Adelaide City Council report to make case for increasing State Assessment Panel threshold to $50m

The Adelaide City Council has taken the first step towards a bigger say over major CBD developments – but one councillor has questioned whether the council is “mature enough”.

The Adelaide City Council will take the first step toward increasing its say over major CBD developments, with a report to be commissioned to make the case for a bigger financial threshold for State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) assessment.

Following a motion carried at Tuesday night’s meeting, council’s administration will prepare a report arguing for the increase of the SCAP limit to $50 million.

Currently, the Council Assessment Panel (CAP), an independent body within the council, can only assess developments up to $10 million – a figure that has not changed since 2008.

The move, which came following advice from the CAP in its 2023/24 annual report, would give the city council greater oversight over major developments.

Councillor Phillip Martin said the motion would also capture the possibility of keeping certain types of development within council hands, such as multiple residences under a certain height.

Mr Martin said the motion was “straightforward” and no decision over whether to approach state government about a SCAP threshold increase would be made until the report had been commissioned.

Councillor Phillip Martin has brought a motion for a report making the case for greater council oversight over major developments. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“Our CAP is a body of people who act and think independently about development and their decisions would be enhanced by the capacity to consider a broader range of developments of a higher capital value,” Mr Martin said.

“(CAP) has been doing a sterling job in dealing with the developments it has.”

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith agreed with Mr Martin’s interpretation of the motion, saying it was simply “asking for a report, not actually setting a position”.

Councillor Carmel Noon, who seconded the motion, said the move was “well overdue”.

“I did a quick calculation on what $10m in 2008 would mean in 2023 based on inflation and it’s nearly double,” she said.

But the motion was met with hesitation from Councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh, who sought not to support a note that CAP had requested consideration of an increase to the financial threshold from $10 million to $50 million.

Mr Abrahimzadeh said he had concerns over “feedback from those in the industry and state government” about whether council was “mature enough” to handle a significant increase in the SCAP threshold.

He referenced recent backlash over a council saga involving the Adelaide Comets Football Club’s request to build a 1.1m high fence around its Park Lands home – a decision Premier Peter Malinauskas blasted as “crazy”.

Adelaide City councillor Arman Abrahimzadeh. Picture: Supplied

The Adelaide City Council became embroiled in backlash after knocking back a request for a 1.1m fence to be built around the Adelaide Comets Football Club. Picture: Matt Loxton

“They (state government) do look at us and some of our decisions more broadly in terms of how mature we are and whether we are ready to have this sort of authority and decision making,” Mr Abrahimzadeh said.

“The example that’s been used with some of these figures is that of the fence for the Comets.

“Even though that’s not a development application, they are the examples … that refer to the maturity of this council.”

However, the Lord Mayor lashed Mr Abrahimzadeh for his statement, requesting he not comment on the capacity of the independent CAP body.

“They are independent members, they’re professionals and they’re chosen because of their skills and it’s unbecoming of you to reflect on their ability,” she said.

Mr Abrahimzadeh then clarified his comments “were not reflective of our CAP, they were reflective of our council chamber”.

A report will now be prepared by council administration, detailing the case for a SCAP threshold increase.

The motion comes after days of furore over plans to build multistorey student housing over live music institution the Crown & Anchor, with fears the pub’s 171-year history is “at great risk”.

Last week, The Advertiser revealed Singapore-based purpose-built student accommodation developer Wee Hur Holdings Ltd had applied for planning consent with SCAP for construction of a multi-level building at 188 and 196 Grenfell St.

The development has been referred to the City of Adelaide for response, but the decision ultimately lies with SCAP.

Originally published as Adelaide City Council report to make case for increasing State Assessment Panel threshold to $50m