A significant greenfield site in Adelaide’s southern suburbs has been returned to the market presenting a unique new opportunity for developers to deliver an exemplar master-planned community in an area with a critical need for more housing.

The broadacre landholding at Aldinga – bound by Quinliven Road to the north, Main South Road to the east, Aldinga Beach Road to the south, and How Road to the west – will be re-introduced to the market by Renewal SA following the reservation of a rail corridor by the state government in June 2022, where part of a larger land parcel being offered for sale was set aside for the possible future extension of the Seaford Rail Line.

The new 45-hectare market offering, nestled between the sea and the vines of the Willunga Basin, will be sold via a single-stage Request for Proposal (RFP) process and is poised to deliver more than 800 new homes to the South Australian market over the next decade.

The RFP guidelines encourage an ambitious agenda around the delivery of affordable housing, with developers urged to explore creative approaches and collaborations that enable a broad range of housing options and price points, and lead to mandatory minimums being exceeded.

It also challenges developers to be industry-leading in their sustainability and climate smart endeavours. High expectations have been set around Green Star Communities (minimum 5 Star) and NatHERS (minimum 7 Star) ratings as well as tree canopy targets (20%). Quality outcomes are also being sought regarding energy efficiency and water sensitive urban design.

In line with community expectations, the successful developer will need to design a neighbourhood that delivers high-quality open spaces and seamlessly integrates with the existing Aldinga and Aldinga Beach communities through carefully managed connections to key roads and amenities, including Aldinga Payinthi College, Cardijn College Galilee and Aldinga Sports Park, which is home to nine local sporting clubs. Championing of the suburb’s unique character will also be highly regarded.

Renewal SA Chief Executive Chris Menz said the Aldinga greenfield site continued to be a highly attractive opportunity for an experienced developer to create a lasting legacy in area of high demand and constrained supply.

“The release of this land at Aldinga was deemed a necessity in unlocking supply and affordable housing opportunities in the southern suburbs,” Mr Menz said. “Its strategic significance and desirability has only intensified since its first release.

“Renewal SA is seeking a visionary partner that will set the benchmark for greenfield development in South Australia; a developer that can bring innovation, particularly around sustainability, and that contributes meaningfully to the long-term prosperity and cohesion of this much-loved coastal township.”

Since the strategy for future rail in the south was announced last year, Renewal SA has worked closely with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to ensure both the immediate and long-term connectivity within and around the new development is functional and well-integrated.

The rail corridor’s north-south alignment has created two distinct development parcels within the wider master-planned area. These will be connected by a road running east-west across the rail corridor to ensure the creation of strong links through the community to key education and sporting facilities.

The rail corridor itself is expected to be utilised as a green linear passage connecting to the broader open space network until such time as a rail extension is realised in the future.

Planning for future community need has also been well considered with land reserved for a Park ‘n’ Ride facility close to Aldinga Beach Road and station locations strategically selected to provide easy connection to local bus services. Additionally, a half-hectare plot has been allocated for a potential State Emergency Services facility next to the existing CFS station on Aldinga Beach Road, and 5.3 hectares of land has been sold to Cardijn College Galilee for a future school expansion.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said increasing residential supply in the right places, at the right time was crucial to supporting projected population growth.

“The Outer South is one of the fastest growing regions in the state yet has one of the least amounts of greenfield land available,” Minister Champion said. “It is imperative that we address the state’s housing needs and look for opportunities to accelerate land availability along the urban growth boundary.

“This land release opens up more opportunities for quality affordable housing, delivered through a superior master-planned process. Crucially, a strong focus on sustainability, water-sensitive urban design, urban heat reduction, and enhancing tree canopy will also make an important contribution to the sustainable development actions set out in the South Australian Government Climate Action Plan.”

Renewal SA has actively engaged with the Aldinga community throughout the initial planning stages to ensure that the development responds to its needs and aspirations, including in the creation of culturally and environmentally sympathetic spaces. The successful developer will be expected to continue this collaborative approach and work with Renewal SA and the City of Onkaparinga to ensure delivery of a well-integrated, welcoming, attractive new community, with the necessary infrastructure to benefit the whole Aldinga community.

Renewal SA is currently co-ordinating infrastructure deeds on a similar project at Hackham, which was recently rezoned for master planning and will deliver a further 2000 homes to the area. It will also directly deliver a development of state significance at Dry Creek in Adelaide’s north, which is anticipated to accommodate in the order of 10,000 homes.

The RFP process for Aldinga will open on 3 May 2023 and runs until 3.00pm (ACDT) Thursday, 22 June 2023. Documents will be available via the SA Tenders and Contracts website. Selection of the successful developer is expected to be announced later this year. Renewal SA will then enter into negotiations to secure a development agreement with the preferred Proponent in anticipation of works beginning by 2025.