his restaurant would make way for the school<\/a>.<\/p>\nA day later, on Thursday last week, Education Minister Lucy Hood confirmed the site of the $61.1m primary school and preschool, which is due to open in 2030.<\/p>\n
The business owners are just a year into a 10-year lease at the site owned by Aston Hills developer Lanser. <\/p>\n
Mr Keir told FIVEAA breakfast on Monday morning he would do everything he could to stop the new school taking over his business and said the community support had been overwhelming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe petition\u2019s gone crazy, we\u2019ve had thousands and thousands just through our shop alone and we put the petition up as a PDF so people can download,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are contacting us from the UK wanting to sign a petition (after) reading our story and not liking it. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe state government thinks they can just bully us and throw us out on the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lanser also said it was blindsided by the department\u2019s decision to acquire the site and Mr Keir thanked the developer for its support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are backing us 100 per cent and they\u2019re going to work with us \u2026 they\u2019ve been helping us out in our business, getting their hands dirty, jumping on cleaning cutlery and everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been absolutely amazing, we want them to still be our landlord.\u201d<\/p>\n
Local independent MP Kavel Matt Schultz said he had requested an urgent meeting with the minister to discuss alternate locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that there are other sites in close proximity to this one, that appear equally suitable and no require the cafe to close or relocate,\u201d Mr Schultz said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am hopeful of a win-win outcome for everyone \u2013 there is space and opportunity for both the new school and preschool to coexist without the need for the local family business to relocate.\u201d <\/p>\n
The school, first announced in 2024, will cater for 350 students and be built in Mount Barker\u2019s southeast near the Aston Hills development, off Heysen Boulevard and Aston Parade, within walking distance of The Summit oval.<\/p>\n
Last week, Mr Keir \u2013 who runs the Thai fusion restaurant with his daughter Ebony Moyle and her husband Dan Moyle \u2013 told The Advertiser establishing the business had been a major personal and financial commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spent a long time working to build, to get into a business, to have a family business, which we\u2019ve invested a lot of time and money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEbony and Daniel sold their family home to be here, to invest in there, to take the risk, to create a beautiful restaurant cafe in the beautiful Adelaide Hills for the community to come together.<\/p>\n
While the family says it supports the need for a new school in the fast-growing area, Mr Keir believes the chosen location is the wrong one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite disheartening to think that they\u2019ve chosen here. I\u2019m no civil engineer, but that\u2019s moronic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all for a school in this area. There\u2019s lots of locations that we know that would be better suited for not congesting, for infrastructure, not destroying a small business, and not destroying nature.<\/p>\n
Lanser sent a letter to residents on Monday and said it was blindsided by the department\u2019s decision to acquire land within the Aston Hills development.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were therefore deeply disappointed to learn, following more than two years without communication from the department, that a compulsory acquisition process had commenced for a site that had never previously been discussed with us,\u201d the letter said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe acquisition was pursued without notice or consultation, despite our longstanding engagement with the department and our efforts to identify suitable alternative sites.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Lanser, the site had approved planning for 100-150 homes and there were more suitable sites for the school that had not been adequately assessed by the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe this acquisition is not in the best interest of Aston Hills and the broader Mount Barker community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Education Minister Lucy Hood said her department would work closely with Wok the Duck to support its relocation over the next 18 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cA dedicated case manager will meet with Mr Keir early next week to outline help available and next steps,\u201d Ms Hood said. <\/p>\n
Ms Hood said the Department of Education and Department of Infrastructure and Transport considered 16 sites during extensive evaluations of the area. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe location identified is close to essential infrastructure and services, meets transport and parking requirements and has pedestrian and cycling links to improve community access,\u201d Ms Hood said.<\/p>\n
\u201cImportantly, the 5.5ha site provides the capacity for future enrolment growth at the school.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Adelaide Hills community has wrapped its arms around a family restaurant in the firing line as 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