Government supports patch of Bolivar becoming part of Paralowie after landowners raise a stink, hatch bold secession plan
No one wants to say they live in SA’s stinkiest suburb – which is why a group of landowners has won government backing to make a clean break from the area.
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A patch of Bolivar could soon become part of Paralowie after the outer-northern suburb’s reputation for a “sewage” smell sparked landholders to push for a boundary change, winning support from the state government.
The government will soon publish a formal notice of its intention to change the suburb’s boundaries, triggering a one-month period of public consultation, after receiving a secession request from Aspen Group’s Highway 1 Caravan & Tourist Park and a neighbouring property owner.
Bolivar is best known for its huge wastewater treatment plant, which is the largest of its kind in South Australia and was described by SA Water in a 2023 media release as “SA’s poo powerhouse”.
Aspen Group chief executive John Carter said it was “definitely more desirable” for the caravan park to be part of Paralowie instead of Bolivar.
“We don’t think most people understand where this strip of land is, so we thought that it made sense to become part of Paralowie,” he said.
“When you talk about Bolivar, outside of people knowing, ‘well, that’s where the sewage gets treated’, I don’t think people really understand where things are in Bolivar.
“When you look at Bolivar as a suburb, most of it is taken up with that facility, and then there’s a small sliver of land, which is owned by people like ourselves and others.”
Property developer David Shammall, who owns a 52,000sq m block neighbouring the caravan park, said Bolivar was a “very restricted area” and joining Parlowie would give his patch “a bit more appeal”.
He confirmed part of the issue was that people believed Bolivar had a bad smell because of the sewage plant.
The seceding patch sits between the North-South Motorway and Port Wakefield Rd. It also includes the Whitehorse Inn Hotel, a BP truck stop, an Ampol, a McDonald’s and a Krispy Kreme store.
The North-South Motorway would serve as a neat boundary line dividing the patch from the “sewage” side of Bolivar.
In March, Salisbury Council endorsed the proposal subject to majority community support and voted to initiate a code amendment to rezone the patch from rural land to an employment zone.
Mr Shammall said he hoped a mix of industrial and retail buildings would be built on his land after the rezoning.
Planning Minister Nick Champion said the secession plan “makes sense”.
“It creates a clear and logical dividing line for our suburbs and ensures that local businesses and residents in this key area are better aligned with their community,” he said.
“Redrawing the suburb boundaries will unlock new opportunities for investment, jobs
and urban renewal.”
Aspen Group recently built a lifestyle village for over-50s adjoining the caravan park, with 12 two and three bedroom houses.
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Originally published as Government supports patch of Bolivar becoming part of Paralowie after landowners raise a stink, hatch bold secession plan