Walker Corporation lodges development application for Riverlea Park retail and lifestyle hub

Surging sales mean SA’s fastest-selling masterplanned community, Riverlea, may have its major retail and lifestyle precinct two years earlier than projected. See the plans.

South Australia’s fastest-selling masterplanned community, Riverlea, will have a major retail and lifestyle precinct two years earlier than planned, in response to surging sales in the $3bn project.

Developer Walker Corporation has lodged plans with the SA government to approve an $80m retail village at Buckland Park, complete with a childcare centre, supermarket, cafes, medical services, a pilates studio and a gym.

It comes as the company is about to notch up sales of 700 house and land packages in just over 12 months – double what was initially anticipated.

Bonnie, Jayden and Emerson Skeers at Riverlea where they will be building their first home. Picture: Dean Martin

Concept images of the new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

Concept images of the new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

Property tycoon Lang Walker said sales were driven by both affordability and connection to the CBD via the newly opened Northern Connector road.

“One of the pleasing trends we are witnessing is a movement to Riverlea from suburbs right across Adelaide,” he said.

“This trend is seeing people from the south now looking towards the north for their new residential home.

“The north is changing fast and these families, who are finding it difficult to buy a two-bedroom unit in the southern suburbs, are realising they can get a four-bedroom house on a large block with room for kids and a dog, for a great price at Riverlea.”

Pending development approval, construction is expected to begin later this year with the first tenants to move into the seven-building precinct in the first half of 2023.

The complex will include parking for 482 cars and will also see the creation of a new road.

Concept images of a new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

Concept images of a new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

The retail village is an exciting prospect for Bonnie and Jayden Skeers, who will be among the first residents to call Riverlea home.

“Both Jayden and I are pretty big in going to the gym so that’s great to have one a little closer – and something brand new for us to explore,” Ms Skeers said.

“I’m studying childcare for primary level at Flinders University so the prospect of all the new schools at Riverlea is really appealing to me for future work.”

Playford mayor Glenn Docherty said improved road connections, jobs and affordable house and land packages made Adelaide’s north an attractive destination for families.

“I think people are purchasing in and around Riverlea because of a number of factors, one being the opening of the Northern Expressway and the Northern Connector, which have made travelling in and out of the city extremely easy and reduced travel time,” he said.

“There are also quality education facilities here in the north, both public and private, and there are growing job opportunities in defence, health, manufacturing and also the horticultural industries.”

Concept images of a new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

Concept images of a new retail village in Buckland Park. Source: Walker Corporation

The Walker Corporation masterplan for 12,000 homes, housing 30,000 residents, will be built among 450ha of parkland, 50ha of lakes, surrounded by 42km of recreation trails with bike paths and running tracks.

Riverlea recently became part of Adelaide’s newest suburb Riverlea Park and will include four new schools along with sports facilities and community centres.