‘An absolute sham – this road needs lights, drainage’: Tree Gully councillors angry Golden Grove Rd has missed out on funding

LOCALS have been fighting for years to have a road in Adelaide’s north east upgraded, saying it desperately needs lights and drainage works. They’ve just received a new blow.

The corner of Golden Grove Rd and Greenwith Rd. Cr Bernie Keane says he has been lobbying to upgrade this section of Golden Grove Rd for more than 20 years.

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LOCAL ROADS have failed to attract any major funding in the State Government’s annual budget – and Tea Tree Gully councillors are outraged.

Cr Bernie Keane said it was “a sham” a road in Golden Grove had been overlooked yet again after more than 20 years of lobbying for funding.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said.

“Since I became a councillor in 1994, I’ve been battling for the stretch of road from Greenwith Rd to One Tree Hill Rd.

“It’s an absolute sham.

“The road surface needs to be fixed up, we need lighting and drainage.

“I’m told it’s on the list, but it’s not in the budget.

“I’m hoping one day they (the State Government) will give us a helping hand.”

Acting Mayor Lucas Jones, who works for Member for Newland Tom Kenyon, was also disappointed by the lack of money for the region.

But Mr Jones said a $40 million Fund My Community pot could provide the answer for Golden Grove Rd, which residents and local businesses have been lobbying to upgrade.

“While it’s disappointing that at this stage Golden Grove Rd has missed out, I suspect there will be further opportunities in the near future,” he said.

“I hope that the City of Tea Tree Gully will benefit from the Fund My Community fund, which comprises of $40 million to fund local roads and intersections that need fixing.

“There are many roads across the City of Tea Tree Gully that would be deserving of such funding.”

He named Golden Grove Rd, corner of Pompoota and Reservoir Rd, Modbury and traffic lights at Lower North East Rd at Dernancourt Shopping Centre as the most-deserving locations.

He said the council’s $20,000 commitment to improving residents’ ability to exit Dernancourt Shopping Centre on Lower North East Rd was a “bandaid solution”.

“We still need traffic lights installed,” he said.

The council is poised to spend nearly $20 million on capital works, including $1.83 million on road reconstruction.