The company behind X Convenience service stations may abandon its plans to build a new outlet in Elizabeth East.
Andrash Pty Ltd’s has had development approval since August 6 last year to convert the ageing Elizabeth East Shopping Centre into a burger bar, supermarket and X Convenience petrol station.
The proposal at 53 Midway Road was approved by both Playford Council and the State Government’s respective assessment panels.
However, the project has not begun and Andrash’s development approval consent has since lapsed, a new council report reveals.
A company spokeswoman said it may now walk away from the site completely amid tension with a Playford councillor and commercial tenants, who say the site has not been maintained to an adequate standard by Andrash.
The spokeswoman said the company was exploring its options.
“We are looking at placing this property on the market as it is not viable for us anymore,” she said.
“From taking over the centre we have had nothing but complaints in regards to its condition.
“We purchased the property to redevelop it and not to spend thousands on it.
“We have been maintaining the status quo and repairing what is brought to our attention.”
She said more than half of the businesses had deserted the ageing centre, which was built in 1961, leaving just a supermarket, post office and a hairdresser.
“All the empty shops have been vacated with tenants in arrears up to tens of thousands of dollars which we have not pursued in courts,” she said.
She said it was more “viable” to place the property on the market than to continue, but it would still apply for an extension to its development consent.
“We believe that this location is perfect for our offer and from the feedback we have had from the community they can’t wait for us to develop the site,” she said.
The council said its attempts to discuss its future plans with the company have not yet been answered, the report reveals.
Meanwhile, Playford councillor Akram Arifi said the site had become “tired and … dilapidated”.
He said local traders had concerns with unsafe pavements, a lack of rubbish collection services, inadequate cleaning services and car park maintenance, weeds growing around the centre and boarded up shop windows.
“It’s extremely disappointing to see X Convenience ignore the request of its tenants who desperately need help and need the landlord to invest some money into the centre,” Cr Arifi said.
“Important maintenance work around the shops and rubbish collection services must be provided to these businesses to ensure the centre is clean and an appealing place for customers to do their shopping.
“The local small business tenants and the community deserve better.”
In 2018, traders opposed the plan to build a petrol station at the site and gathered a 2000-signature petition against the development.
However, the Andrash spokeswoman said the company had spent money on fixing fences, pavements and replacing bitumen while maintaining the gardens on a monthly basis.
“At no point have we not fixed maintenance we have spent more fixing it in the last six months than what we have collected in rent,” she said.
Issues with ablution facilities and onsite waste storage have been resolved, the council report reads.
Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said he wanted to see all local shopping centres thriving.
“Council welcomes the opportunity to work with centre owners, we encourage and welcome private development in our local community,” Mr Docherty said.
Extracted in full from: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/north-northeast/x-convenience-may-abandon-plans-for-a-service-station-at-elizabeth-east-shopping-centre/news-story/997b8ccec89e113753eb96e2ebcb8d3d
