$59 Million Investment to Fast-Track New Homes in Adelaide's North

To address critical infrastructure bottlenecks, the South Australian government is investing $59 million in water and sewer upgrades within Adelaide's northern growth corridor. This initiative aims to prevent potential construction delays and project abandonment, issues raised by housing and construction industry associations concerned about the area's limited utility capacity.

Specifically, the investment targets five development sites in Angle Vale, where nearly 1,400 homes are slated for construction. Without these upgrades, the existing water and sewer networks would be unable to support the projected increase in demand. Currently, residents of 500 completed homes in these developments rely on daily vacuum truck removal of sewage, which is then transported to the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant—a clearly unsustainable situation.

The government has directed SA Water to allocate the $59 million for essential infrastructure improvements in Angle Vale. This funding will facilitate the construction of new trunk water and sewer mains, as well as the expansion of an existing sewer pump station. These upgrades will not only resolve current issues but also unlock further growth in the region by enabling ongoing network enhancements.

This investment is included within SA Water's 2024-2028 regulatory plan, which is currently undergoing review by ESCOSA, with a final decision expected next month. SA Water has already begun detailed design work and initiated the procurement of necessary materials. Sewer upgrades are anticipated to be completed by mid-2025, with water upgrades following by mid-2026.

This initial funding represents a portion of the total investment needed to address infrastructure demands in Adelaide's expanding outer suburbs. The government plans to unveil its comprehensive investment strategy and infrastructure master plan at a forthcoming "Housing Roadmap" event on Tuesday, June 25.

The "Housing Roadmap" will outline the government's strategy to enhance land availability, streamline planning procedures, resolve infrastructure challenges, and bolster workforce skills within the construction and planning sectors—all aimed at increasing homeownership in South Australia.

The infrastructure master plan is the result of collaborative discussions between government officials and key industry stakeholders, including the UDIA, Property Council of Australia (PCA), Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), Master Builders Australia (MBA), and Housing Industry Association (HIA).

Furthermore, the government’s Housing Infrastructure Planning and Development Unit (HIPDU) recently organized a workshop to foster interagency collaboration and improve the efficiency of construction sequencing on greenfield development sites, thereby accelerating the building process.