Arabic version: الحكومة تعلن الاستحواذ القسري على موقع مدرسة في ماونت باركر
Developers and the owners of a Mount Barker restaurant say they were shocked after the South Australian government moved to compulsorily acquire the land to build a new school.
According to ABC News, the state will acquire a 5.5-hectare parcel to host a co-located preschool and primary school as part of a $61.1 million build. The government said the primary school would have capacity for 350 students and the preschool would provide up to 100 additional places; construction is expected to start in 2028 and finish in time for the 2030 school year. Minister for Education Lucy Hood said a dedicated case worker will meet with Wok the Duck co-owner David Keir early next week and that compensation would be considered as part of the compulsory acquisition process.
Aston Hills Mount Barker developer Lanser said it had worked on a master plan for more than 16 years and that the acquisition would mean the loss of up to 150 new homes, trees, a new reserve and the Thai restaurant Wok the Duck. Lanser said the acquisition was pursued “without notice or consultation, despite our longstanding engagement with the department and our efforts to identify suitable alternative sites.” The developer called the decision “not in the best interest of Aston Hills and the broader Mount Barker community.”
Wok the Duck co-owners, David Keir and Ebony Moyle, said they opened the business two years ago after selling their family home and had a nine-year lease on the building. They posted online that they only found out on Wednesday they were going to be “booted out,” and described the situation as heartbreaking. Mr Keir said the restaurant had become a community hub, hosting markets, music and regular giveaways.
Why this matters: the acquisition affects planned housing, local green space and a community business while the government says the project is intended to boost enrolment capacity in a rapidly growing region. The dispute highlights competing priorities between long-term development plans by a private developer and urgent state infrastructure needs.
What happens next: the education minister has arranged for a case worker to meet the restaurant owners early next week to discuss supports and possible compensation. Opposition education spokesperson Heidi Girolamo has asked the government to detail what consultation took place, and Acting Premier Kyam Maher said departments had considered where community infrastructure should be built and that the Department for Infrastructure and Transport worked closely with those affected by compulsory acquisitions.
Related sections: Australia/استراليا | South Australia | General | Social/إجتماعية
