Community and stakeholder engagement on the Magill project will be extended by several months to allow people more time to express their views on the future of the site.
Renewal SA has extended the timeline for online engagement from early December 2024 to February 2025 as they consider the plan for a high-quality residential development on the Magill University Campus site.
Renewal SA is working with leading South Australian integrated design firm, Oxigen, to develop a structure plan for the entire 14.62-hectare site and is committed to ensuring that key stakeholders and the local community are engaged throughout the planning process.
This process is still in its very early stages. This initial round of engagement will be considered in the master planning process to prepare a draft structure plan. This will be the focus of further community engagement planned for mid-2025.
The extension follows two successful community drop-in sessions hosted by Renewal SA and its consultants on-site on Saturday 9 November and Tuesday 12 November.
These were attended by more than 170 people, mostly local residents, who were asked to share their connections to and aspirations for the site, while providing feedback on the overall high-level vision, key attributes, features and opportunities.
A range of views was received on open space and the environment, existing tree canopy and Third Creek, the mix of housing types, traffic issues and the potential future uses of the historic Murray House.
Community members are encouraged to express their views via the Renewal SA community engagement portal online, with the information provided on the site reflecting what was presented at the drop-in sessions. This online portal will now be kept open until Monday 10 February 2025.
The master planning process will be detailed and deliberate. Oxigen’s approach is always site-specific, drawing the principles for design from the site context, climate, ecology and people’s use.
Its work is featured on key projects including Lot Fourteen, Railway Plaza in Victor Harbor, The Kaurna Circle and Karrawirra Parinangku at the University of Adelaide, Tonsley Innovation District, Glenelg’s Jetty Rd Master Plan, and Ikara at Wilpena Pound.
Renewal SA has also enlisted South Australian architects Grieve Gillett to investigate a range of community-friendly options for the adaptive reuse of the Murray House and the community is being asked for its input and ideas for its future use.
The Magill site was transferred to Renewal SA in late 2023, after the state government bought the entire campus, as part of the university merger between The University of Adelaide and UniSA.
UniSA has a lease for up to 10 years on the main campus site, west of St Bernards Road, before transitioning out of the area. A second 3-hectare parcel of land, east of St Bernards Road has been leased back to the university for the next two to three years. It is not envisaged that any development will occur ahead of the current leases held by the university expiring or the university vacating.
The Renewal SA community engagement online portal can be accessed at https://renewalsa.mysocialpinpoint.com.