With the opening of the Northern Connector only months away, townships across the northern fringe are bracing themselves for more growth.

The new superhighway will connect Adelaide directly to Gawler through the Northern Expressway.

Townships such as Angle Vale, Virginia, Gawler, Lewiston and Two Wells will further expand, putting extra pressure on councils to provide roads, footpaths, drainage, street lighting, parks, playgrounds, sports grounds and walkways.

The demand on existing infrastructure already is particularly evident at Angle Vale, where large housing estates are replacing vineyards and market gardens.

The township’s population has gone from 626 in 1996 to 2818 at the last Census in 2016 — more than quadrupling in the past two decades.

ANGLE VALE

More families are expected to move to the town with a “super” school for 1675 “from birth to Year 12” students planned for its northern perimeter.

With hundreds more housing allotments approved for release, residents are calling for millions to be spent by Playford Council and the State Government.

Inadequate stormwater drainage throughout the township regularly fails to cope, with flash flooding occurring heavy rainfall.

There is no sewerage system, with residents relying on septic tanks and communal holding tanks.

Roads designed for rural needs are struggling to keep up with heavier traffic, with the installation of intersections, footpaths and street lighting becoming a priority.

At nearby Munno Para West, Andrews Farm, Smithfield and Craigmore, land released by Renewal SA has been used for medium density housing, with more parcels yet to be put on the market.

MUNNO PARA WEST

The areas’s rapidly growing population is causing heavy congestion on Curtis Rd, which runs from Main North Rd through Munno Para to the Northern Expressway interchange and onto Angle Vale and Virginia.

Playford Council has asked the State Government to take responsibly for the road so it can be widened, with residents expressing increasing frustration at constant delays.

Further north, the Springwood Estate at Gawler East will eventually have 1750 homes while construction soon will start on a large masterplanned community at Roseworthy after years of delays.

A large residential development with thousands of homes also is planned for Concordia at the eastern edge of the Barossa Valley, with consultants recently privately updating Gawler Council on the latest plans.

All high resolution aerial imagery has been provided by MetroMap.