The Story of Heysen Boulevard
While the State Government required the road as part of the rezoning, delivery was left to individual developers. In accordance with the infrastructure deed between the State Government and developers the road was to be a single lane dual carriageway through the Mount Barker growth area. Rather than being built as a coordinated project, each developer was responsible only for the section crossing their land. Without an overarching construction program or timeline, the boulevard has been delivered in disconnected pieces over more than a decade.
Between 2011 and 2026, new estates progressively constructed their sections, but key gaps remained where development had not yet occurred. The result has been a series of "roads to nowhere" that fail to operate as the continuous collector road originally envisioned. Instead of relieving pressure on the network, traffic continues to funnel onto roads such as Wellington Road and Flaxley Road, contributing to congestion, constraining public transport and affecting emergency response times.
One of the most significant barriers was the railway line, where an 80-metre gap prevented the eastern and western sections from connecting. Following advocacy from Mount Barker District Council, the State Government partnered with Council to invest $5 million in a new level crossing, announced in 2023 and completed in late 2024. It marked the first significant government intervention in what had previously been an entirely developer-led project.
Despite this milestone, the boulevard remains incomplete. Today, just 360 metres of missing roadway prevents the full 9.6-kilometre corridor from functioning as intended with the remaining sections located on privately owned land where development has either not commenced or has been delayed.
These final gaps continue to impact the community by forcing traffic onto surrounding arterial roads and through residential streets, reducing network efficiency and limiting opportunities to expand public transport into newer neighbourhoods.
In response, Mount Barker District Council has moved beyond relying solely on developers and is actively pursuing options to complete the boulevard sooner. This includes investigating alternative delivery models such as land acquisition and direct government investment, building on the successful funding partnership that delivered the rail crossing.
As the surrounding suburbs have grown, Heysen Boulevard has also evolved into one of Mount Barker's most important commercial corridors. At the southern end, the Woolworths Mount Barker South precinct is anchored by major retail, McDonald's and KFC, with an On the Run service station planned nearby. Adjacent to the precinct, the $30 million Heysen Hotel is under construction and is expected to become Mount Barker's first new hotel in more than 160 years when it opens in 2027.
Further east, the Aston Hills Shopping Centre has become an established local hub anchored by Drakes supermarket and supported by cafés, restaurants, childcare services and a range of specialty businesses serving the district's growing population.
More than a transport corridor, Heysen Boulevard reflects both the opportunities and challenges of planning infrastructure for one of South Australia's fastest-growing communities. Completing the final 360 metres will not only unlock the full potential of the road network but also support future housing, commercial investment and improved connectivity for decades to come.
