Fair Go for Our Regions: Southern Expressway extension would bring real estate, tourism boom, Fleurieu community says
Extending the Southern Expressway would drive extra tourism and real estate investment paving the way for an economic boom on the Fleurieu Peninsula, locals say.
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Extending the Southern Expressway would drive extra tourism and real estate investment, paving the way for an economic boom on the Fleurieu Peninsula, locals say.
Alexandrina Council chief executive Glenn Rappensberg is calling upon the state and federal governments to devise a plan to extend the expressway further south from Noarlunga Downs — at least to Willunga Hill and eventually, beyond Mt Compass.
An extension to Willunga Hill would allow motorists to get from his Goolwa-based district to Adelaide in under an hour, he says, rather than the current 75 minutes, encouraging more people to live in and around the river port town.
“For a sea-change or tree-change community, it would be a first choice destination for housing,” Mr Rappensberg said.
“It’s about sustainable growth from a population and economic perspective.
“By extending it to Willunga Hill, you also provide faster access to McLaren Vale for overseas visitors.”
Kym Burke, managing director of Burke Urban Developments, is among those looking to develop land north of Goolwa for housing.
Alexandrina Council is working on a rezoning plan that could eventually make way for hundreds of extra homes.
Mr Burke said extending the Southern Expressway would make it easier for new residents to get to work in the city or southern suburbs.
“It would be a big thing for the South Coast generally — for the whole district,” Mr Burke said.
“Providing better access to Adelaide, Noarlunga, industrial areas and the Adelaide Hills would be a real plus.
“(The) council and other land owners in that growth area are keen for the rezoning to happen so more development can happen in this district and if it was supported by road upgrades, that would make everyone’s job a lot easier.”
Victor Harbor man Mark Taplin is working on a subdivision in his home town and agreed a Southern Expressway extension would drive interest in real estate along the coast.
He had spoken to many people based in Adelaide who said the travel time to Victor Harbor and bottlenecks and safety issues on local roads, were among the biggest factors discouraging them from either visiting more regularly or moving there after retirement.
“They say, ‘What a lovely spot, but the commute time is a real killer’,” Mr Taplin said.
Suzanne Warmer, who owns Mt Jagged Wines just south of Mt Compass, agreed an extension to the Southern Expressway would draw more tourists.
“It would certainly encourage people because they would see it as being a faster trip,” Mrs Warmer said. A shorter drive would particularly attract people living on the northern side of Adelaide, she said.
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the Government had not done a feasibility study into extending the Southern Expressway, but “it could be looked at into the future”.
“We have committed $305 million to the duplication of Main South Rd between Seaford and Sellicks Beach, which will reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety,” Mr Knoll said.
“The State Government is also exploring ways we can improve Victor Harbor Rd, which coupled with the upgrades to Main South Rd, will help with economic growth in the region.”
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
Seal our roads so everyone can enjoy places like this …
TOURIST operators have called on the State Government to make improving roads to rural destinations a key plank of future planning.
SA Tourism Industry Council chief Shaun de Bruyn said roads played a critical role in allowing tourists to experience the wide variety SA had to offer.
“Getting around our state doing lots of different visitor experiences depends on good infrastructure and roads are a critical element of that,” he said. “We also know that when a government invests in key road infrastructure, this has a significant benefit in terms of the way in which visitors will move around regional areas.
“That will then influence their spending patterns.”
Flinders Ranges tourist operators have reported a increases of up to 80 per cent in visitor numbers since the road between Wilpena Pound and Blinman was sealed in 2010.
Flinders Ranges Tourism Operators Association chairperson Michelle Reynolds said numbers had increased enough to prompt new tourist operators to open their doors.
The Blinman township now boasted a cafe, hotel, mobile catering service, accommodation, an air charter company and its own waste management services.
More than 10,000 people have now visited Blinman’s historic underground mine and Skytrek Willow Springs station, between Wilpena and Blinman, had recorded an 80 per cent rise in patronage.
Miss Reynolds, also the owner Skytrek Willow Springs, said before the road was sealed many Flinders Ranges stations were seen as purely four-wheel-drive, off-road destinations.
“Charter coach companies were reluctant to come into the area due to the risk of damaging the vehicles or tyres and caravans were non-existent north of Wilpena,” she said.
“Today, our visitors consist of two-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, four-wheel drives and coaches.
“Operators have increased their facilities to meet the needs of budget travellers and the high-end market.
“The Flinders Ranges has more to offer now than we ever have before.”
Miss Reynolds said the sealing of the road, and subsequent improved services, also offered mental health benefits for locals, especially during times of drought.
Flinders tourist operators are now pushing to seal the road from Blinman to Parachilna, to open up a full loop of sealed road from Hawker and have backed a State Government push to seal the Strzelecki Track between Lyndhurst and the SA-Queensland border.
Economic modelling has shown sealing the track could contribute $1.4 billion to the state’s economy.
SA Tourism Commission has visited 16 regional centres since October meeting with locals and tourist operators as it prepares a long-term plan geared towards 2030.
The quality of roads in the regions has been a consistent discussion point at these meetings.
— Paul Ashenden
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