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Inner west residents frustrated with lack of clarity of North-South Corridor development

Leaked documents show proposed ramps going right through the homes of several inner west residents to finish the North-South Corridor.

Three options for final stage of North-South Corridor

Frustrated inner western suburbs residents have intensified their pleas with the State Government to finally reveal whether their homes and businesses will be saved or doomed under the North-South Corridor project.

It came after leaked Government documents revealed further details of proposed options for the project – including maps that showed which homes and businesses may be demolished to make way for the multi-billion dollar build.

The documents showed the Government was choosing between an open motorway model and one of two designs that involve tunnels along a 10.5km stretch between the River Torrens, near Thebarton, and Darlington.

Residents favour a tunnels option because it will save more buildings, including the Thebarton Theatre, from demolition.

One map shows a ramp cutting through Michael Papic’s Mile End home.

The 43-year-old said it would be awful if he and his wife lost their home of 11 years to bulldozers.

“It would be a bit devastating,” he said.

“It’s a nice area plus all our family is pretty much within a kilometre radius of here.”

Michael Papic in front of his Mile End home. One map of the proposed North-South Corridor shows a ramp cutting through the home. Picture: Tom Huntley
Michael Papic in front of his Mile End home. One map of the proposed North-South Corridor shows a ramp cutting through the home. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mr Papic said the Government should put residents out of their misery.

“It’s one of those things where if it was going to happen, it would be better to know sooner rather than later – It’s just the uncertainty,” he said.

Ross Young, 81, has lived in his Mile End home for 40 years and it too appears to be in the path of a proposed ramp.

“You can’t plan in a vacuum can you - You've got to really know what’s going on to plan,” he said.

Mandy Doolan, from the South Road Inner West Action Group, which has more than 550 members, said the uncertainty was distressing for locals.

“We’ve have got one particular lady who’s constantly ringing me in tears not knowing whether her house is going to be standing in two years’ time or not,” she said.

“These people want a decision and they want a decision made shortly.”

Protect Our Heritage Alliance convener Emeritus Professor Warren Jones said his group supported the residents’ push for tunnels.

According to the documents, the open motorway option would wipe out 53 heritage buildings while one tunnels option would mean 12 would be demolished while another tunnels option would result in just one being knocked down.

“There is a this rabid push to knock over some of these old houses, remove the heritage protections, and build all sorts of things,” he said.

“I believe that this is an unacceptable sacrifice of our heritage, particularly in that area which is one of the old areas in our city.”

The documents indicated the project, which was originally meant to be completed in 2023, may not be finished until 2033, although the Government insists it will be finalised by 2030.

The papers also revealed one tunnels option would create 4640 jobs while the other would create 3650 jobs and the open motorway option would result in 3550 jobs during the peak of construction.

A total of between 60 and 151 business would be forced to close due to acquisition under the options.

The documents list a tunnels option as costing $9.9 billion – $1 billion more than the open motorway design.

The Government had been expected to announce its chosen option in the middle of this year but it is now expected imminently.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/inner-west-residents-frustrated-with-lack-of-clarity-of-northsouth-corridor-development/news-story/c59df38aedf22428306f23d9a1cbe59f