COM: Seaford Rail Extension | $291m | 5.5km

[skyliner]

V encouraged to read of this in the Australian today. Makes the line more of a certainty - electrified??

SA - STATE ON THE MOVE

[Norman]

Yes it will be electrified.

[Will409]

I posted this on Railpage earlier today to answer a few similar questions.

I've just been having and a look and this is what I have come up with:

Basic overview of transport spending across the nation:
http://budget.australia.gov.au/2009-10/ ... iew_01.htm

Gawler Central and Noarlunga Centre - Seaford line page, another basic overview of the work to be carried out.
http://budget.australia.gov.au/2009-10/ ... iew_08.htm

And finally, how the money will be distributed in SA over the next few years.
http://budget.australia.gov.au/2009-10/ ... nse-19.htm

Gawler Rail Line Modernisation (Adelaide, South Australia): $293.5 million over five years (including $14.0 million in 2008—09) towards the acceleration of renewal projects (re—sleepering, electrification and station enhancement) on the Gawler line. The line is 43 kilometres in length and has 24 stations; and
Noarlunga to Seaford Rail Extension (Adelaide, South Australia): $291.2 million over five years (including $8.0 million in 2008—09) towards a 5.5?kilometre dual?track, electrified extension of the existing rail line from Noarlunga to Seaford in the south of Adelaide, including a 1.2?kilometre viaduct and bridge over the Onkaparinga River. The project cost includes new rail lines and electrification, two new stations and train stabling.

Expense ($m)
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

2008/2009 - 263.0
2009/2010 - 196.0
2010/2011 - 469.7
2011/2012 - 834.6
2012/2013 - 1,143.4

The figures denote the national spending pattern over the next few years, I couldn't find specific figures for SA over the same time period.

[skyliner]

Thanks for that really useful info Will409.

SA - STATE ON THE MOVE

[Aidan]

I've started a new thread for the discussion about cross suburban bus routes. My reply to Fabricator and Adam73837''s posts is there.

[Norman]

About 1/2 way through the following video is a video render of the line to Seaford.

[AtD]

Anyone would think there's an election coming up...

[Waewick]

sorry for a being a bit daft, but is this project being done at the same time as the rest of the electrification of the network or before/after? I thought it was one of the key election winners for the Labor Party?

edit - ok work to commence 2011

[danielphin]

Yay, an AdelaideNow story, Yipee!

Original Article: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

NOARLUNGA centre will transform into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly urban village over the next three decades, plans obtained by The Advertiser reveal.

Onkaparinga council will consider the blueprint for the first transport-oriented development in Adelaide's south at a meeting tomorrow night.

The plan, prepared by urban design consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff, predicts Noarlunga Regional Centre will be the Fleurieu Peninsula's "centrepiece" by 2028.

"The Centre will be thriving as the commercial and community heart of the city and region," the report reads.

"It will become a place where 10,000 people choose to live and work - a place that is accessible, vibrant and resilient."

A critical component of the State Government's 30-year development plan, the vision includes high-density housing around the Colonnades shopping centre, commercial precincts adjacent the train station and a new university centre. Thirteen sites have been earmarked in the 30-year plan for future high-density developments, including Gawler in the north and Bowden on the city's western fringe.

Underpinning the vision for the Noarlunga Centre is a proposal to build 3000 residential dwellings to lift the centre's resident population to 6000 and the working population to 10,000.

Other major components include:

LIGHT RAIL connecting Beach Rd at Christies Beach with the new centre.

COMMERCIAL and retail areas lining a traditional main street precinct.

APARTMENT housing up to four storeys high.

A NETWORK of public plazas linked by cycling and pedestrian pathways.

About 4000 people now work in the area, but there are no houses, meaning the area is dominated by car use and is empty after business hours. If Onkaparinga council votes to adopt the plan at tomorrow's meeting it will be released for public comment on November 20 for four weeks.

Unlike the controversial Woodville transit-oriented development (TOD), planned for the St Clair Reserve site, the Noarlunga plan does not require a land swap. The majority of the land surrounding Colonnades is owned by the state and local governments.

Southern Suburbs Minister John Hill said intensification around transport corridors created a more "integrated and pedestrian and family-friendly" place to live.

Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg declined to comment until after the meeting.

"Vibrant Noarlunga will boast a broad yet compatible mix of uses that encourages live- ly activity throughout the day and into the evening, seven days a week," the plan says.

The plan aims to increase the number of people who work in the area by encouraging commercial activity and promoting the area as a "corporate address" of choice.

About 60 per cent of the City of Onkaparinga's residents are commuters and leave the area for work each day.

"The city is hoping that its revitalisation will encourage more residents to find employment within the city itself."

Parsons Brinckerhoff national director of sustainability Darren Bilsborough said the revitalised centre would have a positive impact on the community and the environment.

"The thing that is most important to this is people, not cars," he said.

"This is the future. It is about creating a physical mechanism to allow people to live and connect and enjoy their lives as they should, and not just be dominated by the car."

Mr Bilsborough said pedestrian-friendly developments also enhanced the health and well-being of the community by encouraging walking.

The population of the City of Onkaparinga is expected to grow by about 60,000 by 2050, increasing the population to about 210,000.

In the State Government's draft 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, Noarlunga is identified as a key growth area and a Regional Activity Centre. The Noarlunga Centre plan also ties in with the Government's stated goal of having 70 per cent of all new development built on the existing footprint of greater Adelaide.

...and a random intelligent comment for good measure:

light rail, high density housing, public areas ... but the local football team will still be cr@p

[Matt]

My poor, poor Panthers...

[AG]

Construction works on the Seaford extension is commencing with works for the Goldsmith Drive bridge beginning with a diversion road being created so that the overpass can be constructed.

[zap brannigan]

Construction works on the Seaford extension is commencing with works for the Goldsmith Drive bridge beginning with a diversion road being created so that the overpass can be constructed.

what about the secret women's business?

[The Scooter Guy]

Seafod Rail Bridge Outrage (From RailSA.org)
Sacred Kaurna sites along the Onkaparinga River, including an ancient women’s camp, are in the way of the Seaford rail extension.
Kaurna people have called on the Transport Department to immediately halt the project and find another route.
A 1.2km rail bridge over the Onkaparinga River a vital part of the $291 million project would damage a number of significant sites, according to the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association.
Spokeswoman Buster Turner said there was “women’s ground” along the rail corridor within the Onkaparinga River National Park including ancient artefacts and remains. “Onkaparinga or Ngankiparringa means women’s river and there’s some very sacred sites here which need to be protected and preserved,” she said.
Ms Turner said a bridge would ruin the river, the environment and the Aboriginal heritage.
“Once these sites are destroyed, that’s it, they’re gone.
“This issue could be as major as what happened with the Hindmarsh Island Bridge.”
Under the State Aboriginal Heritage Act, the Department of Transport, Infrastructure and Energy (DTEI) has applied to the Aboriginal Affairs Minister for approval to disturb Aboriginal sites, objects or remains along the rail corridor.
Early works on the 5.5km extension have already begun, with the first sod turned at the site of the Goldsmith Drv road bridge on Friday, March 19.
Major design and construction works, including the rail bridge, are expected to start in September and train services to Seaford will be operating by 2013.
Kaurna elder Leonie Brodie said she was “very in touch with the earth” and could feel the presence of Kaurna bones in the area.
She was one of 10 Kaurna women who inspected another potential sacred site near Jared Rd, Seaford Meadows, on Thursday, March 18.
The minister’s media spokeswoman Kathryn Crisell said the department would consult the traditional owners and Aboriginal groups, including the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, before making a decision. She said the committee would discuss the issue on Friday, March 26.
DTEI did not answer questions from the Southern Times Messenger as to whether the bridge could be moved or realigned to protect the Kaurna sites.
Media manager Ross Stargatt said DTEI would await the outcome of the Aboriginal Affairs Minister before making any decisions.

[Sugar]

I believe that the DTEI has complete authority to compulsorily acquire any land, public, private, heritage or sacred to construct any transportation project, regardless of objection from the community.

[The Scooter Guy]

Aboriginal Anger as Seaford Line proceeds
South Australia’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister says she approved the Seaford rail line extension through Adelaide’s southern suburbs after listening to the concerns of local Aboriginal people.
Grace Portolesi met representatives of the Kaurna Nation Cultural Heritage Association in recent days.
They told her the planned extension would damage ancient sites.
Ms Portolesi says consultation went for more than a year in all.
“Any excavation work that is undertaken will have to be undertaken with the Aboriginal monitors, so there is quite a bit already in train to make sure that the work that goes ahead is done in the most respectful way,” she said.
“There has been extensive, extensive consultation over more than 12 months. I understand the most recent public meeting was in January.
“I’m satisfied that the project will proceed with respect to Aboriginal culture and heritage.”
Kaurna official Lynette Crocker says they may pursue legal avenues or seek federal intervention.
“It’s time for Aboriginal people, particularly Kaurna people, to take a stand about these things because it’s happening too much, not only on Kaurna country, all over the state it’s happening,” she said.