Holdfast Bay Council may oppose Hove level crossing upgrade options over consultation frustrations

An Adelaide council says unanswered questions over land purchases and the fate of its Town Hall could force it to push back on government plans.

The level crossing on Brighton Road, Hove.

A frustrated metropolitan council is considering opposing the State Government’s plans for a multimillion-dollar level crossing upgrade in its area because it says it has been kept in the dark about the project.

Holdfast Bay Council will on Tuesday evening vote on a motion to reject all four options put forward by the Government for the $290 million Hove level crossing project, which aims to remove the level crossing by building either an overpass or underpass.

The four options are raising Brighton Rd over the rail line, lowering Brighton Rd under the line, raising the rail line over Brighton Rd or lowering the line under Brighton Rd.

The motion, proposed by Holdfast Bay councillor Robert Snewin, states “given that council has not been provided with sufficient information from the (Transport Department) to make an informed decision, council resolves that it does not support any of the four options proposed for the Brighton Rd rail crossing at this time”.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson said the Government had not engaged in any “meaningful consultation” about the project with the council’s elected members, despite them asking for a briefing since before Christmas.

Holdfast Bay mayor Amanda Wilson. Picture: Roy Vandervegt

“We’ve got questions about the land acquisitions in the area,” she said.

“We’ve got questions about the old Brighton Town Hall’s future.

“None of these questions have been answered yet.”

Ms Wilson also said “we haven’t seen how this (project) is going to improve traffic flow on Brighton Rd”.

She said she hoped the motion, if passed, might prompt the Government to “start working on a fifth option”, suggesting this could include consolidating the Warradale and Hove train stations and “having a look at other fixes like pedestrian bridges”.

Opposition transport spokesman Tom Koutsantonis slammed the consultation process.

“If (Transport Minister Corey Wingard is) not consulting with his own council and constituents in his own area, how is he treating the rest of us?” he said.

Mr Wingard, who is also the local MP for the Hove area, said he had been consulting with the council.

“Consultation with the council has been ongoing since December and as part of the recent community drop-in sessions all members of the community, including council, were invited to put forward their thoughts, ideas and feedback,” he said.

“The Department is meeting with council and the mayor again next week in which a list of questions they submitted will be answered, including the ramifications of council’s proposed fifth option to do nothing.”

The level crossing upgrade aims to improve travel times for motorists and increase safety for all users.

Construction of the project is expected to begin in mid-2022 and be completed by early 2024.