Progress on the disrupted Heysen Boulevard in Mount Barker will be kickstarted with the State Government green-lighting the construction of a much-needed new rail level crossing.
The project, to be funded in partnership with the Mount Barker District Council, will fix a significant stumbling block in the connection of the broader thoroughfare, which is reliant on developer funding to construct the connector road.
Heysen Boulevard will eventually run through the entire 1,300 hectares of the growth area in Mount Barker following a rezoning in 2010. But its construction has been a patchwork quilt, with different developers adding sections to the road as they opt to develop their land.
As such, several sections do not currently connect up and only about half of the road is finished, with a series of no-through-roads waiting for the next section to be constructed. This inhibits retail and commercial development, prevents access to public transport and impacts emergency service response times.
Completion of the rail level crossing and construction of the road across the Steam Ranger Heritage railway line will provide an immediate benefit for the local community, opening up a critical part of the route and providing a kickstart for further construction.
Funding for the level crossing was not addressed in the original Deed for the Mount Barker Growth Area, leaving it in danger of not being completed under the Development Deed. The State Government and Mount Barker District Council have agreed to jointly co-fund the $5 million works, which will help to get this stalled development back on track.
The State Government is also currently reviewing the delivery mechanisms for the remainder of the connector road, to assess the feasibility of an earlier completion for remaining works with costs to be recouped from developers as they build on adjacent land.
The Government has committed to avoiding scenarios such as Heysen Boulevard being repeated.
As part of its plan for A Better Housing Future, the Malinauskas Government has established a Housing Infrastructure Planning and Development Unit to help get housing to market more quickly and with the right infrastructure and services in place to support residents.
As put by Peter Malinauskas
Mount Barker is a brilliant place to live, but as it grows, it is the responsibility of governments to properly plan for the future.
The Mount Barker community has waited too long for action at this crossing – which is like something out of an episode of Utopia or Yes, Minister.
The council has been seeking a solution since 2018 and we're pleased to provide one today.
We're in the middle of a housing crisis, and as a Government, we are pulling every lever we can to provide more housing, including undertaking the biggest land release in the state's history.
But importantly, we're committed to getting the planning right, so the mistakes of the past aren't repeated.
As put by Tom Koutsantonis
It's no secret former governments, both Labor and Liberal, have made mistakes with the expansion of Mount Barker.
This city will before too long become South Australia's second-biggest behind Adelaide, and we need to be prepared to step in when infrastructure challenges loom too large for local government to deal with alone.
Finally bridging this roadway at the Steam Ranger railway line, and installing a much-needed level crossing, will open up a crucial thoroughfare and offer a safer travel solution for locals.
As put by Member for Kavel Dan Cregan
The Mount Barker community is relieved that action is being taken to address this issue.
Thousands of residents in the southern development areas of Mount Barker will benefit as soon as the crossing is constructed.
As put by Mount Barker Mayor David Leach
On behalf of our expanding community, Council appreciates the commitment from the Malinauskas State Government to fix a significant legacy oversight.
Our community continues to grow, and present new challenges and opportunities - we look forward to future collaborations to build a special place and community that is part of our state's future and prosperity.
