Some key points below from the Community Meeting with Plan SA and the Mount Lofty Golf Estate (MLGE) planning team (URPS and TRICE) that was held on the 25JUL2023;
The Developers
The developers did not attend. The notice from the Department of Trade and Investment states that, ‘Each session will feature a presentation from DTI‐PLUS on the major development assessment process, followed by a presentation from the Mount Lofty Golf Estate Pty Ltd on the development proposal, and then a question‐and‐answer session from the project team’.
MLGE were represented by three URPS and one TRICE employee. When asked who the developers were they would not say. We were told it was not relevant, as we were told it’s not a secret.
We understand that one of the golf club owners was in the room prior to the meeting but left. When put to the representatives that this occurred they would not comment.
Sub Division
The proposal includes a subdivision into three parcels, hotel, (perfumery and function centre) and golf course. There is a 1975 Government Gazette which is referenced as a condition on the current certificate of title that states ‘I, the Governor of the State of South Australia, being satisfied that it is desirable in the public interest to preserve the land defined in the schedule hereto as an open space, do hereby with the advice and consent of the Executive Council and on the application of the owner of the said land declare that such land shall not be divided into allotments or used for any purpose not in keeping with its character as an open space’.
When asked about this, given the subdivision in the development application, neither Plan SA nor the representatives could provide clear comment.
As per the zoning of recreational land, it lists Tourist accommodation ancillary to recreation facility. The question is, if the subdivision proceeds in contrary to the condition on the title, how do you protect the ancillary accommodation if the parcels are sold off - this was confirmed as possible last night if the subdivision is approved.
Lighting
It was confirmed there is no lighting plan and no artist images of the development at night. In the State Planning Commissions guidelines for this development report the proponent states that, in respect to land use, the issues are well understood and need to be outlined in the report - including visual amenity, noise, traffic and lighting. The current night scape has no lighting, there are no street lights in the area, this is a major omission.
Minutes
There were no minutes taken by Plan SA or the MLGE representatives. See the picture above of some of the notes they took. This is the face of an $87m State Development.
Golf Course Plan
There is no golf course upgrade plan. Considering the development is zoned for recreation, with that being golf currently, the omission of the golf course upgrade plan is questionable. The evaluation of how the golf course functions around the development, should be a priority given the zoning and use of the space.
Native Vegetation Removal
Removal of 4 acres of native vegetation. This was pitched as 4% of the land size however this value included the already cleared golf course greens and was confirmed that it was not a percentage of the allotments current native vegetation.
Thank you for your support.
Stirling Residents