William Scott
Two rail corridors out of Adelaide are set to be preserved by the South Australian government to cater for future housing development.
One of the secured corridors runs south towards Aldinga and Sellicks Beach, while the other runs north towards Roseworthy and Concordia.
Securing these corridors will unlock more transit options for the outer southern suburbs, which the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP) forecasts to grow by 23,000 homes, and the northern outer suburbs, expected to grow by 82,000 homes.
The South Australian government has launched its Transport Strategy, which outlines a 30-year vision to transform how people and goods are moved around the state.
This supports the GARP by guiding the development of a transport network that provides safe and affordable options and identifies future transport corridors that will support new housing and economic opportunities.
The Transport Strategy sets the overall direction for future transport planning and will guide decisions on which projects to prioritise and invest in, while future-proofing the transport network to ensure South Australia remains one of the best places in the country to live and work.
More than 6,000 people participated in community engagement shaping the strategy, which included virtual reality hubs across the state, an online survey and written submissions.
This engagement allowed South Australians to identify what was most important to them when it comes to transport and their future needs, with ten per cent of respondents planning to use their car less in the future.
Around 24 per cent of respondents said they wish to use public transport more often and 44 per cent said they want to walk, run and cycle more.
Some of the key priorities identified in the strategy include improving the quality of roads, public transport and active transport options to support housing and population growth.
It identifies that efficient supply chains strengthen the state’s competitiveness, driving economic opportunity and that a safer and more accessible public transport system will be required to meet the needs of an ageing population.
