Parliament House, Tuesday 1 November 2022
Thank you Mr Speaker.
I rise to update the House and my community on progress at 10 Anzac Highway at Forestville – better known in our community as the old Le Cornu site.
Now this is not the notorious old Le Cornu site at North Adelaide – this is a site where things are happening!
Earlier this year preliminary plans for the site were announced by the successful consortium – known as Locale.
Consultation
Mr Speaker, the time has arrived for my community to now formally have it’s say on the proposed revamp of the site.
I can inform the House and my community that there will be a Community Drop-In session at the Adelaide Showgrounds on Saturday 19 November for people to get information and express their views.
It’ll be held from 9.30am until 2.30pm in the afternoon - right where the ‘Gilles at the Grounds’ markets is usually held in the Brick Dairy Pavilion.
I’ll be there and so will representatives from RenewalSA, Chapley’s, Peet and Buildtec – who make up the Locale consortium who are developing this iconic site.
There’ll be enlarged images and maps for people to look at and understand the project and what it might means for them. They’ll be able to ask questions of the Locale and RenewalSA representatives. There’ll also be the chance to provide feedback, which will be taken on to inform the further progress of the project.
And if people can’t make it that day, there’s also an online avenue to submit feedback through the Renewal SA site.
https://renewalsa.mysocialpinpointcom/forestville-locale
For those who might not be tech savvy you can also write in.
The public consultation period begins on Saturday 19 November until the 11 December. Locals will receive a postcard in their mail with all the details this week.
I am really urging people to engage in this process. This is the formal avenue to have your say.
I’ve received a great deal of feedback – and continue to – and I’ll provide that to the consortium – but the plans have evolved and I am encouraging my community to check out what’s planned and provide their views.
It’s by taking action that we can ensure that this development is right for our community – and those who will live, work and play there in future.
Locale and Location
Locale consists of well-regarded independent grocers the Chapley’s of Pasadena and Frewville Foodland fame … residential builder Peet .. and SA-based firm Buildtec.
Plans
What’s being put forward by Locale different from anywhere else – and I am hopeful that it’ll be something that benefits and lifts the inner south.
The mixed-use retail and residential development will have a focus on artisan and locally-produced food – with a central European-style piazza or market square and outdoor dining areas at its heart.
Maybe the gem in the $250 million masterplan, is a rooftop urban farm, where fresh local produce will bring residents and visitors together.
It will also be a focal point for a new ‘Green School’ to be run by Youth Inc (who already have a training centre in Hindley Street, which I’ve visited). This Green School will engage students with an interest in climate change-oriented futures – including horticulture and the food industry.
There’ll also be apartments and townhouses, meeting the high demand for housing in our area. I’m delighted that 15% of this housing has been allocated under the government’s affordable housing program.
Green space
My community – that is Forestville, as well as Keswick, Everard Park and Ashford – are passionate about our environment and addressing climate change.
So I’m pleased that there’s a total of almost 30% green space slated for this site.
12.5% green space is required under legislation. This project has almost 15% green space on a ground level and another 15% green space in elevated spaces like the podium Urban Farm and rooftop greenery.
That is a great start and a model for others to follow. But I am persuaded by the arguments put forward by many in my community who’d like to see a consolidation of that green space to form a park or reserve for public use on the Leader Street side.
I have held several community meetings since the preliminary plans were released and the feedback has been clear – locals want useable open green space on the Leader St side.
I’ve articulated that view to RenewalSA, The Chapley Group and hope to soon meet with Peet. I’ve raised it with councillors too.
I hope that the developers will take that feedback very seriously and incorporate that additional or consolidated green space into the design.
But people must get active and engage in the formal feedback process. I urge anyone in my area with an interest in this project to contribute – particularly when it comes to green space.