Heritage Waite gatehouse and significant trees could go under Fullarton and Cross roads intersection upgrade

A $61m upgrade of a major road intersection will see a heritage building and 400-year-old gum trees razed, angry residents say.

Will the historic Waite gatehouse go? Picture: Tricia Watkinson

• River Red Gums felled for Golden Grove road upgrade
• Subscriber rewards: Win Adelaide Oval club memberships

Residents protesting the Fullarton and Cross roads intersection upgrade say a heritage-listed lodge and historic gums trees could be wiped out by the project.

Jointly funded by the federal and state governments and overseen by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure the $61 million project is intended to improve travel times, safety and economic activity.

But lead protest organiser Joanna Wells said the department’s plans don’t include the retention of the Waite Institute lodge and giant gums along Fullarton Rd.

The Netherby resident has begun a petition at change.org, already signed by more than 3700 people, to save them.

Protesters, including Joanna Wells, concerned about the upgrade of the Cross and Fullarton Rd intersection outside the Waite gatehouse lodge that they say is in the line of the bulldozers. Picture: Mark Parnell, Greens MLC

“DPTI’s artist impression shows seven lanes on Fullarton Rd with four heading north to the city and three coming south towards the hills,” Ms Wells said.

“Cross Road is also far wider. It’s not possible to double the number of lanes along this stretch of Fullarton Road without taking out a large number of mature trees, the remnant of historic wall on the Urrbrae campus and presumably the old lodge on the north east corner.”

Ms Well claims any gains from widening the intersection, an access point for Urrbrae Agricultural school, will be lost further down Fullarton Rd.

“At the southern end of the Waite Arboretum (Claremont and Kitchener Ave intersection), the road reduces to two lanes,” she said.

“Then at Mercedes College it currently reduces down to just one lane, which continues all the way up to Belair.

“I can’t see how they can engineer around those reductions in road width. This is all a huge loss for no gain.”

Ms Wells said she had been shocked by the “dreadful loss” of significant river red gums cleared for DPTI’s $20 million Golden Grove Road upgrade.

The protest group has produced a poster of two children hugging a large tree, said to be 400 years old, with words from “Gum” digitally included.

The campaign poster for a residents group concerned the Cross Rd and Fullarton Rd intersection project will see 400 year old trees chopped down. The photo has been digitally manipulated. Picture: supplied.

The words include:

“It looks like a I won’t be here much longer if (Transport) Minister (Stephan) Knoll and DPTI have their way I’ll be replaced with more road.

“Come and say goodbye … I could do with a hug too … Good luck for the future.

“Your old mate Gum.”

DPTI said it was currently undertaking its planning and public consultation process to determine the final design and emphasised its current image was “only an artist’s impression”.

DPTI artist impression of Fullarton Road and Cross Road Intersection Upgrade that residents are protesting. Supplied

MORE NEWS

Australia Day Council's record loss

Second Adelaide Council review of e-scooter license process

Saskia Beer, Maggie Beer's daughter dies aged 46

DPTI said it has surveyed the community and local businesses.

“The department is considering all the feedback received through this survey and will continue to engage with key stakeholders in the area including schools, universities and community bodies,” a spokesman said.

The department said Cross Rd forms part of Adelaide’s Outer Ring Route (ORR) which plays “a key role in moving Adelaide traffic efficiently and safely.”

DPTI estimates approximately 60,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day and says it currently experiences travel time delays in peak periods.

Historical crash data indicates 44 crashes recorded between 2013 and 2017, of which there were 19 casualty crashes.

Originally published as Heritage Waite gatehouse and significant trees could go under Fullarton and Cross roads intersection upgrade