating illegally
One of the city’s most popular and controversial homelessness services is under investigation into whether it is operating against planning approvals.
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The controversial Hutt St Centre is under investigation into whether it has been operating illegally.
Adelaide City Council last night voted to press ahead with a legal review to determine if the centre had contravened land use approvals by seeing too many people each day.
Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde brought the idea into the chamber amid claims from nearby traders and residents that the centre’s increasing scale and services broke planning rules.
The investigation would also take into consideration the impacts of land use on “surrounding businesses and residents and council’s responsibility in regulating that impact”.
Cr Hyde said the result could end a long-time feud between traders and the centre.
“Whatever the outcome of this review, we would be working to better the entire street … and have a solution and a way forward,” Cr Hyde said.
The centre was last month given approval to press ahead with a $2.2 million upgrade, despite strong opposition from traders and residents who said crime would rise in the area.
The upgrade, with a new laundry, locker room, as well as art and recreation spaces, foyer, canopy and outdoor kitchen, would not increase the amount of people the centre saw each day.
Currently, it sees about 200 people per day.
Cr Robert Simms said the investigation was “low politics” and the council was engaging in “dog-whistle politics”.
“It is trying to demonise vulnerable people in our community and demonise the organisation that work with them and support them,” Cr Simms said.
Cr Phillip Martin said he was “beyond appalled” by the “disgusting” and “vile” motion.
Hutt St Centre chief executive Chris Burns said he was confident the organisation was operating within its existing use rights and approval guidelines.
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“Hutt St Centre will co-operate with this review but we believe the council would receive better value for its ratepayers’ money by helping the city’s residents in need,” Mr Burns said.
The legal review would be made public, but Adelaide chief executive Mark Goldstone said the council should “protect its privilege”.
The legal investigation would not impact the centre’s development approval and construction should start in June.
Hutt St Traders Association secretary Wayne Copley said defining appropriate land use for the entire street was “critical”.