Opposition slams state government’s Hahndorf traffic fix as trees face the chop on River Road

Trees along a windy Hills road will be cut down to make room for trucks ahead of Hahndorf ban – with the Liberals saying the government’s broken a promise.

The opposition has again called on the state government to abandon its plans to divert traffic from the Hahndorf main street down nearby River Road after it was revealed trees will be cut down.

Trucks would be diverted along River Road from November 1 as part of the government’s plan to reduce heavy traffic on the tourist town’s main street.

Opposition transport spokesman Vincent Tarzia criticised planned path after the transport department revealed 27 trees would be removed to prepare the road.

Heavy vehicles will be diverted from Hahndorf's main street to river road from November 1.

Mr Tarzia said the Adelaide Hills community was being taken for “another ride”.

“Just when you thought Labor’s River Road project couldn’t get any worse, Tom Koutsantonis has done a backflip,” he said.

“Koutsantonis said there would be no trees cut down, but now we have 27 major trees that will be chopped up with a chainsaw to make way for works on a road that is too dangerous for trucks to travel along.

“River Road is a death trap waiting to happen if Tom Koutsantonis goes ahead with his shocking plan to divert up to 130 trucks down the route every day.

Heavy vehicles will be diverted from Hahndorf's main street to river road from November 1.

A spokesman from Mr Koutsantonis’ office said early advice from the department was only tree trimming was necessary, however it has since been determined removing trees at risk of becoming unstable was required.

He said no “significant or regulated” trees would be affected.

But Heysen MP Josh Teague said chopping down trees was another blow to the community.

“The local community is furious over this announcement because they were promised by Labor that no trees would be cut down – not a single one,” Mr Teague said.

“We are once again calling on Peter Malinauskas, Tom Koutsantonis and Labor to abandon their ludicrous plan to divert 130 trucks down River Road every day.

Mr Koutsantonis’ spokesman said the government had been “upfront” about its plans.

“The Liberals, who did nothing to address Hahndorf’s traffic problems except kick the can down the road, continue to cynically drum up panic and make up claims with no basis in fact,” he said.

“We have always been upfront in numerous discussions with local community members that trees may be removed as part of these improvement works.”

The spokesman said after the announcement large trucks would be restricted from entering Hahndorf, community members raised concerns about an increase in volume of heavy vehicles using River Road.

“We have listened to the community’s concerns and are now reducing the speed limit on River and Mount Barker roads to slow vehicles down from 80km/h to 60km/h, creating a safer environment for those who live and work along these roads,” he said.

He said the claim 130 extra trucks each day would use River Rd was not correct.

“130 is the total using the main street, entering at both ends – so up to half of that number may choose to use River Rd as an alternative,” the Minister’s spokesman said.