UN-RESERVED: Strathalbyn residents oppose revocation, land sales

Sissons Road residents allege their properties could be devalued by up to $75,000 if Alexandrina Council sells off the street’s reserve.

As previously reported in The Southern Argus, council sought community feedback for the revocation of the community land classification and the sale of reserves at Formby Street and Sissons Road for potential residential use.

More than 20 residents from Formby Street, Sissons Road, and neighbouring properties gathered at the reserve in protest on Friday afternoon.

In a letter addressed to council’s Manager for Property and Procurement Services, Lisa Hoyle, on May 18, Ian and Ann Johnston, who have lived on the Sissons Road since 1998, strongly opposed the proposed sell-off of the reserve for residential development.

At the top of their concerns was the impact any obscuration of the reserve’s view could have on property value.

“When we read council’s letter, dated April 26, with regards to the Sissons Rd reserve proposal, our hearts sank to think such an open space could be essentially desecrated – the same thoughts apply to the Formby Street reserve,” Mr Johnston said.

“The only reason we bought the property after just one inspection was because of the reserve, as it gave us the sense of being in the open country, with an outstanding view across the reserve to the horizon some four kilometres distant.

“A number of trees and bushes have since grown and restricted the view, but we can still see the horizon. We are obviously not fussed by nature’s growing trees, but manmade houses are certainly not on the same list.

“Any complete obscuration of our side view by houses would obviously lower the value of our property and also other properties surrounding us… a suggestion is of a devaluation of up to $75,000.

“In 1998, we were given the distinct impression this would never happen as the land had been donated to the community and would be a permanent reserve – sacrosanct so to speak.”

Among the pair’s other concerns was destruction to the local environment.

“To us, it has always been a given that housing developments have a certain percentage of green-space area to create a feeling of spaciousness for the benefit and use of the community, and to encourage the presence of small wildlife such as birds of many types and lizards,” Mr Johnston said.

“A quick count reveals there are around 40 trees and 17 bushes within the reserve, many of which would have to go to allow for the proposed four houses, garages, other out buildings, gardens, and backyards.

“The many trees provide shelter and nesting places for a large variety of birds such as magpies, kookaburras, parrots, honey-eaters, swallows, finches, blue wrens, plus lizards and geckos.

“This sort of environmental destruction is most undesirable to us and most locals, and doesn’t seem to be in keeping with council’s environmental policies.”

A report with the public consultation outcomes is expected to be brought to council in June.

“At this stage, council has undertaken a public consultation process in order to gauge the community’s feedback on the revocation of the community land status for the purpose of sale of 4 Formby Street and 3 Sissons Road, Strathalbyn,” a council spokesperson said.

“Public consultation commenced on April 28, 2022 and closed May 20, 2022. “Significant feedback has been received, and council thanks the community for their participation in this consultation.”