Almost 50 properties to be demolished for $98m Portrush and Magill Rd intersection upgrade
Vivien Loo is “distraught” her “forever home” is among 47 to be demolished to make way for the $98 million Portrush and Magill roads intersection upgrade.
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- Residents furious with properties to be demolished for Portrush and Magill Rd upgrade
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The State Government will demolish 47 homes, units and buildings to make way for the $98 million upgrade of the Magill and Portrush Rd intersection – and residents are fuming.
Many provided heartfelt deputations at a Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council meeting earlier this week about not wanting to lose their homes and anger at compensation offers.
Portrush Rd resident Vivien Loo said she and her husband had spent six years restoring her 110-year-old property which is set to be acquired for the upgrade.
“We spent all our free time and sacrificed all our holidays to do this,” Ms Loo told elected members.
“We poured our heart and soul into creating this, our forever home”.
She said she first received notification about the upgrade in March last year.
Then in October, a Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) official showed her an aerial photograph of her property “with a line running through it”.
“We were shocked and distraught,” she said.
“This project is fait accompli without consultation. Our community deserves better than this.”
Ms Loo, who has to be out of her property by June, also said the State Government’s offer of compensation for her property was “shocking”.
Portrush Rd resident of 37 years Barbara Rogers told The Messenger there had been a “lack of useful communication and consultation” from DPTI.
“The project appears as though it’s a fait accompli,” Ms Rogers said.
“Residents in surrounding streets will have their amenity significantly altered by having their backyards fronting Portrush Rd.”
A DPTI map provided by Ms Loo highlights properties, which includes units, on the western side of Portrush Rd for approximately 550m that will be acquired.
The homes are between Dover St and several properties short of Beulah Rd.
Some properties on the northern side of Magill Rd, between Portrush Rd and Adelaide St, will also need to be acquired.
The upgrade, announced in March last year, will feature two right-hand turn lanes and three straight lanes in each direction on Portrush Rd, longer right-hand turn lanes on Magill Rd and a longer left-hand turn lane from Magill Rd on to Portrush Rd, heading north.
Meanwhile, the council’s chief executive officer Mario Barone met with Premier Steven Marshall on Wednesday over concerns with a lack of consultation from DPTI with the council and affected property owners.
It comes as Cr Mike Stock said the council meeting earlier this week an “urgent audience” was needed with the Premier to represent residents’ growing concerns.
“The council is dead against this project. We’ve got to get political about this. We’ve got to get the message out there,” Cr Stock said.
However, Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said DPTI had briefed the council twice about the upgrade which would benefit around 62,000 motorists who use the intersection each day.
“Our priority is now working directly with those property owners affected by this intersection upgrade that aims to improve safety and reduce travel times,” Mr Knoll said.
Cr Kevin Duke said at the council meeting earlier this week the upgrade was a “major issue”.
“It utterly destroys the amenity and built form of the location. It will never be replaced,” Cr Duke said.
“It just doesn’t make any common sense. The council is committed to representing the community.”
Cr Scott Sims said “the whole process has been crap from top to bottom” while Cr Sue Whitington said DPTI was “not known for their active consultation”.
“The way they’ve gone about this has been absolutely appalling,” Cr Whitington said.
Cr Evonne Moore said it was a shame 50 street trees would be removed.
“Neither the community nor the council was consulted about this project,” Cr Moore said.
“It was a done deal by the time we were fully advised of the proposal.
“I saw a sign on the back of a bus once, it said: ‘Jesus wept’. I believe it fits this issue.”
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Cr Kester Moorhouse said the council was livid with the loss of properties.
“We are angry, we are upset with this,” Cr Moorhouse said.
“I don’t know anybody who supports this. It’s so obviously a bad idea and needs to be thrown out.
“Kicking people out of their homes, loss of trees, turning us into this concrete jungle… more room for more cars
“It’s backwards thinking about how to deal with traffic congestion. We shouldn’t be doing it.”
