Revised approach to safeguard environment and heritage at Hahndorf

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Hills residents will benefit from upgrades to interchanges at Verdun and Mt Barker, improvements to Hahndorf’s picturesque main street and an extension of the iconic Pioneer Women’s Trail, with the State Government finalising its consultation on the planned Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Project.

The State Government will take a revised approach to the project, balancing the needs of Adelaide Hills commuters while protecting and enhancing local heritage, business and the environment.

Following feedback from the community and new technical assessments, the previously proposed interchange on the South Eastern Freeway near Hahndorf has now been removed from the project scope, due to feedback regarding the impact it would have had on the surrounding environment, heritage, business and property.

The project will still include upgrades to the Verdun and Mount Barker interchanges to improve safety and accessibility both for the local community and tourists visiting the region by providing better connectivity with the South Eastern Freeway.

An upgrade to Hahndorf’s picturesque main street and an extension of the Pioneer Women’s Trail, all part of the original plan, will go ahead.

The Main Street upgrade includes plans for new street seating, enhanced outdoor dining areas, upgrades to footpaths within high pedestrian zones, footpath extensions, interpretive signage and heritage plaques for buildings, along with planting of new trees and landscaping and new green gateway treatments with trees and plants that reflect the character of Hahndorf. Mount Barker District Council is also committing funding towards this Main Street upgrade.

The extension of the Pioneer Women’s Trail completes the missing link between Hahndorf and Verdun and is important in recognising the historical and heritage importance of the trail.

The trail honours the early European female settlers who walked through the bush track from Hahndorf to Adelaide to collect fresh produce at a time when most food had to be imported into South Australia. Key features of the upgrade include replacement and widening of the existing Mount Barker Road bridge over the Onkaparinga River to include space for the Pioneer Women’s Trail, extension of the sealed pathway from the Hahndorf township to Silver Road in Verdun and improvements to two bus stops on the south side of Mount Barker Road. Impact to vegetation will be minimised by varying the width of the new trail.

The overall project will benefit the local Hahndorf community and businesses by improving accessibility to the town while enhancing its heritage character, streetscape and amenity to support liveability, tourism and economic growth.

The Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Project is jointly funded by the South Australian and Australian governments (80:20), with construction to commence in 2023.

Community information sessions will be held to provide more information about the project, for details visit: Hahndorf Township Strategic Traffic Planning Study and Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade Project - Department for Infrastructure and Transport - South Australia (dit.sa.gov.au).