Western suburbs residents launch legal action against Port Adelaide Football Club bid to upgrade Alberton headquarters

Residents have launched legal action calling for a proper hearing into a planned upgrade of Port Adelaide’s Alberton headquarters.

Images of Port Adelaide's proposed redevelopment of Alberton Oval

Residents have launched legal action against a bid by Port Adelaide Football Club to upgrade its facilities at Alberton Oval.

Their lawyer, Greg Griffin, has lodged papers in the Environment, Resources and Development Court seeking an order to open the club’s planning application to wider public feedback.

The club is seeking approval from Port Adelaide Enfield Council to build new training and administration facilities, a soccer pitch, two indoor basketball courts and carparking.

Mr Griffin has been instructed to seek a review of a council decision to treat the application as a Category 2, which restricts public feedback to residents living within 60m.

Images of Port Adelaide's proposed redevelopment of Alberton Oval

He will argue the application should be processed as a Category 3, which broadens community consultation.

In documents filed on Friday, Mr Griffin said the council had made a “serious error” by treating the application as a Category 2, not Category 3.

“The effect of this is to deny rights of appeal from any decision of council to adjoining residents,” he said.

Mr Griffin said the appeal was “seeking orders requiring council to correctly describe what the application actually is and to properly categorise it as a Category 3 application so as to provide appeal rights to those affected by any decision of council”.

Opposition to the project has been steadily growing among nearby residents, with a several holding a meeting with two Port Adelaide Enfield councillors last Friday night to air their concerns.

Lawyer Greg Griffin is representing residents fighting the redevelopment of Port Adelaide Football Club at Alberton. AAP Image/David Mariuz.

They includes fears there will be a large increase in local traffic if a proposal to have 90 games of junior basketball a week at the new facility comes to fruition through a move by the West Adelaide Bearcats.

Dog owners also are worried they will lose access to a former croquet club lawn which is used as an unofficial dog park.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said it would consider all feedback ahead of the council development assessment panel considering the application.

“The club has ensured that all plans are compliant with the existing approved use of the precinct, and there is no change of land use or ownership involved in this proposal.”