Opposition to the proposed re-zoning of the Vadoulis Nursery to an “Employment Zone” is spreading across Gawler, a community forum has heard.

A community forum held on Saturday morning and facilitated by local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo heard that residents from across Gawler were now concerned about the re-zoning proposal and the likely impact it would have on traffic flows along Adelaide Road.

Mr Piccolo said residents from Willaston and Gawler East attended the community forum on Saturday, as they believed the re-zoning was in the wrong location and could set a “nasty” precedent for similar re-zonings in other residential areas in the town.

“In short, residents believe the proposal should not go ahead in that location,” said Mr Piccolo.

“There are areas in Gawler which would benefit from a similar re-zoning and investment, and actually help lift those areas.”

“The scale and size of the built form that the re-zoning would allow is significantly out of character with the residential areas that surround it.”

Concerns raised by residents include:

• The scale of the development permitted will impair the visual amenity of the locality.

• The development will generate significant additional traffic in an already congested area.

• The proposed traffic lights will only exacerbate traffic problems along Adelaide Road in the vicinity of the racecourse.

• Traffic problems along Adelaide Road could result in “rat running” in adjacent residential streets.

• Landscaping of the site will be minimum and have a negative impact on the appearance of the area.

• The commercial activities will generate noise that will affect the lifestyles of adjacent residents.

Mr Piccolo said residents are concerned that the re-zoning would dramatically change the residential character of the area.

“While the proponent has focussed on trying to make the proposal technically fit in the locality, residents believe the real question is whether it is the right location,” said Mr Piccolo.

“The answer to that question, from the resident’s perspective, is an emphatic no!”

Mr Piccolo said there a number of other localities in Gawler which would both welcome and benefit from such a re-zoning, and it is disappointing that neither the proponent nor the Council are prepared to investigate them.”

Mr Piccolo said residents are not opposed to the development site for residential purposes.

Any local residents who are concerned about the rezoning they should lodge an online submission at On consultation | PlanSA

“It is also important to note the planned land management agreement to bar the development of a petrol station or fast-food outlet on the site is not watertight or failproof, as the Council should know as it lost a case in the Supreme Court on this very issue,” said Mr Piccolo.

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