THE fight to save Glenside’s open space from almost wall-to-wall housing has triggered a show of force from residents, MPs and councillors this weekend.

Liberal MPs David Pisoni and Vickie Chapman are calling on residents to turn up en masse this weekend to protest against the sale of 17ha of land at the former Glenside Hospital site, announced in December.

Renewal SA, which is handling the Glenside sale for the State Government, is hosting an on-site open day on Saturday to hear community feedback on the housing plan.

Mr Pisoni and Mrs Chapman have delivered flyers to thousands of nearby houses urging residents to turn up at 10am to protest the land sale.

Mr Pisoni, the Member for Unley, said residents had stopped a proposed expansion of Frewville Shopping Centre onto Glenside Hospital land in 2013 and they could do it again.

“We want to send a very strong message to government that we don’t want the land sold off,” Mr Pisoni said.

“There will be a long-term process for the government and hopefully it will be a decision that can be changed in 2018 (after the next election).”

Mrs Chapman, the Member for Bragg, said “a massive extra number of residents” would create huge traffic problems in the area.

“Unless the government is living in fantasy land where everyone is going to walk or ride a bicycle, we’re going to have a significant problem,” Mrs Chapman said.

Burnside Residents Group, Burnside Mayor David Parkin and three councillors met with Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon last Monday to hear more about their plans for the site.

Residents’ group president Anna Sullivan said her preference was for the site “to remain as is” but they were keen for people to come along and have their say at the open day.

“One of our biggest concerns is the design — what is developed there should complement the historic buildings that are there,” Dr Sullivan said.

Group member John Schneider, who was part of the campaign against the Frewville Shopping Centre expansion, was doubtful the government would listen to locals’ concerns.

“I’m convinced that no matter what people want to do and how much people want to oppose it (the sale), the government will go ahead with it,” Mr Schneider said.

Eastwood and Glenunga Ward councillor Helga Lemon urged as many people as possible to attend the open day.

“With these consultations it’s the usual suspects who turn up and say the usual things,” Cr Lemon said.

“We need as many residents of this town to come along and have their say about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.”

Mr Hanlon said results of the consultation were “central to the successful redevelopment of the area”.

But the consultation would not be about whether or not the land should be developed.

Planning Minister John Rau said people entering into agreements with a government were entitled to expect that the agreement would be honoured, even if the government changed.

“No rational developer would agree to enter into an agreement with the government in circumstance that permitted a future government to unilaterally tear the agreement up — that would be absurd,” Mr Rau said.

The open day is at Glenside Hospital, Fullarton Rd, Glenside, on Saturday, 10am-2pm.

People can also participate in an online survey at www.renewalsa.sa.gov.au/glenside until March 9.