Kaurna land in southwest under threat from $620m Darlington interchange project

by **Admin** Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:40 pm

Marion Council is worried the State Government will acquire part of Warriparinga to make way for the $620 million Darlington interchange upgrade.
The 3.5ha site, bordered by South, Sturt and Marion roads, marks the beginning of the Tjilbruke Dreaming Track, which follows the coastline to Cape Jervis.
Councillors voted last week to oppose any move by the State Government to acquire part of the site, which is home to wetlands and the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre.
Friends of Warriparinga chairman Bruce Wilson welcomed the council’s move and said the group had been lobbying the government to keep its hands off the reserve.
“This place is really, really significant to the Kaurna people ... because this would have been like paradise,” Mr Wilson said.
“This is the last natural river course of any river on the Adelaide Plains.
“Fortunately we have got the council on our side.
“Up until (the council meeting on Tuesday) night, we thought we were bashing our heads against a brick wall.”
Part of Warriparinga was lost in 2011 for the Southern Expressway duplication project.
Mr Wilson said the group was determined not to let the government continually chip away at it.
“It’s a natural haven in the middle of suburbia,” he said.
“As it shrinks, in the end they will say, what’s the point?”
The Darlington upgrade project will build Sturt Rd and Flinders Drive overpasses across the Southern Expressway.
Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the council was concerned about the impact of the works on the site.
“Council really values the open space that’s left at Warriparinga,” Mr Hanna said.
Cr Raelene Telfer said there was “real concern that the biodiversity of Warriparinga will be compromised”.
Cr Bruce Hull said there had been many encroachments on the land over the years.
“We keep describing it as a special place and a place that needs to be protected (but) at the end of the day, I can see the government is going to compulsorily acquire that land,” Cr Hull said.
A Transport Department spokesman said the government would continue to work with the council throughout the design process for the Darlington upgrade project.