With over 20,000 vehicles per day passing through the busy Ovingham rail crossing, the train caused the boom gates at Torrens Road to be down for approximately 20 per cent of peak traffic periods, resulting in significant congestion issues on the fringe of Adelaide's CBD. While the removal of the level crossing to enhance traffic flow and address commuter frustration was a project priority, minimising disruptions for neighbouring residents and businesses was equally important
We established and managed a Community Liaison Group that embraced the opportunity to create a greener landscaped community space enhanced with public art and the initiative of a time capsule buried near the new crossing. We fostered community ownership by actively engaging with and asking the community about their needs and wishes. To support impacted residents during extensive night works, we created care packages with vouchers to encourage local business patronage. Staff voucher programs, business signage, promotional flyers, and media advertisements were all utilised to support local businesses, and we held community events involving local businesses to celebrate significant project milestones together.
Further innovative programs for community development included partnering on nature initiatives like butterfly and bee gardens, school garden planting days and installing public art murals. We also led the recycling and repurposing of project materials and engaged Kaurna Elders for educational dance workshops, cultural sessions and museum tours.
We used a creative approach to engage residents and businesses in infrastructure upgrades while minimising disruption. By working collaboratively with the community, we helped build community ownership of vital crossing improvements, which in turn improved community sentiment. The Ovingham Level Crossing Removal project is the first infrastructure project in South Australia that includes an extensive collection of public artwork opportunities. These art initiatives not only brought vibrancy to the area but also honoured traditional Kaurna ownership, creating a significant legacy for the local community.
