North Adelaide residents mobilise against $250m redevelopment of former Le Cornu site

North Adelaide residents belatedly are mobilising against the $250m redevelopment of the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street.

Almost 180 people have attended a meeting as part of a campaign to lobby against the proposed construction of three apartment towers on the former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide.

Its organisers have urged residents to lodge objections with the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP), which will soon meet to discuss an application for planning approval.

Addressing the meeting, heritage campaigner Professor Warren Jones said residents must fight against the height of the three towers, one of which will be 15 storeys while the other two will be 13 levels.

Heritage campaigner Warren Jones addresses the meeting at North Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

Professor Jones said the $250m project – a joint venture between Adelaide City Council and property developer Commercial & General announced last December – was a “massive overkill”.

“This is not just a NIMBY issue,” he said.

“It is much wider. There is no doubt that what is going to happen here affects all of South Australia in reality and symbolism. It is very important we address these terrible problems which may or may not occur.”

Professor Jones said opposition to the project should not be aimed at stopping it. He suggested the focus instead should be on having the apartment blocks reduced in height.

“It is about getting it down to eight storeys,” he said.

Town planner Geoffrey Walker told the meeting he had made a submission to SCAP objecting to the proposed height of the three towers.

Mr Walker said the building would create “unacceptable levels” of overshadowing, especially between March and September.

North Adelaide residents meet to oppose the redevelopment of the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street. Picture: Tom Huntley

“Personally, I think this is unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Walker said the design of the development was at odds with the heritage character of North Adelaide.

“This area has one of the highest concentrations of heritage places in Australia,” he said.

“I have been told that a real estate agent already has told one property owner that the value of their property has gone down by $200,000 since this project was announced.”

Mr Walker said residents had “reached the point of no return”.

He urged them to sign a petition circulating within North Adelaide and to write to Premier Steven Marshall, Planning Minister Vickie Chapman, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor and Liberal MP for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson.

Architect’s render of the ground level of the redevelopment of the former Le Cornu site on O'Connell Street. Picture: Adelaide City Council

The proposed development on the former Le Cornu site at 88 O'Connell Street, North Adelaide. Picture: Adelaide City Council

North Adelaide Society founder Elbert Brooks said the development was the “worse monolithic proposal in the 30 years we have been dealing with the former Le Cornu site”.

Two Adelaide City councillors, Phillip Martin and Anne Moran, told the meeting they had been gagged from publicly speaking about the project.

The pair are bound by a confidential agreement signed between the council and Commercial & General.

“I have been threatened with either fines or some other punishment for speaking publicly,” said Cr Martin.

Cr Moran said she also had been told not to speak publicly about the project.

“I have been gagged so I will not be saying anything publicly,” she said.