“The community felt that more consultation was needed to ensure the project delivered is one that best suits and fits in with the area,” he said in a statement.
It is unclear when the consultation has been extended to, with neither Wingard or the Department of Infrastructure and Transport answering questions on the matter before deadline today.
Local resident and community organiser Ash Taylor said those concerned with the project are now awaiting details of what the next consultation period will involve.
Residents at a community meeting with Transport Minister Corey Wingard near the western side of the overpass. Photo: David Underhill/supplied
“The Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard did get up [at the meeting] and talk about that we were consulted, to which a large part xjmtzywof the crowd booed,” she said.
“Initially, I think it was going to be the typical spiel … however, he did come back and say ‘yes, the project will be put on hold and there will be consultation’.
“What we’re hoping is that community consultation will actually be about a design review process and that key stakeholders will get to be able to sit down with the designers and review what is proposed.
“It doesn’t have to be a long [process], but it does need to be a thorough one.”
The lead contractor on the project, the Public Transport Projects Alliance, held two public information sessions about the overpass on November 30 and December 4 last year. The deadline for public feedback on the proposal was February 22.
Unley Council has also extended its consultation on whether to grant the Department a licence for construction in the Forestville Reserve. The survey will now run until March 21.
The PTP Alliance’s website maintains that early works on the project are due to start this month with construction on the Forestville Reserve-side ramp scheduled for April.
Labor, meanwhile, has committed to creating a “community reference group” on the project that will include cyclists, residents and wheelchair users.
The Opposition also says they lay out a “community engagement strategy” and review the design with this feedback in mind.
Stinson touted the project delay as a “victory for people power”.
“If it wasn’t for the large number of locals at the meeting expressing their fury at the Minister’s lack of consultation, he wouldn’t have backflipped on his position right in front of us,” the Badcoe MP said.
