Paul Starick analysis: What new South Rd plans mean for Crows new home

Local fears of the loss of parklands space may change when they see Labor’s plans for the next stage of the road overhaul, writes Paul Starick.

Concerns about the Adelaide Crows’ proposed new Thebarton Oval headquarters robbing the western suburbs of scarce parklands will be eased by community open space being created on industrial land diagonally opposite.

Updated North-South corridor designs show a realignment to the east of the northern tunnel’s northern portal at Torrensville, which includes acquisition of industrial land for “open community space”.

This involves land on the motorway’s eastern side, between West Thebarton Rd and the River Torrens.

Adelaide Chairman John Olsen. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

An elevated roadway near Brickworks Marketplace has been removed from the Torrens to Darlington designs.

Revised designs show lawns, trees and shrubs on the land parcel, to the northeast of Kings Reserve, access to which some Torrensville residents have warned would be restricted under the Crows’ plans.

The motorway corridor moving to the east, along with changes to construction, will mean less of Kings Reserve will be required when the motorway is being built.

Plans for direct entry and exit access from an upgraded South Rd to the Crows’ proposed Thebarton Oval headquarters, revealed by The Advertiser in October, also have been confirmed.

Three ground-level right-turn lanes will allow traffic to exit the motorway from the south and turn on to Anzac Hwy.

Left turns in and out of the precinct would be created on the western side of South Rd, or the northward bound lanes, immediately south of Ashwin Parade, Torrensville – aimed at minimising traffic throughout the Oval’s neighbouring residential area.

Traffic and open space were among key concerns about the Crows’ $80m proposal aired at an October 5 meeting of hundreds of West Torrens Council residents.

The state government already has vowed to work with the council and Crows to provide extra off-street carparking, improve access and limit impact on residents along East and Meyer streets, Torrensville – immediately west and south of the oval precinct.