Port Adelaide housing development Dock One given planning approval

A major housing development on Port Adelaide’s landmark Dock One site has won planning approval, as the region readies for an expected boom driven by the $90 billion Defence shipbuilding program.

• Earthworks for $168m first part of Dock One begin
• Plans for Dock One revealed

A major housing development on Port Adelaide’s landmark Dock One site has won planning approval, as the region readies for an expected boom driven by the $90 billion Defence shipbuilding program.

The State Commission Assessment Panel has given the green light to the first phase of the Dock One development, which features more than 100 homes split across three sites.

It is part of a larger Dock One overhaul, led by Starfish Developments, which is ultimately expected to feature 750 homes in townhouses and apartments along with public spaces including a waterside piazza and boardwalk.

The centrepiece of the larger rejuvenation is to be a revamp of the historic Port Harbour Building into a “collective” occupied by artisan food producers and providores as well as “hi-tech working spaces” offered to local businesses.

An artist impression of the Dock 1 development in Port Adelaide.

Starfish Developments managing director Damon Nagel said there had already been 2000 expressions of interest to buy into the site.

“The surprising thing for us is that we’ve seen probably about 65 per cent of those inquiring are owner-occupiers and, traditionally, you’d expect to see the reverse and a much higher rate of inquires on the investment side,” he said.

“For people that are looking, the thing they are talking about is the lifestyle that’s happening down at the Port. It’s the bars and restaurants.”

Mr Nagel said he expected the ship and submarine program to deliver an unprecedented demand, drawing more people and investment to the Port over three decades.

“It’s not just a one-off thing for a few years, it’s going to be a couple of generations,” he said.

Stage one will feature affordable apartments through to three-bedroom townhouses on the park and waterside.

Artist impressions of some of the homes to be built under the Dock 1 development in Port Adelaide.

Artist impression of the Dock 1 development in Port Adelaide.

Earthworks in preparation for the Dock One development have been completed, and the entire project is expected to roll out in four stages.

Slabs for the approved townhouses are expected to be laid in May, with residents able to move in from early 2020.

Renewal SA, the State Government agency that oversees public land sales and developments, says more than $280 million in private investments are in the pipeline and are set to deliver about 1150 new homes for up to 2600 extra residents.

Cedar Woods is working on separate developments in the North West and Fletcher’s Slip precincts of the Port.

Acting Planning Minister David Speirs said there was renewed private sector confidence in the future of the Port, after previous false starts in long-expected developments.

“It’s encouraging to see the significant amount of private sector development that’s occurring in Port Adelaide,” he told The Advertiser.

Artist impression of the Dock 1 development in Port Adelaide.

“This will be very important to support the thousands of jobs that will be created out at Port Adelaide over the life of the Coalition Government’s $90 billion investment in naval ship building.

“These developments will breathe more life into the Port and provide many of the houses, shops and recreation and community spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

Stage two could include floating homes and a bar on the Port River, as proponents work through the complexities of supplying essential services to properties on the water.

Work has begun at Osborne on two offshore patrol vessels, ahead of a ramp-up for future frigates and submarines.