North Adelaide residents lodge legal action against $250m project to redevelop former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street
North Adelaide residents upset about the height and size of a development proposed for the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street have gone to court.
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North Adelaide residents have launched legal action to stop the proposed $250m redevelopment of the former Le Cornu site on O’Connell St.
The Environment, Resources and Development Court has been asked to review a decision by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) to approve the controversial project.
Adelaide development company, Commercial & General, has been given permission to build three high-rise apartment towers on a two-storey podium on the site, which is owned by the Adelaide City Council.
Lawyers for a residents group, Vital North Adelaide, will argue the height and scale of the development exceeds the limits for the area, listed as a heritage conservation zone.
Spokesman David Farnan said the group was seeking to have the planning approval granted by SCAP for the project overturned.
Mr Farnan said residents had been fundraising to enable the legal action to be lodged in the ERD Court.
They were particularly upset the project would include one 15-storey tower and two other 13-storey towers when original guidelines for an eight-storey development were released by the council.
“It is absolutely appalling that this city council has thrown out the planning principles for this site and has torn up what the previous council had generated through extensive consultation with residents, businesses, and ratepayers,” he said.
Mr Farnan said the law firm of former deputy lord mayor and North Adelaide resident Mark Hamilton had been engaged to oversee the legal action.
“Mr Hamilton has issued writs in the ERD Court to have the planning commission’s approval quashed on a number of grounds including height and major negative impact on the locality and the adjacent residential precinct and conservation zone,” he said.
Mr Farnan said the council had paid $34m for the site, which had been vacant for more than 30 years.
“The council has squandered the opportunity that this site presents by secretly entering into contracts to sell the land for only about $25m for high rise apartments and other uses,” he said.
“The State Commission Assessment Panel process was secretive, disingenuous and limited to five minute presentations from residents about a development that will impact lives and liveability for many decades.
“The community seeks justice in development rather than just any development.”
Mr Farnan said his group supported “useful and appropriate development”.
“This site is capable of supporting a European-style development which would augment and exploit the internationally recognised rich historic fabric of North Adelaide,” he said.
“Instead of maximising the potential for the future, the city council has sold out North Adelaide to propose dominating Gold Coast-type monoliths that will do nothing for its future vitality or character.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled to be held in the ERD Court next week.
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