12 September 2023
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Minister for Regional Development on the topic of the Hahndorf bypass.
Leave granted.
Members interjecting:
The CHAIR: Order!
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: The 2021 Hahndorf Strategic Planning Study commissioned by the state and federal governments found that the lack of connectivity to and from the South Eastern Freeway is causing additional traffic and freight in the township, primarily due to there being no convenient alternative route between the east (Mount Barker) and the north (Balhannah and Woodside) without travelling through the main street of Hahndorf, and there being no convenient alternative route between the south (Echunga) the west (Adelaide) or the east (Murray Bridge) without travelling through the main street of Hahndorf.
The study also found that the current traffic on the Hahndorf main street, Mount Barker Road, is limiting the economy, function and amenity of the township. There are approximately 11,000 vehicles, including 480 heavy vehicles, per day on the main street and a very high number of pedestrians.
In response to three options released for public consultation by the department to resolve the issue, the Hahndorf community canvassed their own option to reduce the impact which involved much less property acquisition and footprint. The option put involved creating a bypass between Echunga Road and the South Eastern Freeway with a half interchange, not the full interchange, with a road running through Beerenberg Farm, put forward by the previous Marshall government.
The Malinauskas government has instead decided to completely scrap the bypass project, diverting all heavy traffic along Strathalbyn and River roads. My questions to the minister therefore are:
1. Is the Minister for Regional Development concerned about the lack of consultation with people living in the region of the Adelaide Hills regarding the government's decision to divert heavy freight traffic along River and Strathalbyn roads?
2. Why isn't the government listening to the community and proceeding with its preferred option of a half interchange?
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think it is interesting that those opposite are shouting out and heckling while the member was asking his question. When you see what the difference, the flip-flopping and the changes between those opposite have been—
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —in terms of what they have supported, and then what they have changed, and in terms of their support, and now they are happy to try to score political points over what they are currently doing.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: It is really quite interesting when we look at some of the history as to what the opposition has proposed in regard to this. On 29 April 2021, then transport minister Corey Wingard said:
A full interchange at River Road, a half interchange at River Road in one of the options and a full interchange at Verdun so there's three options that the community will be able to look over and see which ones they think will work best for them.
Then Vincent Tarzia—
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. K.J. Maher: I can't hear, sir.
The PRESIDENT: Yes, I can't hear.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Then Vincent Tarzia, on 4 April this year—
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! Sit down. I can't hear the minister. To be fair, she is actually under some difficulty with her voice today, so I would like to be able to hear her, and I would like some silence while she is trying to answer the question.
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: On 4 April this year, Vincent Tarzia, shadow transport minister, said:
The Government has just got to listen to locals because at the end of the day there's no point really doing anything unless you take those trucks that don't need to be there from the main street of Hahndorf.
Interesting, it sounds like what is actually being proposed. He continues:
We’ve all been there on a Sunday afternoon, David, we know what it's like, it's bedlam, it's dangerous at the moment and so we're not going to stop…
So it seems that those opposite don't actually know how to communicate with each other. They have been at odds. In terms of their solutions, those opposite don't seem to have one. However, in terms of any further information, I am happy to refer those further questions to the relevant minister in the other place.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Supplementary: the minister spoke a lot about the record of the previous government, but why isn't the Labor government listening to the community and proceeding with its preferred option of a half interchange?
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I have already said that I will refer those questions to the minister in the other place.
The Hon. N.J. Centofanti: Come on, Mr President.
The PRESIDENT: No, she said she is going to refer it.
22 November 2023
In reply to the Hon. R.A. SIMMS
The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has advised:
The government is not diverting freight traffic down River and Strathalbyn roads–we are banning through traffic by heavy vehicles over 15m in length from the main street of Hahndorf.
This will require the approximately 130 affected vehicles to amend their standard routes, which will be determined individually by each operator based on the origin and destination of the freight carried. A portion of this traffic is likely to use River and Strathalbyn roads–but equally it is expected that other routes will also be utilised.
River Road is classified as a general access route, permitting the safe operation of freight vehicles up to semitrailer size (19m, 42.5t). According to a 2019 traffic count, 130 heavy vehicles safely traverse this route every day, with no heavy vehicle related crash recorded in the past decade. Additional enhancements to River Road are also planned–intersection upgrades, tree trimming and shoulder sealing that will enhance the travel experience for all users, including locals.
The government will not be building a half or full interchange at Paechtown, which would involve significant acquisition of homes and land from the iconic Beerenburg Farm. The local community was consulted extensively through the Hahndorf project and was resolute in its opposition to this option.