Premier Peter Malinauskas announces $5m joint project to connect Heysen Boulevard

A broken crucial connector road through major developments in the state’s fastest-growing region will finally be connected.

A gap in a broken connector road through major Hills housing developments will be connected. Picture: Dronie Ward

A gap in a broken connector road through major Hills housing developments will be connected.

The state government today announced it would partner with the Mount Barker District Council to ensure a level crossing would be built to connect Heysen Boulevard where it is broken by the StreamRanger rail line.

The government and Mount Barker council will jointly fund the $5 million level crossing, with Premier Peter Malinauskas saying the government was reviewing the delivery mechanisms for the remainder of the road.

Heysen Boulevard – described by residents as the Boulevard of Broken Promises – is the crucial road infrastructure to cater for the 1,300 hectares of the growth area in Mount Barker following a rezoning in 2010.

However, a piecemeal approach to its construction since 2014, with developers responsible for sections, has left the road incomplete with dead ends at estates and the road disconnected by 80 metres at the railway line.

Aerial photography of the unfinished Heysen Blvd. Picture: Dronie Ward

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis, Mount Barker Mayor David Leach, Premier Peter Malinauskas and Member for Kavel Dan Cregan at the Heysen Boulevard Rail Crossing. Picture Dean Martin

Last month, Mount Barker mayor David Leach cast doubt if the level crossing would ever be completed with council unable to fund the project alone.

However, today’s announcement will see the state government and the Mt Barker council contribute $2.5 million each to build the level crossing with the government committing to avoiding scenarios such as the broken delivery of Heysen Boulevard ever being repeated.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the council had been seeking a solution since 2018 and the wait had been too long.

“Mount Barker is a brilliant place to live, but as it grows, it is the responsibility of governments to properly plan for the future,” he said.

“The Mount Barker community has waited too long for action at this crossing- which is like something out of an episode of Utopia or Yes, Minister.”

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis conceded planning mistakes were made in the Adelaide Hills.

“It is no secret former governments, both Labor and Liberal, have made mistakes with the expansion of Mount Barker,” he said,

“This city will before too long become South Australia‘s second-biggest behind Adelaide, and we need to be prepared to step in when infrastructure challenges loom too large for local government to deal with alone.

“Finally bridging this roadway at the Steam Ranger railway line, and installing a much-needed level crossing, will open up a crucial thoroughfare and offer a safer travel solution for locals.”