Blackwood land sale September 2016 to July 2026

Contents

• Executive summary
• Timeline
• 2011
• 13 September 2016
• 13 December 2016
• 2016-2017
• 24 October 2017
• 2017-18
• February 2019
• October-November 2019
• March 2020
• 20 August 2020
• 2020
• 2021
• 8 February 2022
• 2022
• 28 February 2023
• 14 March 2023
• August 2023
• 7 November 2023
• 28 November 2023
• 23 July 2024 (session dated 18 July 2024)
• 12 November 2024
• 1 April 2025
• 5 August 2025
• 25 November 2025 (session document dated 2 December 2025)
• 27 January 2026
• 10 February 2026
• 24 February 2026
• Key findings
• Open questions

Executive summary

The sale of Council-owned land at 207-211 and 213-217 Main Road, Blackwood (comprising the former Blackwood Library and an adjoining plant-nursery site) is the culmination of more than a decade of strategic planning for the Blackwood Centre. Council's engagement with the precinct began with a 2011 decision to co-locate a new library and activity centre on Council-owned Main Road land, was rescinded in 2016 in favour of a Young Street co-location, and evolved through the Spatial Vision and Growth Precincts Development Plan Amendment (DPA) process (2017-2020), the construction of the Tiwu Kumangka (Blackwood Hub) community facility (2021-2023), and a 2020 in-principle Council decision to sell 207-215 Main Road [1][2][3][5][8][30].

The formal land sale process was authorised at the 14 March 2023 Council meeting, when Council resolved (by a 7-5 division) to offer the subject land for sale via an open-market Expression of Interest (EOI) process, favouring multi-storey mixed-use redevelopment over single-use "big box" outcomes [6]. Marketing was undertaken by Leedwell Property with an EOI closing on 8 September 2023 [12][23][27], and the matter has since been the subject of a series of confidential Council briefings and agenda items running from November 2023 through to February 2026, none of which have yet publicly disclosed the identity of a purchaser, a final sale price, or a settlement date [7][13][16][17][18][21][25].

Timeline

2011

Council resolved to co-locate a new library and activity centre on Council-owned land on Main Road, Blackwood [3].

13 September 2016

Council provided direction (referenced in the 13 December 2016 agenda) regarding the Blackwood Activity Centre building and Waite Reserve Precinct, which subsequent decisions were made consistent with [1]. According to the later Blackwood Land Use Timeline briefing, the 2011 decision to co-locate the library and activity centre on Main Road was rescinded in 2016, in favour of co-locating the new library and community centre on Young Street [3].

13 December 2016

Item 13 of the Council agenda proposed that Administration develop a concept plan for the Blackwood Activity Centre building at Young Street (including integration of a Toy Library) and a Landscape Masterplan for the Waite Reserve Precinct, both to give consideration to parking and traffic movement, and both to commence only when connectivity in the District Centre was assured [1]. The proposal also included approaching the City of Onkaparinga about involvement in funding discussions, undertaking community consultation once the plans were endorsed, and endorsing up to $45,000 ($30,000 for the Activity Centre Concept Plan and $15,000 for the Waite Reserve Masterplan) for inclusion at Budget Review 2, while noting that developing the plans did not commit Council to implementing or funding the projects [1].

2016-2017

During this period Council successfully negotiated the option to purchase the portion of land linking Young Street and the western side of Foodland in Blackwood, exercised in September 2017 [1].

24 October 2017

Council endorsed budgeted Operating Project funding of $45,000 for the Blackwood Community Hub conceptual plan and the Waite Reserve Landscape Masterplan (the "Blackwood Hub"), incorporated within a revised 2017/18 budget reflecting a revised headline operating surplus of $20,000 and a net capital works program of $34,705,000 [1].

2017-18

Council consulted with the community on the preparation of a Spatial Vision for the City of Mitcham and associated Precinct Structure Plans, identifying areas for growth and areas where character should be protected; this process led to five key growth precincts being proposed for policy reform, including Blackwood Centre [5][8][30].

February 2019

Council commenced the Growth Precincts Development Plan Amendment (DPA) to implement the Spatial Vision by amending policies controlling development within the growth precincts [5][8][30].

October-November 2019

Consultation on the DPA was undertaken over an eight-week period, receiving more than 250 submissions. Following consultation, the DPA was amended to respond to key concerns before being lodged for Ministerial approval [5][8][30].

March 2020

The final draft Growth Precincts DPA, endorsed by Council, was lodged with the Minister for Planning for approval [30].

20 August 2020

The Growth Precincts DPA was approved and gazetted, introducing new zoning across the four growth precincts including Blackwood Centre, such as a Mixed Use Zone along a portion of Main Road and Coromandel Parade (seeking medium-rise mixed-use buildings up to three storeys with active ground-floor uses and residential above), a Suburban Neighbourhood Zone near the main shopping and commercial area (minimum allotment 350sqm, maximum two storeys), and District Centre Zone provisions [5][8][30]. The Blackwood Centre subject land was itself included within the DPA and subject to rezoning [10][21][25].

2020

A motion was carried by Council in relation to in-principle support for the future sale of 207-215 Main Road, Blackwood, in a manner and time of Council's choosing [3].

2021

Council's 2021/22 Annual Business Plan (ABP) direction included the existing Blackwood Library site as part of a target for $6 million of asset sales [3]. At its 23 February 2021 meeting, Council endorsed a design for the Blackwood Community Hub at a value of $12 million [2]. At its 25 May 2021 meeting, within Item 9.8 Decision 2, Council resolved that a Quarterly Progress Information Report would be provided to Council as the Blackwood Community Hub Project progressed [2].

8 February 2022

Item 9.2, "Blackwood Community Hub - Quarterly Progress Update", was presented to Council covering progress from October 2021 to January 2022, with a decision proposed regarding seeking financial commitment from Boothby and Waite electoral candidates for the (unfunded) Waite Street Reserve Redevelopment Project [2]. Two options were put to Council: Option 1 (staff recommendation) to write to both candidates seeking financial commitment, or Option 2 to not write to the candidates [2]. The report noted the project was bound by a total budget of $12 million and an endorsed concept design, and recorded that Federal funding of $5 million and State funding of $3.5 million had been secured, together with Council funding of $3.5 million new capital and $710,000 recurrent operating within the Long-Term Financial Plan [2]. As this is an agenda item, the outcome of Council's vote on these options is not shown in the material provided.

2022

Construction of Tiwu Kumangka (the Blackwood Hub) started, with an estimated project completion of August 2023 [3].

28 February 2023

An Information Session was held covering "Council landholdings at 207-215 Main Road Blackwood (including Blackwood Library)", intended to provide elected members with a land-use planning overview of these landholdings and to seek feedback on a proposed sale, presented by Craig Harrison, Alex Mackenzie and Ben Hignett [4]. A companion "Blackwood Land Use - Timeline" briefing document set out the sequence of decisions from 2011 to 2022 described above, and identified Council's broader "Investment in Place" portfolio in the precinct: Tiwu Kumangka (Blackwood Hub), Waite Street Reserve, Young Street, Edward Street car park, the walkway and shops, and Drake's loading bay [3].

14 March 2023

At Item 10.7, "Blackwood Land Sale", Council first moved into confidence: Cr Tilley moved, seconded by Cr Moss, that Attachment A and discussion relating to it be kept confidential under Section 90(2) and (3)(b)(i)&(ii) and ordered confidential under Section 91(7), to be released when no longer prejudicial to Council's commercial position — specifically following sale and transfer of the land — and that the CEO be authorised to review or revoke the order; this was carried unanimously [6]. Following discussion in confidence, the meeting resumed public session and Council considered the substantive decision on the sale. Cr McCarthy moved, seconded by Cr Tilley, that the CEO be authorised to formally offer 207-211 Main Road Blackwood (Certificates of Title 5268/098 and 5268/097) and 213-217 Main Road Blackwood (Certificates of Title 5798/793 and 5592/760) for sale via an EOI process on the open market, with the EOI documentation to express that Council would favour proposals delivering multi-storey mixed-use development with an activated Main Road frontage and multiple commercial tenancies, a range of apartment sizes and choices including affordable housing, a high-quality sustainable design recognising Blackwood's unique urban attributes, and an on-ground development outcome within three years, balanced against financial return to Council; conversely the EOI was to signal that single-use/single-tenancy "big box" development would not be favoured [6]. A division was called by Councillor Morrison; the motion carried 7 votes to 5, with Crs Bange, Bhagat, George, McCarthy, Moss, Tilley and Wells voting in favour and Crs Hockley, Greenshields, Kruse, Morrison and Todd voting against [6].

August 2023

A property marketing brief prepared by Leedwell Property (dated August 2023, later reproduced as Attachment items presented to Council in November 2023 and again in February 2026) described the offering of 207-217 Main Road Blackwood as a 5,000sqm development parcel at the corner of Main Road and Carr Street, comprising the plant-nursery site (short-term lease, holding income of $55,576 p.a., vacant possession achievable with two months' notice) and the soon-to-be-relocated Blackwood public library [11][12][22][23][24][26][27][28]. The brief noted benefits of the Urban Corridor (Living) zone and development potential for multi-level, mixed-use residential and commercial development, and listed nearby amenities including Coles, Aldi, Mitre 10, Tiwu Kumangka, Drakes, Blackwood Railway Station and Woolworths [12][24][28]. The property was offered by EOI closing Friday, 8 September 2023 at 3pm (ACST) [12][23][27].

7 November 2023

An Information Session included a confidential item, "Blackwood Land Sale", providing a confidential briefing of the final shortlisted EOI proponents for the Blackwood Land Sale process, followed by a facilitated table discussion; the public was excluded under Sections 90(3)(d) and (ii) of the Local Government Act 1999 on the basis of commercial information concerning offers received for 207-211 and 213-217 Main Road Blackwood. Presenters were Anneke Polkamp, Alex Mackenzie, Geoff Hayter and Andrew Zammit [7].

28 November 2023

At Item 4.1, Council received supporting material including "Spatial Vision and Blackwood Growth Precinct" background repeating the DPA history and gazettal date of 20 August 2020 [8], and Attachment A setting out desired redevelopment outcomes and presenting two proposed options to Council: Option 2 ("Proceed to Market with Council to Amend the Desired Outcomes") and Option 3 ("Proceed to Market Seeking Outcomes Consistent with Current Zoning"), each proposing that the CEO be authorised to formally offer the subject land for sale via EOI, that a further report be brought back to Council on the EOI outcomes and next steps, and that $25,000 be reallocated from the Planning Policy Budget to fund the marketing campaign (as previously identified through the 2021/22 ABP process) [9]. Supporting Attachment B, "Blackwood Centre - Land Sale Update & Strategic Overview", reiterated that the Growth Precincts DPA had rezoned the subject land and that Council's public-space investment was beginning to stimulate aligned private investment in the Centre [10]. The Leedwell property brief materials (Introduction, Closing and other sections) were also presented as attachments [11][12]. As this is agenda/supporting material, no minuted decision from this meeting is included in the record provided.

23 July 2024 (session dated 18 July 2024)

An Information Session agenda listed a confidential item, "Confidential Item: Blackwood Land Sale", for a confidential briefing of proposed concept plans from the preferred purchaser for the land at 207-211 and 213-217 Main Road Blackwood, with the public excluded under Sections 90(3)(d) and (ii) of the Local Government Act 1999. Presenters were Craig Harrison, Geoff Hayter and Andrew Zammit [13]. The same session also covered an operational update and a presentation on Sporting Leases and Licence Policy [13].

12 November 2024

At Item 10.5, "Blackwood Centre", Council supporting material described the site's zoning (Suburban Activity Centre and Urban Corridor (Living)), noted that Blackwood Centre had been a strategic focus of Council for many years with Council-led projects now catalysing private development, and observed that the CFS had expressed concern about higher densities in the area during the Growth Precincts DPA engagement and might not have changed its position given updated bushfire mapping [14]. At Item 12.1, under Goal 3, Council's key projects report identified the "Blackwood Stage 1: Blackwood Movement Strategy/Study" and "Blackwood Stage 2: Main Road, Blackwood Enhancement Project" as commenced, with scoping underway to develop a Project and Resourcing Plan [15].

1 April 2025

An Information Session included a confidential item, "Blackwood Land Sale", to provide Council Members an update on the Blackwood Land Sales process involving the sale of property at 207-211 and 215-217 Main Road, Blackwood, presented by Craig Harrison; the public was excluded under Sections 90(3)(d) and (ii) of the Local Government Act 1999 [16]. The same session also covered a Customer Communications Team update and an overview of the draft 2025/26 Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long Term Financial Plan [16].

5 August 2025

An Information Session included a Property Update presented by Anneke Polkamp and Elias Khoury, followed by a confidential item, "Blackwood Land Sale", providing an update on the sale process for 207-211 and 215-217 Main Road, Blackwood, presented by Craig Harrison, with the public excluded under Sections 90(3)(d) and (ii) [17].

25 November 2025 (session document dated 2 December 2025)

An Information Session included confidential items on "Blackwood Land Sale" (update on the sale process for 207-211 and 215-217 Main Road, Blackwood, presented by Craig Harrison) and "Centennial Park Cemetery Authority - Strategic Plan and Masterplan" (initial engagement presented by Nadia Andjelkovic and Todd Davies), both excluded from public attendance under Sections 90(3)(d)(i) and (ii); the session also covered a Bushfire Risk and Prevention Plan overview presented by Henry Mitchell and Brian Green [18].

27 January 2026

At Item 14.1, Cr Tom Morrison's questions dated 9 December 2025 regarding Blackwood Stage 1 and Stage 2 were answered: the Blackwood Movement Strategy was reported to be in the procurement stage, with a detailed scope document developed and a request for quote issued to selected organisations; award of the consultancy was anticipated in January/February 2026, with the study expected to take 4-6 months from award, and its outcomes were to inform potential Main Road enhancement proposals under Stage 2 [19][20].

10 February 2026

At Item 10.3, Council supporting material again presented "Blackwood Centre - Land Sale Update & Strategic Overview" (reiterating the DPA rezoning and stimulation of private investment) [21], together with the Leedwell property brief's Introduction, Closing, and Method of Sale/Location sections describing the 5,000sqm corner site, its Urban Corridor (Living) zoning, holding income of $55,576 p.a. from the nursery lease, and proximity to Coles, Aldi, Mitre 10, Tiwu Kumangka, Drakes, the railway station and Woolworths [22][23][24]. Per the prior answer record, this item was addressed in confidence, consistent with the ongoing Section 91(7) confidentiality order first made on 14 March 2023.

24 February 2026

At Item 4.1, the same set of "Blackwood Centre - Land Sale Update & Strategic Overview" and Leedwell property brief materials (Introduction, Closing, Method of Sale/Location) were again presented to Council [25][26][27][28]. As with 10 February 2026, this item was handled under confidentiality consistent with the standing Section 91(7) order.

Key findings

• Council's Blackwood land sale traces back to a 2011 decision to co-locate a library and activity centre on Main Road, rescinded in 2016 in favour of a Young Street co-location, which set the stage for the eventual decision to dispose of the Main Road land [1][3].
• The Growth Precincts DPA, gazetted 20 August 2020, rezoned the subject land at 207-217 Main Road and underpins the marketed development potential for multi-storey mixed-use redevelopment [5][8][10][21][25][29][30].
• Council's substantive decision to sell was made on 14 March 2023, authorising an open-market EOI process and articulating clear preferred and disfavoured development outcomes; the decision was carried by division, 7 votes to 5 [6].
• The subject land was marketed by Leedwell Property from around August 2023, with an EOI closing 8 September 2023, as a 5,000sqm corner site with development potential for multi-level, mixed-use residential and commercial use [11][12][22][23][24][26][27][28].
• Since November 2023, Council has managed the transaction almost entirely in confidence, with a run of confidential information-session updates (November 2023, July 2024, April 2025, August 2025, November/December 2025) and confidential agenda items (10 and 24 February 2026), all under a standing Section 91(7) confidentiality order made 14 March 2023 [6][7][13][16][17][18][21][25].
• The Blackwood Community Hub (Tiwu Kumangka), Waite Street Reserve, and Blackwood Stage 1/2 Movement Strategy and Main Road Enhancement Project are related but administratively distinct precinct initiatives that intersect with the land sale strategy but were pursued under separate funding and decision streams [1][2][3][14][15][19][20].

Open questions

• The material does not show the outcome of the 8 February 2022 vote on whether Council would write to Boothby and Waite electoral candidates seeking funding for the Waite Street Reserve Redevelopment Project [2].
• The identity of the preferred purchaser and/or successful EOI respondent for 207-211 and 213-217 Main Road Blackwood is not disclosed in the material, despite reference to "the preferred purchaser" briefing in July 2024 [13].
• No final sale price, contract terms, or settlement/transfer date for the Blackwood land sale appears anywhere in the record provided.
• The minuted decisions (if any) taken during the confidential sessions of 7 November 2023, 23 July 2024, 1 April 2025, 5 August 2025, 25 November 2025, 10 February 2026 and 24 February 2026 are not available in this material, since these were confidential briefings/items under Section 90(3)(d) exclusions.
• It is unclear whether the property address discrepancy between "213-217 Main Road" (used in the March 2023 decision and November 2023 items) and "215-217 Main Road" (used from April 2025 onward) reflects a title correction, a typographical variation, or an actual change in the land parcels involved.
• The connection between the Blackwood Stage 1/2 Movement Strategy and Main Road Enhancement Project and the land sale process (if any) is not explicitly addressed in the record.
• No document in the record confirms whether or when the standing Section 91(7) confidentiality order has been revoked following completion of the sale.

Regenerated 20 July 2026 at 03:44 pm ACST — re-run with the current model from a report originally created 20 July 2026 at 08:13 am ACST.