Sensational-Adelaide.com

Traffic fears for $70m plan

27 Aug 09 @ 10:23am by David Goldsmith

TRAFFIC congestion at a busy Plympton intersection will get much worse if a planned eight-storey development is built at the corner of Anzac Hwy and Marion Rd, warns West Torrens Council.

The council has highlighted the potential impact on local roads as one of several “major concerns” it has with the $70 million apartment and retail project, earmarked for a site adjoining The Highway hotel.

The council last week signed off on its submission to the State Government on the development, which was granted major project status in 2007.

Planned by the Palmer Group, it includes a supermarket, specialty shops, restaurants, office space and six floors of serviced apartments.

The West Torrens submission was one of 10 including four from members of the public, four from government agencies and one from Marion Council received by the Department of Planning and Local Government during the six-week consultation period.

Mayor John Trainer said the congestion generated by the combination of three “very busy intersections” Marion Rd-Anzac Hwy, Cross Rd-Marion Rd and Anzac Hwy-Cross Rd and two tram crossings in the area would be aggravated further by the development.

“There is the potential for very serious traffic problems,” he said last week.

Mr Trainer said residents in nearby Elizabeth Ave would also be impacted, with more vehicles expected to use the side street.

West Torrens acting CEO Declan Moore said the Marion Rd-Anzac Hwy crossing was already operating above capacity at peak times.

He said a traffic assessment included with the application had predicted a traffic rise of 17 per cent on Marion Rd and 16 per cent on Anzac Hwy during Thursday evening peak hour.

The council also detailed potential problems with vehicle access in and around the site, stormwater management, pedestrian access and the impact on nearby retail precincts.

Urban Development and Planning Minister Paul Holloway’s media spokesman Owen Brown, said the developers were required to respond to the issues raised during the submission process.

Palmer Group director Martin Palmer was interstate on business last week and had not seen the council’s submission when contacted by the Guardian Messenger before presstime.

Wayno wrote:It's not unreasonable for the council to highlight traffic concerns. The Anzac/Marion intersection is a good candidate for an underpass (of anzac hwy) in my opinion. At a minimum "traffic smoothing" adjustments should be made as it will help the new development be successful.

And a prediction: if this development goes ahead then a similar large development will occur across the road (NW corner of the intersection).

Xaragmata wrote:
The WTCC has highlighted its legitimate concerns on traffic & other issues, including the fact that it is serviced accommodation rather
than a mixed use / permanent residential TOD here:

http://www.wtcc.sa.gov.au/webdata/resou ... rt11-3.pdf

Council is not opposed to higher density TOD development on the site - just some concerns about the current plans.

Wayno wrote:Any idea who owns the land on the NW corner of anzac/marion? i presume it's owned by a large property fund?

skyliner wrote:So does anyone know what is happening with development now - it's basically two years thast have passed judging by the posts above.