South Australians’ vote of confidence in motorway design
Tom Koutsantonis MP
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure
An extensive public engagement program is underway, giving South Australians opportunities to provide valuable feedback on the revamped River Torrens to Darlington Project.
Feedback on the redesigned project, unveiled last month, has been overwhelmingly positive thus far, with a vast 71 per cent of respondents declaring themselves positive or very positive about the new plans – and more than half saying they felt more positive as a result of changes to the previous design released by the former government.
The State Government has now initiated a ‘pop-up’ information stall, which is touring four major Adelaide suburban shopping centres, as well as a series of 45-minute information sessions about the project to be held at key community centres.
People are also able to book one-to-one meetings – either in-person or via video – with project staff at venues broadly situated along the motorway’s 10.5 kilometre route.
In December, the State Government unveiled revised plans for the project that improve connectivity and safety, while safeguarding the fabric of local communities near and along the corridor.
Once finished, the co-federal-funded project will complete 78 km of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, and allow motorists to avoid 21 existing sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington.
The drive from West Hindmarsh to Darlington will take just nine minutes, saving 30 to 40 minutes of travel time during peak-hour traffic.
The ‘pop-up’ information stall at shopping centres – which includes maps, images and animations, as well as project staff on hand to answer questions – kicked off at Castle Plaza, Edwardstown last week, receiving 1707 visitors.
Many of these contributed to an ongoing survey of community responses to the project, which has yielded the following results from around 600 respondents:
Overall attitude towards project:
- 71% either positive or very positive
- 17% unsure or neutral
- 12% negative or very negative
Has your attitude changed as a result of the changes?
- 51% more positive
- 37% feel the same
- 12% more negative
How useful have you found the info available?
- 74% useful
- 20% neutral
- 6% not useful
The ‘pop-up’ stall will continue from this week at the following locations:
- Marion – 23-28 January, 9am-5pm, closed public holiday 26 January;
- Churchill Centre (Kilburn) – 30 January-4 February, 9am-5pm, extended trading Thursday; and
- Kurralta Park – 31 January-2 February, 9am-5pm, extended trading Thursday.
A total of 10 information sessions, each 45 minutes long, will be held at two venues:
- T2D Community Information Centre – 1194 South Road, Clovelly Park, on 4 and 7 February; and
- West Adelaide Football Club – Milner Road, Richmond, on 9 and 11 February.
The Project’s two drop-in Community Information Centres – the southern one on South Road at Clovelly Park and a northern one at the Brickworks Marketplace at Torrensville – have been visited by hundreds of people since their opening in December.
More details about the opening hours of the Information Centres, the schedule for the ‘pop-up’ stalls and the booking of meetings can be obtained by visiting the project website or calling 1300 951 145.
It comes as the Government introduces enhanced security measures to help maintain safety in neighbourhoods where property demolitions are underway.
In response to community concerns about break-ins, theft, graffiti and vandalism, the State Government is significantly upgrading security in streets where properties have been recently vacated or demolition works have begun.
The new measures have been rolled out in recent days and include:
- installing extra CCTV security cameras on vacant properties in Glandore;
- providing a dedicated, seven-nights-a-week Wilson Security patrol for the T2D
Project site in Glandore, as well as additional daytime patrols; and - establishing a 24/7 hotline number – 8402 1840 – direct to Wilson Security.
Details of the security measures are included in a flyer that is being letterboxed to around 700 properties.
That flyer urges locals to contact security patrols if they notice unusual or concerning behaviour at vacated properties.
Importantly, it also states that people should call police directly, on 000, if they feel at risk or are in any immediate danger.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis
The initial feedback on the redesigned River Torrens to Darlington Project that we received before the Christmas-New Year period was hugely encouraging.
It showed that South Australians have a positive attitude to the improved design for the motorway and that many have a higher opinion of the project following the announcement of the changes.
It is clear that people want to learn more about the project, and the Labor State Government is taking a fresh approach to community engagement.
We’ve improved the motorway’s design – now there’s a clear need to more effectively engage with communities on this massive once-in-a-generation initiative.
Project Team members are going to be out and about in the coming weeks – providing information, answering questions, and gaining insights into how people feel about the significant and much-needed design improvements.
This new motorway – the biggest infrastructure initiative in our state’s history – belongs to the people of South Australia and it will serve them for many generations to come. We want them to have the opportunity to learn more about what our plans are, and to become closely involved and invested in its development.
We’re already listening to feedback from communities along the corridor, and a major investment in security shows just how important this engagement is.
There have been some instances of graffiti, vandalism and break-ins at properties that are being demolished or are awaiting demolition - this sort of criminal and anti-social behaviour is totally unacceptable, and it’s being prevented and prosecuted wherever possible.
It diminishes the amenity and sense of community safety, and residents and business owners in the areas affected are right to seek additional security efforts.
Although security measures have been in place for some time, the State Government is significantly beefing up security to maximise safety and deter those who want to steal, deface or break into other people’s property.
The key State Government message to home and business owners is straightforward – ring the Security hotline for their area if they notice suspicious or concerning activity near properties and do not hesitate to call police on 000 if they feel at risk or are in any immediate danger.
Unfortunately, property acquisition and demolitions are unavoidable when it comes to building a major project of this magnitude, and the State Government is determined to support people still living and working in those neighbourhoods and help them maintain community safety and security.