Grievance – Stinson – Anzac Highway Heights
Thursday 26 August 2021
Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise on a matter of acute concern to the people I represent in the suburb of Glandore.
A person’s home is their castle. For the majority of us it’s our biggest asset (and debt) and something in which we invest not just money – but our heart and soul.
Homes are a place of making memories, making families and, accumulated together, make communities.
In a place like Glandore, there are many castles. Within the declared character area, there are stunning examples of restored art deco and post-war ‘castles’ – each one their own lovely domain – adored by their owners and these days – highly desired by ‘prospective’ owners too.
As a member of the SA Branch of the Art Deco and Modernism Society, I have a particular personal regard for the preservation of art deco architecture.
I know the close-knit neighbourhood well – and the need to preserve its beautiful streets and streetscape.
Therefore, I found it nothing short of horrific to discover, that the government has decided to degrade that character-declared neighbourhood – and have it overshadowed by eight storey developments on Anzac Highway.
The only thing more offensive is that this decision directly breaks the promise given to the Glandore community by THIS government to ensure a three-storey limit along this stretch of Anzac Highway at Glandore.
And to add salt to the wound --- this decision was made in secret, by “mis-using” or at least “overreaching” a Ministerial power – despite an 18 month/2 year public consultation period precisely about zoning in metro areas – including Glandore.
History
Now for a little local history – which I hope might enlighten those opposite – particularly the Minister for Planning …
About seven years ago, the Glandore community campaigned to have the City of West Torrens declare a Character Zone, with greater protections for the mainly Art Deco era housing for which the suburb is renowned.
That campaign was successful. It saw the declaration of a Glandore Character Zone and restrictions on the blocks bordering the zone, to ensure tall buildings could not overshadow the protected homes.
In 2017, I was part of the community campaign to correct a mistake by the drafters that failed to account for a hammerhead block that wraps around behind 192 Anzac Highway, which saw the 192 site unintentionally exempt from the height limits that applied to most other properties on that stretch of Anzac Highway. A developer wished to construct an eight-storey development at 192 Anzac Highway, which would have been inconsistent with the three-storey limit that applied to other properties bordering the character zone. That development has not proceeded so far.
Amid community uproar, in 2018 the City of West Torrens and I asked the former Minister (Knoll) to correct the error with a Development Plan Amendment via a Statement of Intent. The former Minister acknowledged the error and approved the SOI process on 27 September 2018. He indicated at that time that the new Planning and Design Code would soon eclipse the DPA process and the correction could be made through the new Code. That promise was communicated to our community.
Given this assurance, our community did not lobby further, as we’d already secured a result (- or so we thought).
When the new Code was released in March, this promise was fulfilled! The residents of Glandore were grateful the error had been corrected and the area preserved - as it was always intended to be.
The decision
So it was a shock and outrageous to my community, that the Minister has now secretly used an executive power - designed to assist in remedying trifling errors – to comprehensively renege on the government’s promise to the people of Glandore.
This is an abuse of the powers bestowed under section 76 of the Planning Act and represents an aggressive overreach.
Rubbing salt into the wound, the decision was not announced to my community, but published in the little-read Government Gazette.
It is profoundly undemocratic – not to mention enormously disrespectful – for the Government to use this section to ram through such consequential changes by stealth.
What’s worse is the Minister has not only reversed the promise that was made in relation to 192 Anzac Highway – but exacerbated the problem by increasing the height limit to eight storeys for an additional seven blocks.
How those particular blocks were chosen – no one knows!
Given this decision, Glandore residents are very worried that the interests of developers are being put above their own by this government.
My action
I held a community meeting upon discovering this shocking breach of trust by the government. Affected residents packed out the meeting room at the Glandore Community Centre.
A petition is also now underway by local people opposing this change – which isn’t a proposal but a finalised decision now.
The Minister would also know I’ve written to her outlining local concerns. I’m yet to receive a response. I’d welcome the chance to meet with her about this.
I’ve also received scores of letters and emails from locals who are distressed at this decision and what it means for their property and their families.
Conclusion
Each day that passes means the Glandore community is at risk of a development application being lodged for up to eight storeys – at which time there’ll be little that can be done to stop that from being approved. This government will be responsible for that.
I urge the Minister to listen – listen to me, listen to my community, listen to the local council – and act to reverse this broken promise before it’s too late.
I thank the active and passionate members of my community for fighting what is now a very long fight. I will stand with you – even if this government won’t.
Download the speech as a PDF here.