Delays for 12,000-home Buckland Park

Walker Corporation development manager Simon Kay at the Buckland Park site. Picture: Sam Wundke Source: adelaidenow

THE 12,000-home Buckland Park housing estate is being held up by approvals for a crucial intersection upgrade at Angle Vale and Port Wakefield roads.

Work on stage one of the $2 billion project was set to start in September.

Project development manager Simon Kay said building would not start until the State Government signed off on plans to change the T-junction into a four-way intersection with traffic lights.

"It has taken longer than what we originally planned for but it's something we don't want to rush," Mr Kay, of developer Walker Corporation, said. "We've got the time to get it right."

The intersection would lead to the main roads in the development, allowing access for builders.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said preliminary designs had been approved and final designs, submitted by Walker Corporation early last month, were being reviewed.

She could not say when final approvals would be given but the intersection was required to be finished by November next year.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Northern Messenger, Mr Kay said:

 More than 10,000 jobs would be created at the estate over the next 30-years.

 Bus services were already in place in Virginia and would be extended to Buckland Park.

 A park and ride was being considered to link Buckland Park with train stations at Elizabeth and Gawler.

 The banks of the Gawler River might need to be built up to prevent flooding.

Mr Kay said there was "no way" the project would collapse, despite the delays.

"We have made a significant investment of almost $50 million," he said. "You don't invest that amount of money if you're not serious about it.

"It will absolutely go ahead, it's just a matter of getting the first stage right."

Stage one will include 600 homes and roads to connect the area.

Mr Kay said there would be a broad range of housing from affordable to high-end but said prices would depend on the market. He said growth at Buckland Park would be slow at first but hoped it would pick up in the next 5-10 years.

"The market is quite sluggish and will continue to be for the rest of the year. Next year things will start to grow at a more significant level. A project of this size will take 25-35 years and we have the time to ride peaks and troughs."

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