Adelaide Hills Restaurant Owner Petitions Against $61.1M School Plan

An Adelaide Hills restaurant owner has launched a petition against the state government's plan to build a $61.1 million school at the site — and has likened his experience over the past week to the Australian film The Castle.

The South Australian government last week announced a preschool and primary school would be built on a 5.5-hectare parcel of land in Mount Barker's south-east, including on the site of the Thai restaurant.

The decision shocked Aston Hills Mount Barker developers Lanser, who said they had been working 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.

The Thai restaurant owners took to social media to express their dismay, explaining they had sold their family home to open the business and were just one year into a nine-year lease.

Their video has since been viewed more than 400,000 times on Facebook and co-owner David Keir said they had received support from around the world.

"The success and the support is measured in people coming in the shop," Mr Keir told 891 ABC Adelaide.

"We have had thousands, and I mean thousands, come in over the weekend — all sorts of people from everywhere.

"We're actually getting phone calls from people in the UK wanting petitions so it's not only just people in the community in the Adelaide Hills, it's people everywhere.

On Saturday, the restaurant owners launched a petition imploring the SA government to pause the proposed acquisition and to consider an alternative location.

"They said they've looked at 16 sites … I'd like them to let us know the 16 sites," Mr Keir said.

"It's actually like the Castle. To me, something doesn't smell right."

Mr Keir said he would meet with the government tomorrow.

Calls for government to consider other options

Independent MP Matt Schultz told 891 ABC Adelaide he had signed the petition and had requested a meeting with the education minister.

"I've written to the minister seeking a meeting so I can get a better understanding of what other sites had been looked at and why this one was preferred over those," he said.

Mr Schultz said Mr Keir had prepared meals for the community during the 2019 bushfires, "helped out with meals during COVID" and supported the Uniting Church with Hungry No More.

"This isn't just a cafe or a restaurant sitting on a plot of land, they’ve done a great job of supporting community over the years," Mr Schultz said.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion told 891 ABC Adelaide the issues surrounding planning in Mount Barker were well known.

"We’ll obviously work with this much-loved local restaurant," he said.

"As I understand it, the education department are going to meet with the restaurant, have a full-time person dedicated to their relocation and to assist in that."

Education Minister Lucy Hood said 16 other sites were evaluated but had not been chosen "for various reasons".

"This is about making decisions in the best long-term interest of the whole Mount Barker community," she said.

Ms Hood said the department would meet with Mr Keir to provide information about how the site was selected and the acquisition process.

Mr Keir said he did not plan to relocate.

"I'm more than happy to talk to them about relocating the school because it's an absolutely ridiculous space they've chosen," he said.