Martin's audio -
Stirling resident's audio -
Considered response below in bold
Robran: Martin Radcliffe is the chairman of the Adelaide Hills Tourism and he joins us now. ...Are you in support of the development?
Radcliffe: Yeah, I am... Adelaide Hills is a wonderful destination, lots of experiences. But what our visitors tell us is that there's demand that outstrips current supply in terms of staying overnight. People, groups, conferences, events. They want to stay overnight in the hills that just fall short of accommodation capacity at the moment, albeit there's some wonderful options. We just need a few more."
Stirling resident's comment:
Overwhelming those Stirling residents who have expressed concerns about the proposed development are in support of tourism in the area and acknowledge that there is a shortfall of available options.
However this situation doesn't mean planning regulations can be ignored and that the very reason people travel to the Hills - the natural environment - should be significantly reduced. We are talking about an area within a stone's throw of Cleland Conversation Park and Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens.
Robran: I mean, 87 million bucks for redevelopment is a lot of money. So what are they planning?
Radcliffe: Well, it's out there on the website [PlanSA] and it's been for public consultation. So the details are out there. But I think there's about 80 rooms and a further 20 units. There's a from memory, 140 covered restaurants. So it's been really well considered.
Stirling resident's comment:
Martin clearly has not read the development report by URPS. Had he done so he would agree that this proposal is far from considered. Especially in regard to the guidelines created by the State Planning Commission for this Major Development. In the letter in the appendix that Martin has written (dated 12SEP2021) he states 'express support for the initiative proposed by Mount Lofty Golf Estate Pty Ltd to undertake considered improvements and expansions to tourism and events infrastructure at its existing site in Stirling', was written 18 months before the State Planning Commission published the Guidelines for the Development Report and just under two years prior to the Development Report being published.
In this letter, Martin lists a benefit being, 'Much-needed improvements to a 100-year-old golf course, that is central to local community and heritage'. URPS has confirmed that no golf course improvement plan has been completed.
Radcliffe: I think what that's aiming to do is, you know, really bolster what the golf course already has, but attract groups out there to play golf, attract groups out there that are coming for events and so on. So it's a really bold development, as I understand.
Stirling resident's comments:
"Bold" is an understatement.
If golf is the focus, why is there no plan to upgrade the course itself included in the Development Report? What's proposed is a massive three - five story hotel. When questioned URPS said they have not considered that yet.
Radcliffe: ..I do understand that some residents have concerns, as I understand the developers happy to work with those people.
Stirling resident's comment:
The current behaviour of URPS (the planning company engaged by the proponent) suggests the opposite. There has been no consultation with neighbouring residents prior to the release of the Development Report. When concerns have been raised and questions asked about the increase to traffic, on the dead end road that enters the golf course, what is SA Water's comment in terms of the impact to Adelaide's waterways, why do the plans include a subdivision (despite the certificate of title currently impeding this), who are the investors behind the development, there has been nothing but silence. They have neither worked with neighbouring community, nor have they considered the impact to the broader community down the hill.
Radcliffe: And all we can ask when people put forward, you know, great proposals like this is that they make sure they're taking into consideration local environment, local residents, which I think is what they're doing through this process.
Stirling resident's comment:
Actually a Major Development requires them to do a lot more than that and they are in our view non-compliant with those requirements.
Robran: What's there now?
Radcliffe: A golf course.
Robran: But is there there's infrastructure around already? It's not as if they're just building new buildings for the first time.
Stirling resident's comment:
The proponent has said it is the Council's responsibility to upgrade the narrow dead end road - Golflinks which is to be the proposed main entrance. In other words.. "not our problem"
Radcliffe: No, It's just a considered expansion, from what I can see, that's going to allow people to stay overnight in a sufficient quality as well.
Robran: And so what talking to some of the locals, what concerns have they told you?
Radcliffe: Well, I wasn't present at the public consultation. I do understand that there were some locals had concerns about native vegetation. They also had concerns about the road, the golf link drive that goes into it and whether it could handle more traffic. So my understanding is that the developer who's proposing this has said he would like to work with the native vegetation people and contribute where he can to that and being very open and visible about that. And also, you know, he's happy to look at the drive access and making that as, you know, accessible as possible.
Stirling resident's comment:
The plan includes a donation of a half million dollars to the Native Vegetation fund to "off-set" the clearing of 4 acres of native vegetation.
Robran: Martin Thanks so much for your time..