Defence SA complete its master plan for the LeFevre Peninsula

A plan for LeFevre Peninsula shows traffic volumes are set to double. But Defence SA says there is no need for Pyne’s bold bridge plan.

• Christopher Pyne on how much of a local build there will be
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Traffic volumes into the LeFevre Peninsula will double as shipbuilding increases with an estimated 25,000 vehicles each day expected to travel down Victoria Rd, an unreleased master plan from Defence SA shows.

But despite the increased traffic flows an ambitious plan to link Adelaide’s shipyards to the northern suburbs via two bridges has been rejected in a plan for Lefevre Peninsula.

In March last year then Federal defence minister Christopher Pyne proposed an additional link to the northern suburbs via a series of bridges across marshlands.

Defence SA’s master plan for the peninsula, pictured below, does not include the bridges.

Defence SA chief executive Richard Price told The Advertiser the Lefevre Peninsula would be home to about 5000 direct employees working on the nation’s defence shipbuilding program in coming years with an additional 3000 to 4000 in related industries.

“They are looking at 25,000 vehicles a day along Victoria Rd,” Mr Price said.

“An increase of around 12,000 vehicles a day – doubling basically.”

Mr Price said the master plan included proposals for grade separations, a traffic-activated roundabout near the ASC site and an expanded footprint for defence companies.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll has left the door open for Mr Pyne’s bridge proposal.

Mr Knoll said the State Government was undertaking its own Lefevre Peninsula Planning study and the Defence SA Master Plan would be considered as part of that process.

“Osborne is a critical hub for the billions of dollars of defence work that will support thousands of South Australian jobs over the next few decades,” Mr Knoll said.

“As the workforce ramps up we will need to ensure there is adequate access to the area.” Port Adelaide Mayor Claire Boan said there was already growing interest in the area. “DPTI (The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure) are conducting an investigation into traffic flows that they are not willing to share at this point,” Ms Boan said.

“We have raised the need for much better public transport.”

Mr Price said the plan also identified opportunities for new shops and services, including health and child care facilities, on the Lefevre Peninsula.

It identifies 1450 new residential dwellings, in development or under negotiation, for future housing.