More of parklands needed for use as construction access for O-Bahn project

MORE of Adelaide’s parklands are set to be off-limits to the public so the O-Bahn extension can be completed.

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MORE of Adelaide’s parklands are set to be off limits to the public so the O-Bahn extension can be completed.

The State Government needs an extra 4470sq m of space, including in Rymill Park, to be used as construction access for the $160 million project.

Residents have already endured three months of heavy machinery ripping apart the city’s parklands and felling nearly 80 trees, to ultimately shave minutes off bus trips.

The Government has now indicated it needs two portions of land in Rymill Park, totalling 1860sq m, to finish piping and tunnel works near Rundle Rd.

An additional 2800sq m of land, parallel to War Memorial Drive, also needed to be cordoned off during the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Torrens River.

Adelaide City Council on Tuesday night will consider the Government’s request, to the dismay of the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association.

“This just proves how poorly thought through the project was,” secretary Shane Sody said.

“It was a rushed job for political purposes from the beginning and the engineers are now playing catch-up.

“Even just a little bit more of an inconvenience will annoy more people, with the destruction of Rymill Park and a good slab of Rundle Park well underway.”

The Government has now indicated it needs two portions of land in Rymill Park. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The council will undertake a 21-day public consultation process before it can agree to expand the Government’s construction licence area.

The matter would only be reconsidered by the Adelaide Park Lands Authority and the council if there was significant negative feedback.

The council would generate about $101,000 in occupancy fees from the Government, which the report said would be used to enhance assets in the area.

Work on the controversial O-Bahn project started in March, which the Government said would shave three-and-a-half minutes off bus trips and reduce city ring-route traffic congestion.

Once finished, priority bus lanes on Hackney Rd will lead into a tunnel beneath Rundle and Rymill parks.

Design changes lengthened the tunnel to lessen its impact on Rymill Park, but it still surfaces by the lake.

Meanwhile, police have reminded motorists to obey the speed limits around the O-Bahn extension works, following “a number of complaints” from construction workers.

A police spokeswoman would not comment on how many motorists had been fined, but said the areas were monitored regularly.