‘Unforgivable’: Residents furious as up to 20 properties along Portrush Rd and Magill Rd face demolition
The scale of compulsory acquisitions and demolitions along Portrush Rd is becoming apparent, despite government secrecy around the full impact of its $98 million road upgrade.
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- MARCH 2020 UPDATE: Almost 50 homes to be razed to make way for intersection upgrade
- State Budget includes $1.8 billion for road upgrades
As many as 20 properties will be demolished for a $98 million eastern suburbs intersection upgrade, it has been claimed, as those affected say they have been given until June to move out.
The State Government is expected this month to start issuing formal acquisition notices for properties that will be sacrificed to widen the Portrush Rd and Magill Rd junction and reduce travel times.
Norwood Payneham & St Peters Councillor Evonne Moore estimated about 20 properties will be bulldozed for the work.
She said the State Government is to compulsorily acquire properties on the western side of Portrush Rd, between Dover St and Beulah Rd. Some properties on the northern side of Magill Rd, between Portrush Rd and Adelaide St, Maylands, will also need to be acquired, including a paint shop.
The Advertiser has spoken to property owners, tenants and businesses within the envelope of the proposed works and has calculated, based on those discussions, that acquisitions accord with Ms Moore’s estimation.
Properties in the firing line extend for approximately 400m along Portrush Rd – from 209 to 243a.
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.
Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll could not say how many properties would be needed as his department was still contacting land owners and he said it would be “inappropriate to canvass this in the media before speaking to them”.
“We understand this is a difficult and sensitive process and that’s why we have engaged land owners early in the process and will help them through this difficult time,” he said in an emailed response to questions.
Two businesses told The Advertiser that their rented properties were being acquired this month and that they would have to be out of their premises by June.
Castle Motors director Don Rosella said their showroom would also be bought.
Kozy Kids childcare will close down this year, with the loss of up to 50 staff, as its building will be compulsorily acquired.
Norwood resident Michael Barr, 61, said he was formally objecting to the $490,000 offer DPTI made for his Portrush Rd unit in December.
He said the offer was only $5000 more than he paid for the property three years ago. He and his wife have spent $30,000 renovating the property in that time.
The government has also offered $38,250 for “disturbance” which includes property transfer costs, such as stamp duty.
“It’s shameful,” he said. “That covers zero disruption for the up-ending of our life.”
Gerardo Francesca, 76, owns houses at 241 and 243 Portrush Rd, Norwood, which are in the project’s firing line.
He said the letter to acquire the properties was sent to his tenant’s property in January 11 and he only became aware of it last week.
“Of course I’m shocked, some people got letters long before Christmas and I thought I was safe,” he said.
Ms Moore said bulldozing some 20 properties and ripping out “50 street trees” was “unforgivable”.
“Building a 10-lane road … will cause large-scale devastation in exchange for minor improvements in commuter travel time,” she said.
NPSP Mayor Robert Bria said DPTI staff would brief the council on the project this month.
“I don’t know what problem they are trying to solve (with the upgrade),” he said.
