Northern Expressway Supplement Report Appendix A Summary of submissions, cross-reference and response Northern Expressway Supplement Report Appendix A Summary of submissions and response Table A1 summarises and responds to the submissions received during the public exhibition of the Environmental Report. Table A1 Local government submissions (LGS) Submission Issue summary Reference in Response number Environmental Report (ER)/ Supplement Report (SR) Light Regional Council LGS001.1 Council appreciated the Department allowing the ER 3 Noted. project group to attend Council’s workshop on the Northern Expressway. Those persons present were able to glean a clearer under- standing of the project and the anticipated outcomes and welcomed the opportunity to ask questions of the project team. LGS001.2 While Council understands that there is little ER 5 Noted. likelihood that there will be a quantum shift in the project’s alignment, Council does however need to reiterate its stated position concerning the proposed route for the project, that is ‘that it does not support the current route of this major project and in particular the route through the Gawler Harness Racing Club and the Gawler Aerodrome, which has the effect of completely destroying this regional recreational and business amenity that will affect a large selection of people both within the region and throughout the State.’ LGS001.3 Following the conduct of the workshop at ER 5 Noted. Kapunda which disclosed the other optional SR 3.4.1 routes considered, it is fair to say that the chosen alignment represents the least disruption to the public between entry at Port Wakefield Road and exit at Sturt Highway (Gawler Bypass). LGS001.4 Gawler River overpass ER 20 Refer to Section 3.8.1 (Gawler River) in this The Department must have the construction SR 3.8.1 Supplement Report. engineered to allow for at least a 1:100 ARI flooding event to pass underneath the overpass and to not have floodwaters restricted in their flow along the Gawler River towards the Gulf outlet. Will the overpass engineering be based on calculations for a 1:100 ARI flood event prior to the construction of the Gawler River Flood Mitigation Scheme project at Turretfield and the increase in height of the South Para Dam wall, or be calculated on estimates calculated after those projects have been completed? A-1 Northern Expressway Supplement Report Submission Issue summary Reference in Response number Environmental Report (ER)/ Supplement Report (SR) Our preference would be that the Department builds the overpass at current estimates, in effect over-engineering the overpass to allow a greater than 1:100 ARI flood event to pass unhindered. LGS001.5 Weed control removal and maintenance prac- ER 9.4 See response to LGS001.18. tices must be established in the overpass foot- SR 4.2.8 print area, in addition to adequate revegetation with native species endemic to the local area occurring once construction has been completed. LGS001.6 Roadside vegetation treatments ER 9.4 See response to LGS001.18. Appropriate planting needs to be put in place to SR 4.2.8 maintain roadside verges along the entire length of the Northern Expressway. Council assumes that the Department will be responsible for the maintenance of the entire width of the road reserve corridor (fence line to fence line) and that plantings to complement the natural heritage value of local roadways will be undertaken, inclusive of appropriate control programs for pest/noxious weeds. LGS001.7 The Department must take measures to control ER 9.4 Litter is collected as part of the ongoing main- litter of all forms along the route. tenance and management activities of DTEI. LGS001.8 Drainage and stormwater issues ER 20 The longitudinal drainage system will be The Department must take into consideration the SR 2.2.4 designed to provide a positive grade over its management of stormwater being washed off the entire length. Despite this, the achievable grade corridor, particularly as the Gawler River system in some locations is modest and some localised is perched above the natural lay of the adjoining depression storage can be expected. land. The issue of swale drain gradients and To the north of the Gawler River, drains will fall in drainage retention/detention basins is highlighted a southerly direction towards the river, while to in this context and Council would be desirous of the south of the river the drainage will continue to establishing the proposed number of basins flow south-west (away from the river) towards the planned for the area and the holding capacity of Hillier Road drain, where it will discharge to the those basins, particularly when considering the river. Some reconstruction of the Hillier Road potential flood aspects of the Gawler River drain may be necessary, which will be system. Where possible, schemes to reuse run- determined during the detailed design phase. off should be considered, e.g. watering roadside Roadside swales and centre medians are plantations, use by adjoining landowners, etc. intended to be vegetated, at least grassed, and it is anticipated that a significant amount of smaller stormwater flows will naturally infiltrate or (where systems are lined) be taken up by roadside vegetation. Whilst smaller flows will naturally be utilised by roadside vegetation, the stormwater system must be designed for flood protection and must therefore be designed for flows which occur much less frequently than those considered practical to harvest for reuse. LGS001.9 Two Wells Road on/off ramps ER 7.4.3 A funding submission is currently being Council considers that inclusion of a southbound SR 2.2.2 considered by the Australian Government to ramp at the Two Wells Road junction may be SR 3.2 provide additional interchanges and ramps – beneficial to the project. This junction may allow refer to Sections 2.2.2 and 3.2 of this additional traffic from the southern and western Supplement Report. sides of Gawler township and environs to access The provision of these ramps allows better this new route as opposed to traversing the Main distribution of traffic through Gawler to access A-2 Northern Expressway Supplement Report Submission Issue summary Reference in Response number Environmental Report (ER)/ Supplement Report (SR) North Road route, thereby further reducing the the Northern Expressway via Ryde Street or traffic load on that highway. It will also provide for Redbanks Road. traffic coming to the Northern Expressway from the western side. LGS001.10 Northbound on ramps ER 7.4.3 A funding submission is currently being Given that the route will be traversed by SR 2.2.2 considered by the Australian Government to commercial operators and travellers heading SR 3.2 provide additional interchanges and ramps – interstate along the Sturt Highway, the lack of refer to Sections 2.2.2 and 3.2 of this northbound access ramps for traffic heading ‘up’ Supplement Report. the Sturt Highway to the border and beyond is The issue of additional northbound on-ramps has questioned. To gain full benefit for the invest- been further investigated. It is proposed that ment, Council considers that further access these be provided at Curtis Road for traffic to options should be considered. and from the north as they have additional benefits associated with emergency services vehicle access and distribution of traffic on local roads or through residential areas. LGS001.11 Emergency services vehicle access points ER 7.4.7 Refer to Section 2.2.5 of this Supplement This point is self explanatory: emergency SR 2.2.5 Report. services vehicles must have safe, easy and quick access to the Northern Expressway for attending potential accidents on the Expressway, as well as when carrying out transporting activities. LGS001.12 Local road treatments ER 7.4.4 Upgrading of local roads as a result of changes Council understands that the following is to due to the provision of the Northern Expressway occur: is described in the Environmental Report. It is confirmed that Wingate Road will remain • Wingate Road remains open open; Whitelaw Road will be closed; Ward Belt • Whitelaw Road will be closed Road will provide access to the Gawler airfield • Ward Belt Road will provide access to the and will be sealed from Lange Road to its Gawler airfield eastern end; Kentish Road will have a minor realignment; and a new on-ramp to the Gawler • Kentish Road will be realigned Bypass will be provided adjacent to Weaver • new on-ramp adjacent to Weaver Road. Road (which currently acts as a shared ramp/access service road). It is noted, therefore, that there will be a general change in dynamics to and priorities of the local It is not considered that these roads will require road network and as such Council considers that further improvement due to the Expressway. the Department should take responsibility for the However, DTEI will continue to liaise with alternative road treatments that may be required Council on this issue. for these roads to remain serviceable, or to carry out their new roles. For example, it is considered that the Gawler Belt Road should be recon- structed to a bitumen surface standard; in addition, Kentish Road may need upgrading to cater for increased traffic movements associated with the re-routing of traffic to the Gawler airfield. LGS001.13 Gawler airfield SR 3.12 Refer to Section 3.12 in this Supplement Report. Council is keen to secure the future viability of the Gawler airfield operations both from the aspect of the relocation of the Adelaide Soaring Club facilities and buildings, and from the perspective of being an authorised landing field for general aviators and the emergency services. Council understands that the Department has A-3 Northern Expressway Supplement Report Submission Issue summary Reference in Response number Environmental Report (ER)/ Supplement Report (SR) commissioned specialist advice from interstate to review the options available for the airfield on- ground operations.