PLANS for a $650 million, 1800-home development at Mount Barker have sparked a huge backlash from advertiser.com.au readers.

Dozens of readers have posted comments below or on The Advertiser Facebook site, to voice their concerns.

Many said public transport would have to be changed to support the ensuing population explosion.

John posted this comment below: “Here are some facts to consider, firstly on average every dwelling will generate two cars, subsequently the 1800 dwellings will introduce 3600 extra vehicles daily onto the Freeway along with the trucks. Regardless of how many extra ramps and interchanges built those extra vehicles will travel along the Freeway from Mt. Barker, through the tunnels and then primarily along Glen Osmond Road to the city.”

Brett said: “This development shouldn’t go ahead unless the government commits to extend the Adelaide Metro train line to Mount Barker. Without a train link, the congestion on the roads in and around Mt Barker will be unbearable.”

Others bemoaned the loss of farmland. Sonya wrote: “So let’s just build houses on our best farming land. Who is going to be able to grow our veg and fruit now?”

Others mocked the proposed block sizes. Geoff used the Pete Seeger song to make his point:

“Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes made of ticky tacky

Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes all the same,

There’s a pink one and a green one

And a blue one and a yellow one

And they’re all made out of ticky tacky

And they all look just the same”

However, not all the reaction has been negative - Rick wrote: “Looks like a well planned and thought out development that will create jobs,good community facilities and a mixture of housing opportunities. I’m getting sick of all the negative Mark Parnell supporters.”

And Elizabeth King poted on Facebook: “Great idea, Adelaide has so much potential - pity the Labor Government didn’t invest in our local infrastructure like this a few years ago.”

READ ALL the comments below and have your say here or on our Facebook page

Developers are promising business and public infrastructure to support the plans.

Aston Hills, to be created by Lanser Communities, is to be built on 12ha and will be one of the largest developments of its kind in the Adelaide Hills.

The push for larger developments in the area has divided the community and a group of residents last month unsuccessfully demanded that Premier Jay Weatherill launch a royal commission into planning processes.

The new development will be situated east of Paech Rd, near the Mount Barker Golf Club, and will include a business and retail centre, parks, walking trails, bike tracks, a school and playgrounds.

It comes as a second freeway interchange will be built between Mount Barker and Nairne no matter who wins government to cater for increased congestion from population growth in Mount Barker.

The development has been approved and endorsed by the Mount Barker District Council and its first phase will include 470 mostly residential allotments.

Lanser Communities managing director Jason Green said work would start by winter.

“We’re targeting commencement in May and that will include around 60 residential allotments and part of the village centre,” Mr Green said.

“Because of the changes to the planning policy in the new growth area, we’ve got flexibility to provide medium-density allotments up to large, traditional-sized homes.

“There’ll be typical townhouse allotments starting about 6m wide and 30m deep and there will also be a mix of villa, courtyard and premium courtyard allotments, ranging from 600sq m up to 900sq m.”

Aston Hills will be completed over 15 years and Mr Green said the development would eventually support up to 5000 people.

About 15 per cent of the 1800 homes would be available for under $130,000.

“We’d like to be able to tap into the affordable housing market, because it’s undersupplied in that area,” Mr Green said.

“We expect them to be offered from $120,000 to $130,000 for an entry-level allotment for a villa and premium style allotment.

“We’re hoping that the entry-level price for a house and land package would be around the $250,000 to the $260,000 mark.”

Mr Green said the village centre would include supermarkets, cafes and businesses.

“I’d love to think there’d be an Aldi going in there and certainly we’ll be talking to them, and many others would be, but that will be for them to decide,” Mr Green said.

“Certainly a lot of people are very keen to see them introduced into the South Australian marketplace,” Mr Green said.

Mr Green said Aston Hills would likely feature a private Reception-to-Year 12 school.

Mount Barker Council chief executive officer Andrew Stuart said he supported the “environmentally sensitive and contemporary” development.

“We anticipate that construction of the initial phase alone will create hundreds of direct employment opportunities and are confident Aston Hills will go a long way to supporting council’s vision for growth of the township and attracting more people to the area,” Mr Stuart said.

Real Estate Institute of South Australia chief executive Greg Troughton said the development was needed.

“That’s a very big development for that area and we think that will further revitalise the attraction of living in the hills,” Mr Troughton said.

“Housing is one half of the equation, you’ve got to have the infrastructure.

“With the complete package up there now I would imagine that many home purchasers would be looking at that as a serious option.”

Land at Aston Hills will be released in the coming months.

To register your interest head to astonhills.com.au.