Adelaide Hills locals have voiced their anger over the decision to scrap a proposed heavy vehicle bypass at Hahndorf.
A bypass and interchange onto the South Eastern Freeway had been proposed just east of Hahndorf to reduce the number of large trucks travelling through the busy tourism town, renowned for its German heritage.
Instead, the South Australian government decided last month to upgrade the interchanges at Verdun and Mount Barker.
Robin Hooper has lived in Hahndorf for 20 years and said increased commuter traffic combined with trucks and tourists was an accident waiting to happen.
"It's not the commuters' fault — they have to come through here — but there's no other way to access the freeway: they have no choice in the matter," he said.
The Department for Transport and Infrastructure ran consultation sessions today and last Tuesday seeking feedback on the latest plans.
Jeremy Roberts has lived in Hahndorf for 12 years and said he would keep fighting for a bypass.
"We don't see this as a final decision," he said.
"We are told at the consultation that there's still wriggle room, and we think that's possibly the way forward and for wiser heads to prevail on this topic."
Government happy with plan
Three designs for new or upgraded interchanges were released early last year but then the former Liberal state government sought further consultation on a fourth design developed in conjunction with locals.
That plan would have seen trucks going through part of the Beerenberg strawberry farm, where fruit is grown for jam and for tourists to pick.
Premier Peter Malinauskas today said that proposal was "overwhelmingly" rejected by locals during "comprehensive community consultation".
"We've listened to that community feedback and we've taken it seriously, which is why we've come up with an alternate strategy to invest heavily in the interchanges at Verdun and also at Mount Barker that will alleviate pressure on Hahndorf while at the same time we're going to invest in the main street," he said.
Opposition regional roads spokesman Adrian Pederick said his government's original proposal was "absolutely fantastic" compared with the "C-grade" plan Labor was backing.
"It is outrageous and that's why so many citizens are coming here to vent their frustration," he said.
Anthony Paech, the managing director of Beerenberg, said the transport department and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis had made the right decision on the project and the issue was "finished now".
"We consider ourselves stewards of this land and are very relieved the decision has been made to protect the natural environment by maintaining the integrity of the farmland around Hahndorf, while still delivering vital improvements to the main street," the Paech family wrote in a letter to Mr Koutsantonis that was read out in parliament.
"This decision gives us certainty for the future, as we continue to invest in building a strong local business with global reach."
