Nine of the most divisive construction projects planned across South Australia
Dozens of projects across SA are causing headaches for developers and locals as they bicker over how it will change the look of a place. Here are the top nine.
SA News
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From petrol stations, sea ports, regional hotels and beachside apartments, Renato Castello and Michelle Etheridge take a look at the developments dividing communities across SA.
OSCAR HOTEL, SEPPELTSFIELD, BAROSSA
The future of a $50m, 12-storey hotel planned for Seppeltsfield winery is playing out in the Environment, Resources and Development Court.
Owner Warren Randall says the The Oscar’s iconic architectural design will attract more people to the Barossa Valley. But opponents, who have described the hotel as “the Slug”, say it’s out of character with the area. They argue it was incorrectly classified as a category two development and should be a category three, which would give more people the right to take part in consultation on the plans. It would also allow opponents to appeal any approval.
Mr Randall has warned the Oscar could be built somewhere else – potentially McLaren Vale or the Adelaide Hills – if the court case is lost.
OTR KENSINGTON PARK
If at first you don’t succeed, try, and try, and try and try again. This is the case with the Peregrine Corporation, which has made a fifth attempt to replace a former mechanic’s workshop on Kensington Rd, Kensington Park, with a 24/7 OTR petrol station.
Peregrine’s initial $3m proposal was rejected by the State Commission Planning Panel in June 2017, while its appeal in the Environment, Resources and Development Court in July 2018 was dismissed.
That decision was upheld in the Supreme Court in May 2019, triggering renewed bids by the petrol moguls, who have faced a well-resourced community campaign against their plans.
Burnside Council’s assessment panel rejected another bid in September 2019 over concerns the project would cause traffic issues.
The council this month discussed in secret Peregrine’s appeal to the panel decision, much to the anger of residents.
The council’s chief executive, Chris Cowley, said the confidentiality measure was due to legal constraints, adding the outcome of the meeting would be known once the latest court process was over.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITY, KIMBA
It’s been years in the making yet still the future of the $325m radioactive waste storage site at Kimba is unclear.
Early last year, former federal resources minister Matt Canavan announced Napandee farm, near Kimba, had been selected for the facility, which will store low and intermediate-level waste from around the country.
Since then, the Federal Government has been trying to get Labor and crossbenchers to agree to draft legislation approving the site. It’s been the subject of controversy as many are concerned the Bill will remove the avenue for a judicial review of the decision.
Community campaigners have long raised worries about the project’s environmental impacts and its effects on local farming businesses.
But Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson said it was “incredibly frustrating” that six years after the region was first considered to host the facility, plans were still up in the air.
WORKERS’ ACCOMMODATION, NARACOORTE
Neighbours of Naracoorte’s former TAFE site have been fighting against plans for workers’ accommodation at the property, amid concerns rooms are too small and the “high-density” development will erode the town’s character.
Residents Bronwyn Andrews and Alana Davies launched proceedings in the Environment, Resources and Development Court to block plans by Tony Dawson and his family to fit out the site’s current buildings with up to 88 bedrooms.
The council approved the Gordon St project in December 2019, but the parties are still negotiating the court process after the neighbours appealed the decision.
SMITH BAY, SEAPORT
The Kangaroo Island community is awaiting the outcome for a $40m seaport at Smith Bay, which its proponents say would create work for about 160 people.
The plans have been through three rounds of community consultation – the latest closing in February – and are awaiting assessment by Planning Minister Vickie Chapman.
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers still wants to build the port, even though most of its trees were burnt in the December 2019 and January 2020 bushfires.
Managing director Keith Lamb has said a port at Smith Bay is the “only viable long-term option” to export the company’s timber.
Concerns surround the project’s effect on the neighbouring Yumbah Aquaculture abalone farm, its environmental impacts on wild marine animals and effects on local roads and tourism operators.
LE CORNU ESTATE, BRIGHTON
The potential loss of historic buildings and mature trees for development is guaranteed to raise community angst.
And this anger is playing out on both fronts in beachside Brighton. The Le Cornu family and developer The Lofty Building Group are facing opposition over plans to raze a 1920s gentleman’s bungalow and fell 11 gum trees to accommodate a 28-home subdivision on the nearly 1ha block on Sturt Rd.
A bid to heritage-list the house failed but there is a petition urging people to lobby Holdfast Bay Council to reject the axing of the trees.
SEAWALL APARTMENTS, GLENELG
Some call it progress, others call it heritage vandalism – there’s no shades of grey when it comes to the potential destruction of this heritage-listed foreshore building.
Holdfast Bay Council has joined with residents campaigning against a planned $165m apartment block of up to 13 storeys to replace the existing 1920s two-storey Seawall Apartments on The Esplanade.
The dispute centres not only on the potential loss of a much-loved building but also that the proposed contemporary tower is significantly higher than the five-storey height limit for the development zone.
Developer Chasecrown argues the council’s planning rules allow for a change of heights.
X CONVENIENCE, STURT
Petrol station operator X Convenience is facing headwinds to replace a family restaurant with a $2.8m petrol station in Adelaide’s southwest.
Neighbours don’t want the servo built next door to them. And in September, Marion Council’s assessment panel rejected the 12-pump station, car wash, shop and drive-through restaurant at 373 Diagonal Rd, arguing it was out of character with the zone.
Adelaide’s Kosmidis family, who own the X Convenience brand through their Andrash Group, has appealed against the decision. The family has also sought to sideline the council and have the State Commission Planning Panel assess the project. That bid is before Ms Chapman.
NORMANVILLE FORESHORE REDEVELOPMENT
A $12m upgrade of Normanville’s foreshore has raised the ire of many in the seaside community because of its cost, environmental impact and the removal of some carparking spaces.
But Yankalilla Council chief executive Nigel Morris said a suite of changes to the plans, including stopping development in the dunes, returning car parks to the foreshore, and only carrying out some of the works if it can secure extra funding, will bring locals back on side.
The new plans will go to the council later this month.
Upgrade work will include building a new surf life saving club, 23 up-market cabins and a nature play area.
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