Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time North Plympton Development NORTH PLYMPTON DEVELOPMENT The Hon. I.K. HUNTER Legislative Council NORTH PLYMPTON DEVELOPMENT The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:37): My question is to the Minister for Urban Development and Planning and relates to transport-oriented development. Will the minister provide an update on the progress of the major development assessment process for the residential and retail complex proposed for North Plympton in the area adjacent to the tramline, Marion Road and Anzac Highway? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business NORTH PLYMPTON DEVELOPMENT The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his timely question. In May 2007, a $75 million shopping centre and residential apartment complex to be developed on the 1.7 hectare Highway Inn site at North Plympton was declared a major development. The site is bordered by Anzac Highway and Marion Road and is near the city to Glenelg tramline, providing the opportunity to take advantage of that transit corridor. The proposal comprises the following: up to eight levels of residential apartments with associated car parking; a supermarket covering about 3,892 square metres of floor space; a further 2,686 square metres of floor space of specialty retail shopping outlets incorporating cafes and restaurants; public car parking spaces dispersed at street and basement level to serve the existing Highway Inn and the proposed development; dedicated car parking for the residential apartments; demolition of existing retail tenancies on Marion Road and four residential properties on Elizabeth Avenue; a pedestrian plaza at street level between the retail elements and the Highway Inn; the use of contemporary architecture to invigorate the surrounding underutilised land; the creation of a new streetscape for Elizabeth Avenue to enhance amenity, safety and security through passive surveillance and increased activity; enhanced streetscape links and shared use paths linking the development to the Marion Road tram stop; upgraded bus shelters; and provision of secure cycle storage and linkages to the extensive cycle routes in the area. The project also encourages sustainability features to achieve at least a four-star design rating for the shopping centre and a five-star design rating for the residential apartments. Members of the public have been invited to have their say on this major development. As part of the state government's major development assessment process, the Palmer Group has prepared a development report on its proposal. A development report is the least onerous of the three levels of assessment provided by the major development process. Normally, the publication of a development report requires only a three-week consultation period and no provision for a public meeting. However, due to the high level of community interest in the project, I made a commitment to the public two years ago that there would be a six-week consultation period and a public meeting. I have honoured that commitment, and the public meeting is scheduled for 7pm on 20 July in the George Robertson Room at the West Torrens Civic Centre. The development report seeks to address the 10 major issues outlined in the guidelines issued in August 2007 by the Independent Development Assessment Commission. These issues include compatibility with the height restrictions required by operations at the nearby Adelaide Airport, hours of operation for the retail and commercial businesses, the impacts of noise, dust and water run-off during construction, and traffic and parking provisions. The deadline for submissions to be lodged with the Department of Planning and Local Government is 14 August. Copies of the development report can be obtained online at the Department of Planning and Local Government website. I strongly encourage concerned members of the public to obtain a copy of the development report and have their say about this project.