Off The Record: Old Le Cornu site developer finds anticipated opposition to O’Connell St towers

The developer of the long-empty old Le Cornu site in North Adelaide anticipated some local opposition, which has now begun with nameless letterbox drops.

Let the games commence

Property developer Jamie McClurg has been expecting North Adelaide residents to object to his plans for the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street.

He spelt out his vision for the long vacant block of land at community forums at two local pubs, The Catheral and Old Lion.

That was before The Advertiser made it more public on Monday. Three days later, his prediction of opposition proved true.

A full-colour brochure was dropped into letter boxes on Thursday questioning the amount of shadowing from three apartment towers which his company, Commercial & General, wants to build on the vacant Adelaide City Council-owned block of land.

The authors of the flyer, which features a handmade illustration of a lengthy shadow extending several hundred metres from the proposed location to the northwest and southeast, remain anonymous.

An artist’s impression of the developed Le Cornu site in North Adelaide. Picture: 88OC Hero Render

Prime suspects are members of the North Adelaide Society, which published a well-researched and articulately-written four-page bulletin devoted to a prudential report about the $250m project several weeks ago

The report itself had been kept in confidence, like many matters at our capital city council in recent years, until vocal agitation by two popularly-elected local councillors, Anne Moran and Phillip Martin forced its release.

Both have close links to the society, which recently held its annual general meeting. Around 30 residents of the total of population of North Adelaide of 6950 attended.
They were joined for cups of tea and scones by the Labor candidate for the seat of Adelaide, Lucy Hood.

The brochure which appeared in letterboxes asked people concerned about the O’Connell Street project to contact Ms Hood’s rival, the sitting MP for Adelaide, Rachel Sanderson or Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor.

One could suggest it might be an interesting development in the scheme of things.

An artist’s impression of the streetscape of the developed O’Connell St. Picture: Adelaide City Council

What about me?

While on the subject of Anne Moran and Sandy Verschoor, everything seemed to be going tickety-boo this week until the Lord Mayor decided to get together with her elected deputy and North Adelaide councillor, Mary Couros, for a photo shoot with school students to mark International Women’s Day.

Verschoor and Moran had both sat through a productive council meeting on Tuesday night where, on a rare occasion, elected members joined together to unanimously pass nine motions.

So pleased was Verschoor, after months of continual disunity, bickering and sniping during meetings, she told her elected members: “Another one unanimously, we are on a roll guys.”

Two days later, after Verschoor posted a picture taken in the Adelaide Town Hall chambers with the girls from Adelaide Botanic High School, St Mary’s College, Pulteney Grammar School and St Aloysius College, Moran sent an email to her asking why she had not been included.

The former teacher and long serving councillor said: “I am totally gobsmacked that I was not invited. I am a woman, I am a teacher but clearly not Team Adelaide. Sandy, this is low, low, low. If I don’t get an explanation in an hour that’s going up on my Facebook.”

Moran followed through, posting: “I would have loved to attend this event as a female member of Council (sic) for 26 years and a former teacher I was not invited.

“I am completely shocked. Actions speak louder than words and on this Sad Council (sic) there is not much action on promoting all women unless they belong to Team Adelaide.”

Interesting perspective, considering this is the same councillor who called her council, including nationally recognised anti-domestic violence campaigner Arman Abrahimzadeh, “misogynistic” only three weeks ago.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor, centre, during an Adelaide City Council meeting. Picture: Colin James

Staying put – for now

While on Adelaide Town Hall, former Greens senator and city councillor Robert Simms this week inadvertently fuelled speculation he may be prematurely departing.

Declaring a conflict of interest during a discussion about attracting millennials to the CBD, Simms said he had resigned from his job at the University of Adelaide.

The self-described “student and grievance conduct adviser” has been preselected to contest the Legislative Council spot held for many years by environmental lawyer Mark Parnell.

If Parnell leaves the Upper House early, as is widely expected, Simms will keep his red leather bench seat warm until the state election next March, when the people get to decide who stays.

Contacted for comment, Simms said he planned to remain on council “at the moment” and had quit his university job “to focus on campaign stuff”.

He was adamant any early departure from council – which will result in a costly by-election for ratepayers – rested with Parnell.

“It all depends on whether or not Mark goes early and that is a matter for him. I will support Mark on whatever he decides to do”.

Simms rejected suggestions he already had cleaned out his Town Hall office in preparation for a move to North Terrace.

“I just had a spring clean. My stuff is still on the wall.”

Not what we are hearing by the way, Rob. Apparently your desk is clean as a whistle.

Firing the starting pistol

Meanwhile, business, property and political heavyweights are preparing to gather to hear Premier Steven Marshall kick off his election campaign next week.

The Property Council is expecting 450 guests to attend an invitation-only luncheon at the Adelaide Convention Centre where Marshall will deliver a 15-minute keynote speech.

He will then slip onto a couch for a 45-minute public question and answer session with his former chief spin doctor, Daniel Gannon.

The event next Friday will be exactly one year until the next state election on Saturday, March 19, 2022.

On the quiet, odds are open for how many blokes with blue suits will be in the audience. Current market is offering 3-1 with Gannon winning the prize for best tailored.