Adelaide City Council will meet to discuss future of $98 million Adelaide Botanic High redevelopment

The next step in the future of Adelaide Botanic High’s multimillion-dollar redevelopment will be discussed in a council meeting tonight.

Adelaide City Council will on Tuesday night discuss the next step towards deciding the fate of a $98 million expansion of Adelaide Botanic High School.

The council will vote on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – a deal to progress the land swap or compensation package needed to let it go ahead.

The arrangement would potentially include a land swap with the City of Adelaide to ensure there is no net loss of publicly accessible space in the parklands.

Deputy Premier Susan Close said “it looks like Adelaide City Council will agree to an understanding” to push the project forward.

“Adelaide City Council is understandably concerned that the Parklands are well protected and preserved, and that there is a balance of buildings and open space,” she said on Tuesday morning.

“They have control. They own the bit of land that we’re looking to build on. And so in order to be able to work out if there’s a way to have a land swap to make sure that city council is adequately compensated.”

“We need to work through behind closed doors for a little while with City Council to find the right balance.”

An artist's impression of the $98 million redevelopment of Adelaide Botanic High School.

The land, known as Nellie Raminyemmerin Park or Frome Park, is located immediately south of the school and acquiring it would kickstart the 1800m2 proposed redevelopment, increasing the school’s capacity by 700 students. Member for Adelaide Lucy Hood said she understands how important it is to provide students with the best learning environments to help them reach their full potential.

“Adelaide Botanic High is a state-of-the-art educational facility and more capacity means more families in my community can access a quality public education for their kids,” she said.

The former boundaries of the shared CBD high school zone, removed by the previous State Government will also be restored in 2024.