North-South corridor residents fear being short-changed

SA’s department of planning and infrastructure boss has vowed to work with residents along the North-South corridor. But there are fears over compensation.

• Calls for a decision on South Road tunnels to be put in the fast lane
• Extra compensation for residents whose homes are bulldozed
• Hundreds of properties could be compulsorily acquired
• South Road icons, including Thebarton Theatre, could face wrecker

Residents and businesses near the North-South Corridor have been told they will get a say in the design of the project – but have been warned the process could take years.

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure boss Tony Braxton-Smith has made the assurance in response to a letter from concerned residents, who say they have been kept in the dark on the road project.

The three solutions being examined by the State Government include one super tunnel from the River Torrens to Darlington.

A hybrid option of two tunnels, which would mean traffic returning to the surface between Anzac Highway and Edward St in Melrose Park is also being considered, along with a tunnel-free design similar to the Torrens to Torrens build.

A decision on the best option for the final 10.5km section of the corridor is expected to be made by the middle of the year.

But Mr Braxton-Smith has told residents that the full design approval could take much longer.

“I appreciate that there is widespread community interest and a desire to contribute to the design of the final stage of the North-South Corridor,” Mr Braxton-Smith said.

“I can assure you that there will be meaningful engagement at an appropriate time in its development.

“In relation to timing, it needs to be appreciated that this is the largest and most complex road project yet in South Australia.”

The River Torrens to Darlington Project will be the final piece of the North-South Corridor.

He said the design process for projects of a similar scale elsewhere in Australia spanned “a number of years”.

Mr Braxton-Smith said there was “still ample time” for the community to “participate and influence outcomes”. Hilton Hotel managing director James Franzon, who is a co-founder of the Inner West South Rd Action Group, said the community was nervous about the project.

“We are in the same position we were months ago,” Mr Franzon told The Advertiser.

“It is just speculation at this point; we don’t know where the on and off ramps will be and if they will use tunnels.

“We are going to continue to push for the tunnelling option.”

James Franzon of the Hilton Hotel.

Mr Franzon said the group had been in contact with furious residents who live near the Portrush Rd/Magill Rd intersection, and whose properties face being compulsory acquired as part of a separate road upgrade.

“They are being offered minimal compensations,” he said.

In September, The Advertiser revealed extra compensation would be paid to residents whose homes are bulldozed for the North-South Corridor.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said one of the next priorities for the corridor was to establish a team within his department to focus solely on the upgrade, which he described as “the biggest project in our state’s history”.

“This will be a decade-long project that will create thousands of construction jobs, massively reduce travel times and improve freight productivity,” he said.

The department also needs to complete a formal heritage and environmental survey.