‘I didn’t sleep last night’: Residents devastated by compulsory acquisition of homes for North-South Corridor

A further 224 homes and businesses will be acquired in South Australia’s south to make way for the last stage of the South Road upgrade. 

The state government has sent letters to locals north of ANZAC Highway and up to the River Torrens who will be affected by the last instalment of the North-South Corridor project.

Christine and Michael Holowiecki were among the residents devastated to find out the government would be acquiring their family home, where they have lived for 10 years. 

Ms Holowiecki said six weeks ago someone knocked on her door asking if she wanted to be kept informed about the development, but other than that, there had been no communication from the government. 

“They’ve got my contact details so I don’t know why they didn’t communicate with me before the letter, not only me, but the other residents as well,” she said. 

“I really feel the Department of Transport could have handled this a lot better and should learn from this. 

“In the future, communicate with residents, well before just dropping a letter off.” 

The River Torrens to Darlington section forms the final 10.5-kilometre piece of the North-South Corridor and construction has been scheduled to begin in 2023.

Nearly 400 properties in total will be acquired for the North-South Corridor project.

Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard told ABC Radio Adelaide that the reference design — which is yet to be released — ensures fewer properties would be affected.

“That’s really great news.

“At the same time, there are the 393 properties in total that I’ve talked about and I understand that that’s tough for people.”

The state opposition has questioned if the government will use the most up-to-date property valuations when acquiring properties for the project.

Labor’s Tom Koutsantonis said a parliamentary committee will investigate the department’s acquisition model.

He said acquiring properties at the northern end of the corridor now has raised questions.

“I want to get to the bottom of the motives of that and find out exactly why, and I hope it’s not about trying to save money and I hope it’s not about trying to get it at a lower valuation but this committee will get to the bottom of it, we’ll find out,” he said.

Mr Wingard said the valuations will be done at the time people chose to sell.

“So, house prices are what they are now, so that will taken into consideration, if the house is sold now,” he said.

“If it’s sold in two-and-a-bit year’s time, the prices then will be taken into consideration.”

Labor MP Jayne Stinson said many residents are angered by the lack of consultation.

“People are really shocked, they are stunned that they found out their homes, their biggest asset is being taken by the government and they found out about it by a letter in the mail.” 

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