“Many residents have also raised with me that this project is taking too long, plans have changed several times in recent years and that the consultation process has been lacking.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Transport said “at this stage” fewer than 50 trees are being removed although the final total “will be assessed as part of the final, detailed design”.
The latest concept designs do not include landscaping details, but the PTP Alliance says more than 50 trees and approximately 2500 shrubs, grasses and ground covers are being planted as part of the project.
Goodwood Ward councillor Emma Wright has also expressed her opposition to the project in its current form and labelled the lastest designs an “oversized concrete eyesore”.
“I feel what has been proposed is half baked, a stage one, not a complete solution,” she said.
“Neighbours of the site have expressed concerns regarding overlooking into their properties, light spill from the overpass and ramp lighting all night [and] the space underneath not having a purpose.
“I am concerned about safety. A cyclist travelling quickly down the spiral ramp will pose a threat to the safety of anyone attempting to travel the other way (up).”
A department spokesperson said the curved design was incorporated as part of the initial designs in 2017 and will have less of a footprint on vehicle access.
“The ramp means that users don’t need to double-back to switch to the other side of the tram line via the underpass,” the spokesperson said.
“The curved ramp also avoids impacts to vehicle access at Railway North Terrace and Devon Street North.”
Two parcels of land from one subdivided property were acquired in 2017/18 for the project, according to the spokesperson, while the basketball court and netball ring adjacent to the overpass will have to be relocated nearby during construction.
A construction site compound will be located on the southern side of the overpass along Lyons Parade, near a local car park, although the PTP Alliance said this is in order to minimise impact on the Forestville Reserve.
Green space from the Forestville reserve surrounds the existing tram overpass. Photo: Thomas Kelsall/InDaily
The project has attracted the support of Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson.
“It’s an excellent design as far as it goes. It is a much-needed piece of cycling infrastructure across the state,” he said.
“Thxjmtzywe preliminary drawings, however, could do with some attention to look at the surrounding landscaping which has not been released at this stage.
“Unley Council are fully in support of the project itself but we are seeking the plans to look at some additional work around the site.
“We do not want the project stopped … we don’t want it to be a Gawler railway line.”
Hewitson said Unley Council is aware that “we will be losing some big trees” for the project but emphasised there is “plenty of scope to plant future significant trees which I believe needs to go with this project”.
“I am delighted with the passion of our local community and angst over the loss of trees, and if we’re going to lose them, let’s make sure we at least get a couple back,” he said.
The PTP Alliance says tree removals are expected to commence in April.
Unley Bike Users Group chair David Elliot also said he is broadly supportive of the project.
“That railway station has been a major barrier to people using the Mike Turtur Bikeway for quite a long time – nearly 30 years since the bikeway begun,” Elliot said.
“So we’re quite pleased to see that the priority has been making the overpass an overpass, but it’s also quite nice to see there’s other community features that are being incorporated into it to allow access to the railway station.”
Elliot, who attended two consultation sessions with the PTP Alliance late last year, said the main concerns raised by residents were loss of vegetation and people exiting and entering the overpass elevators potentially coming into conflict with cyclists travelling at high speed.
“The nature of infrastructure projects tends to mean that some vegetation does get in the way, and being in the middle of a park in a city with not that much open space – people are justifiably protective of their trees,” he said.
Regarding the potential for conflict at the elevator, Elliot said: “There’s a lot of features in this [project] which do go a long way to reduce that.”
