Council commits to legal fight for our community
Published on 29 March 2022
Plans to revitalise the heart of Unley with a nine-storey landmark development that features apartments, cinemas, retail, offices and cafes on the western side of Unley Road, in and around the current Target site, were announced in December 2020… more than 15 months ago.
Known as Unley Central, the community-building initiative is being delayed by persistent litigation and court appeals from the owner of the nearby Unley Shopping Centre, the Duke Group. Duke is a major property owner in Unley and other parts of metropolitan Adelaide.
Duke’s multiple litigations are delaying Council’s sale of a strategic parcel of land essential to the success of the development, 166-168 Unley Road, to the Unley Central development consortium.
This litigation is frustrating. It serves to stall the desire of the Unley community for a reinvigorated Unley city centre and greater choice of living, shops and services.
Council is resolved to see Unley Central proceed. It will continue to commit all resources necessary to counter legal action and delays. At its meeting on Monday 28 March, Council allocated another $500,000 to defend its position in court and achieve its community’s objective. This is on top of $900,000 previously allocated, bringing to $1,400,000 the legal budget funded by the people of Unley.
Council is confident that most of the cost of the legal actions will be recovered by court orders against Duke. That has occurred to date.
Council will not waver in protecting and advancing the interests and aspirations of our community.
Since it was announced in 2020, there has been strong community support for the project and frustration from residents wanting to know what is holding it up.
It is ironic that the very process of strategic land acquisition and sale that Duke resists in 2022 is identical to that of the early 1990s that enabled and facilitated the redevelopment of its Unley Shopping Centre.
Council’s facilitation of the Unley Central project with sale of 166-168 Unley Road is the product of extensive community consultation in Unley in 2016.
Duke was at that time briefed on Council intentions for its land at 166-168 Unley Road and did not raise any objection. It was not until nine months after consultation closed that it objected and initiated the first of a series of legal claims and actions.
Mayor Michael Hewitson AM