Mawson Lakes parking issues inflamed by Gawler train line

A carparking disaster in Adelaide’s north has been exacerbated by the newly electrified Gawler line, with commuting drivers blocking off the driveways of local homes.

The electrification of the Gawler line has led to an already pressed suburb inundated with parked cars impacting businesses and leaving residents stuck in their homes.

Now, with an ageing state government owned train interchange car park at Mawson Lakes regularly packed to the brink, the Salisbury Council are set propose a multistorey expansion.

With the solution likely years away, home and business owners at Mawson Lakes continue to suffer from the spillover of cars on to residential streets as the interchange fails to meet demand.

About 454 general and 14 disabled car parks are available at the interchange.

Salisbury councillor Beau Brug said while the issue had been ongoing for several years, its impact was becoming more and more acute.

Mawson Lakes businesses, including Salvatore’s Slice of Italy (former owner pictured), called on the government to build a park'n'ride at Mawson Lakes to improve car parking in the area all the way back in 2014. Picture: Nicholas Wrankmore

“The overflow from the interchange car park is impacting local businesses and residents,” he said.

“Local streets are choked by commuter cars.

“Residents tell me how they cannot even navigate through their street or are unable to exit driveways due to being blocked by cars.

“It is unfair on local residents (and) it is a nightmare for (them) accessing their homes.”

The council last week noted “ongoing parking issues” in the area and highlighted the “inadequate existing state government interchange car park”.

A motion, moved by deputy mayor Chad Buchanan, discussed an expected increase of the interchange stemming from the Gawler line electrification and queried whether a proposal to build a multistorey park and ride facility could address the problem.

The Mawson Lakes Interchange in 2020, which has since become under increasing pressure from the Gawler line electrification. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Any proposal would be a collaboration between the council and the Infrastructure and Transport Department.

The council in 2017 called on the state government to build a multistorey facility but were rebuked despite commuters regularly being fined for parking illegally at the interchange after losing a battle for parking spots.

A similar proposal at Tea Tree Gully was unveiled last year coming at an eye-watering cost of $48.5m and increasing parking capacity from 700 to 1100.

Half of the funding for that proposal was slated to be delivered in 2022-23 in the latest state budget though major construction was yet to begin.

Another $33m park and ride facility at Golden Grove with 450 spaces was finished in February this year.

The Infrastructure and Transport Department was contacted for comment.