MAB Moves Adelaide South Coast Masterplan Forward

MAB’s plans to convert a coastal Adelaide oil refinery site into a masterplaned community are moving ahead after a code amendment approval.

The plans for the 230ha site are also now on public exhibition.

Proposed for Port Stanvac are up to 3600 homes, 64ha of employment land including a neighbourhood centre, and almost a third of the site dedicated to open space, including 40ha of coastline and a pool near the old wharf. 

MAB, led by Michael and Andrew Buxton, entered into a contract for sale with the Port Stanvac site owner ExxonMobil in November.

The masterplan’s public release coincides with the approval of the Proposal to Initiate the Port Stanvac Mixed Use Code Amendment to allow for planning. 

Operations ceased at the Adelaide refinery in 2003 and it was demolished in 2014. In 2019 ExxonMobil proposed it to be used for future industrial use.

However the site, 25km south of the CBD and next to Lonsdale train station, was identified as having potential for a new community in the drafting of the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan.

For the developer, the project is second only to its 780ha business park outside Melbourne at Greater Avalon. 

▲ Aerial rendering of the MAB masterplan for the former oil refinery site at Port Stanvac, 25km from the Adelaide CBD.

MAB managing director Andrew Buxton said it was an incredible opportunity to open up a unique part of Adelaide’s coastline.

“Approval of our code amendment initiation proposal supports another major step toward delivering our vision for Port Stanvac,” Buxton said.

“Our vision is a new community for Adelaide, comprising much needed housing, strategically located employment land and opening community access to the beach.”

South Australia premier Nick Champion said the approval pushed the project from a concept to a work in progress.

“The transformation of Port Stanvac will set a new benchmark for how we can repurpose underutilised land,” Champion said.

“We are committed to ensuring that this development not only delivers homes and jobs, but also returns a beautiful stretch of our coastline to the community for everyone to enjoy.”