Riverbank Precinct code amendment would allow buildings up to 20 levels high near River Torrens
First it emerged plans were afoot to allow buildings on Pinky Flat. Now there could be apartment towers near the Torrens banks. And there’s so much more on the agenda.
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Concerns about proposed zoning changes for the parklands have intensified with revelations they could enable high-rise apartments on the banks of the River Torrens.
The Adelaide Park Lands Authority will hold a special meeting on Thursday to discuss its formal response to a raft of changes proposed for the Riverbank Precinct.
Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor, who is the authority’s presiding member, called the meeting following a council briefing to the authority’s members.
It revealed residential buildings up to 20 levels could be allowed near a new $680m arena while 15-storey commercial buildings were possible near the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The report said possible uses for high-rise buildings near the Riverbank arena announced by Premier Steven Marshall included serviced apartments “which may not be compatible”.
“Rezoning to the City Riverbank Zone (Entertainment Precinct) would allow residential but only where it can be demonstrated that impacts on residential amenity from mix of uses can be adequately addressed,” it said.
Public debate erupted last week when it emerged other potential developments within new zones being proposed near and along the Torrens included bars, cafes, shops, kiosks, offices, healthcare facilities, hotels and other tourist accommodation.
One of the areas which could be developed was Pinky Flat, beside the Morphett St bridge.
The changes were part of an amendment to the new Planning and Design Code, released by Planning Minister Vickie Chapman for community consultation.
Ms Verschoor said she was working with council staff to determine the potential impact on areas classed as parklands, and therefore under the control of the council.
“Council staff are doing a lot of work with the Adelaide Park Lands Authority and I will be taking a briefing to council,” she said.
“It is not as though there are any proposals which have been put forward for consideration but if the code is changed, then we will have to assess a lot of these things.
“What I am trying to interrogate is what the changes mean so I am very clear what our response is going to be.”
Public feedback on the changes closes on October 27, with PlanSA staff also undertaking direct consultation with key stakeholders.
Labor candidate for Adelaide Lucy Hood said the rezoning bid confirmed that “the fears of many in my community are warranted”.
“Rachel Sanderson and Steven Marshall must come clean on their plans to build on the parklands,” she said.
“We already know they want to build a basketball stadium on the parklands during a hospital overcrowding and ramping crisis but what is next?
“This government’s priorities appear to be all wrong.”
Liberal MP for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson said she recognised the parklands were a “much-loved, iconic and historic area”.
Ms Sanderson urged people to have their say about the proposed zoning changes.
“I encourage anyone interested in the code amendment to go online, or attend a public information session, and make a submission,” she said.
“I urge my constituents to contact my office direct with any concerns or feedback about the rezoning proposal so I can continue to advocate their views.”
WHAT COULD CHANGE ALONG THE RIVERBANK
Proposed zoning changes for the Riverbank Precinct are intended to support a “world-class” health, sporting, education and biomedical precinct.
According to an Adelaide City Council report, they will allow serviced apartments, tourist accommodation, hotels, shops, bars, cafes, offices, community centres, consulting rooms, convention facilities, and preschool facilities across four new “subzones”
Health and biomedical precinct
■ Will enable construction of a multistorey carpark to service the new
Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Other uses include medical related activities
■ Total land area of 22ha
■ Possible building height of 15 levels, or 53m, towards North Terrace,
stepping down in height toward the Adelaide Gaol and Thebarton Police
Barracks and park lands
■ Providing new opportunities for the State Heritage-listed Adelaide Gaol
and Thebarton Police Barracks to be used for alternative purposes should
the need ever arise
■ Public notification of applications is required for demolition of state or
local heritage assets, however heritage buildings are protected in the Code
Amendment
Entertainment precinct
■ Will enable the construction of a new $680m arena near the Morphett St
bridge
■ Total land area of 9ha
■ Possible building height of 20 levels or 71m along North Terrace, with
lower buildings stepping down toward the River Torrens (20 storey
buildings are not envisaged on the waterfront)
■ New policies to improve pedestrian and cycling access across Montefiore
Rd
■ Changes also provide for range of health, education and research facilities
west of Montefiore Rd
■ Still allows for rowing clubs and community facilities
Active waterfront precinct
■ Aimed at generating “a diverse range of small, low-scale shops, cafes,
community, cultural and tourism activities” on both sides of the Torrens,
where currently only envisaged on the southern side of the Torrens
■ Total land area of around 37ha
■ New buildings must not exceed footprints of 200sq m and 2 storeys
■ Elder Park to be protected as open events space
■ Pedestrian and bicycle movement to be further developed
■ Public facilities and access such as barbeques will still be maintained in
the precinct
■ Areas of Aboriginal heritage will be protected, such as Pinky Flat
Innovation precinct
■ Botanic High School will be removed from parklands zone and put into
City Riverbank Zone to strengthen relationship with Lot Fourteen
■ Total land area of 2-3ha
■ Possible new uses include education facilities, including a preschool
■ Retains parklands link between Frome Road and the Botanic Gardens
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