Media response - Pizzateca development

Published on 23 August 2024

Response to The Advertiser.

• The journalist asked for comments about the function centre development plans from Pizzateca in McLaren Vale and "subsequent frustration from local residents and business owners".

The independent Council Assessment Panel granted planning consent for the Pizzateca application at its 11 November 2021 meeting after assessing the application in accordance with the state’s Planning and Design Code. The agenda and minutes of the Council Assessment Panel are available for viewing on the council’s website at

https://www.onkaparingacity.com/Council/Council-and-committees/Agendas-and-Minutes/CAP/CAP-Meeting-11-November-2021.

Residents were informed of the panel’s decision on 15 November 2021 and this document included information relating to appeal rights.

The application is for the construction of new restaurant and function centre building, amenities, atrium and cellar with associated carpark and retaining walls. We request that you speak to the applicant before publishing any copyrighted image.

In relation to residents’ concerns about traffic and noise, the applicant was required to provide both a traffic management plan and an acoustic engineer’s report. These reports were considered by the Council Assessment Panel and copies of these reports are included in the above agenda.

On operational commencement of the function centre, excessive noise or noise outside approved times can be reported to the council for investigation by our development compliance officers and penalties apply as specified under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

The council has spoken with concerned residents and they have been informed of the opportunity to appeal the decision of the Council Assessment Panel. In general terms, the rights of third parties (i.e. neighbours or objectors) to appeal against planning decisions are limited under planning legislation. However, where a person feels aggrieved about the process adopted by the relevant authority (as opposed to the merits of the decision), there may be opportunity to seek judicial review of the decision. Usually, that involves commencing proceedings in the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Council itself does not have the powers to reverse or rescind a planning decision in any circumstance.

We recommend you contact the applicant for further detail of the proposed function centre as a number of variations have been proposed to the built form.

ENDS