Rezoning Paves Way for Apartments at Adelaide’s Prospect Oval

The mooted redevelopment of community land overlooking a historic South Australian National Football League oval into multi-storey apartments is a step closer to becoming reality.

The City of Prospect council on June 23 voted to revoke the community land classification for what officers said were underused parcels surrounding Prospect Oval, the home of the 14-time SANFL premiership-winning North Adelaide Roosters and 6km north of the CBD.

The approved revocation applies to a parcel that runs along most of the eastern length of the oval’s white picket fence and to council-owned land at 142-148 Main North Road.

Prospect mayor Matt Larwood said changing the land’s status was a crucial shift from long-term strategic planning to project delivery.

“This is the moment where we stop talking about what-ifs and finally get to work,” he said of the vote that was carried five councillors to two.

“By revoking the community land status for these specific areas, we’re unlocking our ability to create what our community actually needs—the modern spaces, multi-use facilities and public spaces outlined in the Prospect lifestyle precinct masterplan.”

▲ A rendering of what the apartments at Prospect Oval might look like.

Larwood conceded the milestone would be met with mixed feelings by some Prospect locals.

“I know not everyone is going to be celebrating [the] decision and I respect that some of our neighbours have genuine worries about the changes to these spaces,” he said.

“The facilities around Prospect Oval are tired, outdated, and simply aren’t up to scratch anymore and [the] council has spent the better part of three years exploring every option on the table.”

He said that pursuing a mixed-use development was the smartest, most responsible way to help upgrade the immediate area, which is 7km north of the Adelaide GPO.

“It protects our community’s back pocket while ensuring we deliver a precinct that our kids and grandkids can grow up enjoying,” he said in footy parlance.

Larwood said the city would now work with project partners on detailed site visuals and layout designs that would be released to ratepayers.

A draft code amendment for the Prospect lifestyle precinct is with SA’s Minister for Planning for approval. If the revised code is waved through, it will establish planning controls to guide future development heights and boundaries.