Steven Marshall says sorry to Hove residents turfed out by level crossing upgrade

The Transport Minister says his wife was “bailed up” at a funeral over the Hove project – as the Premier apologises to people ejected from homes before it was scrapped.

Premier Steven Marshall has apologised to Housing SA residents who were turfed out of their homes prematurely to make way for the now-defunct Hove level crossing project.

Mr Marshall also said the evicted tenants would be offered an opportunity to return to their homes at no cost to them.

The Advertiser reported in January that 16 residents who lived in single-storey Housing SA units next to the rail line had been sent a relocation letter.

The tenants were told they would be moved out of their homes to alternate accommodation because the properties were being acquired by the state government in preparation for the planned removal of the level crossing at Hove.

Seven residents have been relocated by the Human Services Department, which covered the costs, to public housing in Brighton, Glenelg, Glandore., Seacombe Gardens and Seacliff Park.

However, the government announced on Tuesday during the state budget that it had axed the Hove project, negating the need to bulldoze the Housing SA units.

The Transport Department had also sent letters to a business and a private home, advising that it was intending to compulsorarily acquire those properties. It will, where expenses have been incurred, consider compensation on a case-by-case basis.

The level crossing on Brighton Rd, Hove, will stay like it is for the present.

Mr Marshall on Wednesday morning said the tenants were not evicted but relocated to other properties and he apologised to those displaced residents.

“If there’s been any inconvenience to those people we obviously regret that,” he said.

“Now if we can facilitate them to go back into that neighbourhood, if that’s their wish, then I’m very happy to look at that as a priority.”

Mr Marshall confirmed the government would return residents who wanted to go back to Hove “at no cost to them”.

He said the decision to scrap Hove was made in the “last few days”.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink told state parliament on Wednesday the last Housing SA tenant was relocated on June 19 – three days before the government killed off the project – and at the time Housing SA was unaware of the decision to abandon the development.

Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said some tenants were moved out as recently as Monday.

“Right from the start the people living in those Housing Trust units have been treated appallingly,” she said.

“The government owes them an apology and compensation for the distress they’ve caused.”

Ms Cook said residents were still worried their homes could be in jeopardy.

“The people that remain there need to be given a guarantee that their homes are safe,” she said.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard, also on Wednesday, told parliament he had sought police advice about community feedback that was “possibly a step too far”.

“On the advice of police I did block a couple of people on social media,” he said.

Mr Wingard also said he wife was “bailed up at a funeral in front of the coffin and asked about the Hove crossing” and his children had been harassed on social media about the project.

Housing SA resident Judith Paterson is still fearful of losing her Hove home of eight years. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Residents furious over Hove handling

Hove residents are angry at how the controversial level crossing project has been handled by the state government, with some Housing SA residents still waiting on official confirmation that they can stay in their homes.

Housing SA tenant Judith Paterson said being faced with losing her home of eight years had been incredibly stressful.

On Wednesday, she had still not heard from Housing SA if she could still stay in her home, despite the level crossing project being officially scrapped on Tuesday.

“I was told back in January that I would be relocated by June,” she said.

“I still feel like I’m in no man’s land. I had virtually come to terms with leaving my home and there’s still nothing written in cement (to say I can stay).”

Ms Paterson had been packing up, getting ready to leave, and at this stage, the boxes are still ready to go, in case she is not allowed to stay.

She said it been very hard watching others in the 15-unit block complex in which she lives be moved on in recent months, describing it as “good little community”.

Private resident Michelle Clarke-Edwards, who has lived in Hove for 32 years, said it was a huge relief for the area the project had been taken off the table.

“The Liberal Government didn’t consult enough with the people,” she said.

“I was so worried about what would happen to people (in the area), and at the amount of money they were looking to spend.

“I just hope people who were moved on (from local Housing SA units) can return.”

Private renter Lynn Townsend is relieved her home has been saved. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Private renter Lynn Townsend said it had been incredibly difficult having eviction looming since December last year.

“It really has been a helpless feeling,” she said.

Only two weeks ago, Ms Townsend was still receiving correspondence saying the land was being acquired for the project.

A call from a Department of Infrastructure and Transport staff member to her on Tuesday afternoon, saying the project was off the table, came as a massive relief.

Level crossing hit list: Which one is next?

On Tuesday, the government announced it was developing a priority list that identifies and triages level crossing removal projects across South Australia will be developed following the scrapping of the Hove project.

The state government has announced it will create a 10-year level crossing removal program, which will ensure resources and funding are allocated to the highest priority projects.

It will prioritise locations based on potential benefits, strategic importance and affordability.

It comes after the government announced on Tuesday it was axing the Hove level crossing removal project, citing cost blowouts, a lack of extra federal funding and community backlash for the decision.

The project’s initial cost was $170 million but this increased to up to $450 million, depending on the design.

The initiative aimed to remove the Hove level crossing by either building a rail overpass, at a cost of $290 million, or a rail underpass at a cost of $450 million.

Local residents had been campaigning against the “rail over” option, saying such a bridge would be an eyesore.

The federal government was unwilling to fund the $450 million “rail-under” option.

The transport department is now investigating “congestion busting solutions” to improve travel times and safety along Brighton Rd.

In March, the transport department revealed a list of the 31 level crossings in SA that cause the most risk and delays to road users.

Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard said the Hove project had prompted the need to reassess the government’s approach to level crossing upgrades.

“The past six months of intensive work confirmed the rail-over option would cost at least $290 million and rail-under, which was the preferred option for many in the community, would cost close to half a billion dollars,” he said.

“Under either scenario, the current budget allocation of $171 million falls far too short so it’s only prudent that we go back to the drawing board and look in depth at how we can remove level crossings across the state in a methodical and prioritised way.”

Mr Wingard said once the 10-year level crossing removal program was created, the transport department would develop the top five projects to shovel-ready status “so we can fast-track their funding and delivery”.

“The detailed planning will include developing options, community engagement, survey geotechnical investigations, constructability assessments, design development, cost estimates and business cases,” he said.

“Level crossings are archaic and in a growing state like South Australia we need to get on the front foot and find solutions that are affordable and fit in with community expectations.”

The $85.5 million the federal government committed to the Hove project, coupled with the $85.5 million the state government had planned to contribute, will now go towards other infrastructure projects over the next four years.