Prospect residents want limit on building heights

The Prospect High Rise Protest Group has started a petition to lobby State Government to rethink inner metropolitan growth. (LtoR) Kate Barrett, Noles Beddome, Anna Pigliacelli, Peter Langhans, Margaret Prideaux, Stathis Avramis and Bronwyn Newett. Picture: Luke Hemer Source: adelaidenow

THE debate over new building height limits through Prospect has taken a new twist, with more than 600 people signing a petition against high density living.

It comes as a leading developer and the local council endorse moves the raise the local skyline.

The petition, started by the Prospect High Rise Protest Group, follows the State Government release of plans to increase building heights to up to 10-storeys in city fringe suburbs.

Buildings along Churchill Rd could be raised up to five-storeys from the existing three with one eight-storey development.

Along Prospect Rd it could rise from two to four storeys and, along Main North Rd, from three to five.

Group co-ordinator and Prospect resident Bronwyn Mewett said 630 residents already had signed the petition.Government to cater for the state's projected 560,000 population increase during the next 30 years.

Prospect Council acting chief executive Deb Richardson said the community concerns needed to be investigated.

"Increased traffic flow, public transport and potential health impacts are just some of the issues which need to be investigated," Ms Richardson said.

"However, the council does not think the heights are excessive ... but we understand the community's concerns."

Maras Group managing director Steve Maras, whose company wants to build a cinema on Prospect Rd, said the group hoped building height limits could be raised to allow his development to go ahead.

Mr Maras said a four-storey development within the Prospect Rd Village Heart was "more than reasonable and appropriate".

"We strongly believe in delivering sustainable, long-term, mixed-use developments that create something special for the local community and assists in increasing the vibrancy and attractiveness of the precinct," he said.

Mr Maras said the group had received "strong support" from most local residents.

A timeframe on a decision had not been made by Planning Minister John Rau when the City North Messenger went to press.

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Fire starts in kitchen at Prospect

FIREFIGHTERS have saved a Prospect home after a fire broke out in the kitchen this morning.

Metropolitan Fire Service crews were called to the James St house, about 10.35am, with the fire threatening to spread in the two-storey house.

The fire was contained to the kitchen and damage was estimated at $25,000.

Two people inside the house who called triple-zero when the fire started escaped uninjured.

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Phone tower approved for Prospect Rd

Prospect Council chambers. Source: adelaidenow

A 27m-high Telstra phone tower has been approved for Prospect Rd.

The Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court has approved the tower for private land at 108 Prospect Rd.

Prospect Council's development assessment panel had rejected the application for that site in November 2011 but the phone company appealed the decision in the ERD Court.

Prospect Council's acting chief executive and Deb Richardson said the council was advised of the court's decision last week after a long appeal by Telstra in the ERD Court.

"The court considered the need for telecommunications infrastructure in the area was best served in that location (at 108 Prospect Rd)," Ms Richardson said.

She said the council acknowledged the need for a phone tower in the area.

Two other sites were proposed for the tower 224 Prospect Rd and the council's Civic Centre at 128 Prospect Rd.

But the application for the 224 Prospect Rd site was withdrawn by Telstra and the phone company did not pursue the council's offer for the Civic Centre site.

A phone tower at both those sites was met with strong community opposition.

The City North Messenger is seeking comment from Telstra.

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Burnside, Prospect oppose high-rise

High-rise Rally at Parliament House last month. Residents are protesting against a State Government plan to allow high-rise apartment buildings on main roads around the parklands. Picture: Stephen Laffer Source: adelaidenow

RESIDENTS opposed to high-rise plans say they are not anti-development, rather they are sensitive to the needs of existing communities.

More than 50 people attended a meeting last night to make submissions about the State Government's plans to allow high-rise buildings along main roads in Burnside and Prospect council areas.

Speakers made passionate pleas to the Development Policy Advisory Committee (DPAC), charged with collating feedback and making recommendations to Planning Minister John Rau.

Their concerns included parking and traffic problems, overshadowing, overlooking, decreased property values, heritage loss and safety.

Under the government's plans, buildings up to 10 storeys would be allowed to be built along Fullarton and Greenhill roads.

Burnside Council wants apartment blocks capped at six storeys.

The Burnside Residents' Group wants them capped at four.

The group's president, Anna Sullivan, told the meeting her family was not anti-development.

"We recognised that urban sprawl must be contained but sensibly," Dr Sullivan, of Dulwich, said.

"We believe that destroying heritage and character suburbs by surrounding them with a hard-wall of high-rise buildings is the wrong way to go."

The scale of new development should be considerate of existing housing and buildings should be no higher than four storeys, she said.

Fellow Dulwich resident Trent Cox told the meeting he was concerned about increased parking congestion, strain on existing infrastructure and services and destruction of the area's village feel.

It was vital the government listened to the wishes of the community, he told the meeting.

"While developers build houses, we build homes," Mr Cox said.

"We don't seek wealth, we seek futures for our families."

Burnside councillor Helga Lemon told the meeting residents had approached her and fellow councillor Di Wilkins saying they were opposed to the scale of potential developments.

"What they ask for is a greater say in how increased density will look in their suburbs and in their streets," Cr Lemon said.

Prospect resident Bronwyn Mewett told the meeting if developments went ahead off-street parking must be provided.

"We can see traffic from the developments being forced in to side streets and some of those streets are very narrow . . . this won't work for the area," Ms Mewett said.

Another resident, Dr Leonard Pullin, said he was "proud to call Prospect home" and did not want to see the area change because of large developments.

The DPAC received a total of 181 submissions from Burnside and Prospect residents and groups.

Last night's meeting followed a rally at Parliament House last month where about 100 protesters gathered to voice their opposition against the proposal.

The building height changes have been proposed to cater for the government's claimed Adelaide population increase of 560,000 in the next 30 years.

Mr Rau previously told the Eastern Courier Messenger no decisions on building heights had been made. "I will consider any recommendations in due course," Mr Rau said.

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Prospect wants to host Tour Down Under

Stage start of the 2013 Tour Down Under cycling race in Prospect. Picture: Campbell Brodie Source: adelaidenow

PROSPECT Council will put in a bid to again host the Tour Down Under.

Elected members have voted to apply to host a stage start in the 2014 race.

About 106,000 people flocked to Prospect in January to see the Stage One race from Prospect to Lobethal kick off.

A further 17,000 attended the Tourrific Prospect street party the night before.

Mayor David O'Loughlin told last week's council meeting sponsors reported good results from being part of the event.

"I've only heard overwhelmingly positive results from it," Mr O'Loughlin said.

The council is likely to set aside $170,000 for the event in its 2013/14 budget.

The council hosted the race start for the first time in 2012.

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