By Mayor Glenn Docherty
City of Playford in the northern suburbs of Adelaide is experiencing intense population growth. The State Government’s Plan for Greater Adelaide identifies the majority of future residential and industrial growth in Adelaide will occur in Northern Adelaide and that residential growth will continue at a rapid pace for the next 20 years.
Seven people are making Playford their home each day with a current population of over 105,000 people which is set to soar to 149,000 by 2041.
There are new housing estates in suburbs across the city and once semi-rural towns are being transformed by residential growth. In Playford’s north-west, the suburb of Riverlea Park is welcoming its first residents in what is predicted to become a community of over 30,000 people – South Australia’s largest land development to date.
While growth brings vibrancy and diversity, it also brings challenges such as increased traffic and road use.
By contrast, Playford’s older and more established suburbs built since the 1950s that are renewed on a cyclical basis as infrastructure approaches its end of life. There is demand on council to ensure it equitably funds growth areas and addresses the effects of growth on our roads, while ensuring our existing communities are renewed.
In 2023/24, $11.5m has been allocated for road and kerb renewal, distributed over approximately 60 roads across the council area.
To balance growth and renewal and with over 900km of roads, City of Playford takes a longterm approach to road management. This is formalised through city-wide strategies that feed into our four-year work plans and Strategic Asset Management Plan. At the heart of this planning are the needs and aspirations of our diverse community and what we hear them say is important when it comes to safety and ease of use on local roads. No forward planning occurs without close consultation with the Elected Members and community. Their ability to influence our work is facilitated in an authentic and genuine environment where we close the loop and keep our community informed of our decision making. We make it clear
that council’s resources are finite.
Over coming months, a number of major projects to bring rural roads to an urban standard in rapidly growing communities will be complete. This includes Stebonheath Road, Heaslip Road, Angle Vale and the main street of Virginia (Old Port Wakefield Road). These are roads that will not only look better with improved streetscapes but will also foster a safer and more connected local community.
While the City of Playford is on a good trajectory with its road management and renewal program, it is vital to maintain and build strong and effective partnerships for co-investment by State and Federal Government to respond to growth and unlock the full potential of our region.
In 2022/23, City of Playford leveraged over $8m of external funding for a variety of major projects including funding from the Federal Government via South Australia’s Black Spot program to address the poor safety record of one of Playford’s road intersections.
Moving forward council will continue to work with and advocate to all tiers of government to improve Playford’s road network for our fast-growing community.
