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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-02 Daily Xml
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Portrush Road-Magill Road Intersection, Vacant Lot

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (14:54): My question again is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house about the government's intentions for the remaining vacant lot of repurposed land which is on the north-western corner of Portrush Road and Magill Road? With the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TARZIA: On 28 July 2022, the state government announced that a section of this vacant land will host a new ambulance station, but leaving the remaining land still in question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:54): That's a very good question. The people of Prosser Avenue are very keen to find out what is going to happen with that section of land. In the meantime, while the government is developing its plans for that land, it's fair to say the residents there are very keen for a form of development. It's actually a natural sound wall to have buildings built there again.

I know that there were plans to make it a park, which was opposed by local residents, but I am open to suggestions from the community. I will be discussing a lot of these things with, obviously, the local community. I know that the Premier is also keen to hear the views of the local community about what we do with that land. What we have done in the interim is, at the request of the local community, put up—

Mr Tarzia: Ugly containers.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —containers, yes, to formulate a form of sound wall.

Mr Tarzia: Would you like to live next to a couple of those?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, but I am not the one who instigated the intersection upgrade for no particular reason at all, other than to try to get James Stevens elected, because on his own it would be pretty difficult. So he needed this project, which caused nothing but havoc in the project. I also note that the one thing we didn't learn in the last four years of the parliament was that the former Premier had work done to his property as part of this project, which wasn't made public.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, that's true. Trust me, more of that will come out at a later date.

Mr Tarzia: What are you doing about the land?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: So back to the land. You don't want to talk about the former Premier? No, I wouldn't want to talk about that either. But I am very keen to make sure that we can get a sensible development here that, firstly, is keeping within the character of the area; secondly, is not imposing a structure on the residents of Prosser Avenue and makes sure it is in keeping with the amenity of their homes; and, thirdly, provides a natural sound wall that they are looking for.

The question then becomes for the local community: what is the offering that they are looking for? Are they looking for affordable housing or looking for other types of housing? These are discussions I'm having with my good friend and colleague the Minister for Planning about this land. Of course, we are very keen to make sure we can do the right thing by the people within the surrounds of that area. It is a very, very important and tricky area.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have personally met with the residents who live behind that development. A lot of them were short-changed on the ancillary works done to their homes as a result of the roadworks. Some of them had their requests refused by the previous government. Those requests have now been accepted by this current government, and we are making sure that those homes are having the treatments that they need, treatments in line with work done on other people's properties nearby.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Playford, who has been waiting very patiently.

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