We have all heard the news. The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) has been revealed. Well, announced at least. An announcement as part of handing down the State Budget.
We have been told there is not much detail yet, so don’t ask for any. Construction is not due until late 2023, and they will only now start working on the detail.
That said, I am endeavouring (again) to see if Council can seek a briefing on where we are and where to from here. To that end, I believe our Mayor and our CEO may be meeting soon with the Minister. Once in a position to pass information onto you, I will.
Beyond that, I see from their website that a Market Sounding Industry Briefing is organised for Monday 16th November at the Convention Centre. Needless to say, that is not for us, and is evidence that they don’t yet know the detail.
I have also found that 45-minute public briefings have been scheduled as follows:
- At Edwardstown Primary School on Saturday 21 November & Tuesday 24 November
- At the West Adelaide Football Clubrooms on Saturday 28 November & Monday 30 November.
Saturday session time will be 10.00 am, 11.00 am, and 1.00 pm at both venues. The Monday & Tuesday sessions will be at 4.00 pm, 5 pm, and 6.30 pm.
Their website is worth exploring. On it, you can view a video, enter the virtual room, and even register for ongoing updates. I encourage you to do this.
The Tunnel is by far, in my opinion, the best option for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project.
Certainly for the residents and businesses residing in the Clarence Park and Goodwood Wards of the City of Unley. Not only the best option for residents of Black Forest, but I suggest the only option. The trouble is we don’t know where the tunnel starts and stops.
Hopefully, this is to be revealed very soon.
Once this is known we will all be keen, of course, to influence the logistics and method of construction to avoid the issues that occurred further north up the road in Stage I. More on this in later blogs.
The InDaily report said that one of the tunnels was for Darlington to just south of the Tram bridge. But it also said that it would be a 4km tunnel and this distance is more like 8 km.
The whole thing should be a tunnel, not just parts of it. The outcome isn’t just for our local community, but for the idea that Adelaide should not be substantially cut in two by this appalling road. A substantial part of Adelaide should not be a ‘drive through’ for people going from Gawler to Willunga. The idea is unconscionable.