Council calls for Mount Barker mass transit priority following Labor’s corridor announcement

The announcement outlines a proposed 33-kilometre corridor from Dry Creek through Waterloo Corner and Riverlea to Two Wells, aimed at supporting Adelaide’s northern growth areas.

While Council supports proactive corridor protection to accommodate future housing growth, it says similar urgency must be applied to Mount Barker, one of the fastest-growing regions in Greater Adelaide, where an existing rail corridor is already in place.

In the 2024 State Budget, the State Government committed $10 million to explore extending Adelaide’s rail network beyond the metropolitan area, including investigating what would be required to run services to Mount Barker.

Acting Mayor Rowan Voogt said the focus must now turn to delivery and clear prioritisation.

“What we need is certainty that planning will be prioritised where demand and growth are already placing pressure on existing infrastructure, and that is Mount Barker,” Acting Mayor Voogt said.

Mount Barker continues to experience rapid population growth, contributing to congestion and safety concerns along the South Eastern Freeway, particularly during peak periods. Incidents on the freeway frequently result in significant delays, highlighting the region’s reliance on a single major transport corridor.

The council says a rail extension would provide a reliable alternative to road transport, ease pressure on the freeway network and support long-term, sustainable growth.

Councillor Ian Grosser, who has previously raised in Council meetings the need for the return of passenger rail services to Mount Barker, also called on the State Government to apply the same forward-planning approach in Mount Barker as proposed in the north, including securing land for future stations and park-and-ride facilities along the existing corridor. “Reserving land for future transport corridors is sound planning,” Councillor Grosser said.

“Mount Barker already has an existing rail line and significant population growth. However, reinstating passenger services will only remain viable if suitable land for stations and park-and-ride facilities is secured before surrounding areas are fully developed.

“If the State Government is serious about future-proofing growth, that work must start now in Mount Barker as well.”

Council will continue advocating to the State Government to ensure the Adelaide Hills is prioritised in future passenger rail planning and investment decisions.