Politics · Australia · 21 hrs ago
Playford residents call for road upgrades as traffic worsens
Residents in Playford, Adelaide’s fast-growing northern area, are calling for road upgrades as traffic worsens on Curtis Road and nearby routes.
Playford’s population grew from about 71,000 in 2006 to 116,000, and is projected to reach 184,000 by 2046.
A petition with more than 10,000 signatures asks the South Australian government to improve roads, including Curtis and Womma roads, Main North Road and exits from the Northern Expressway.
Residents say congestion can make daily travel difficult and could delay emergency services, including during bushfire season.
Playford council says an average of 10 people a day could move into the area over the next 20 years, adding pressure to roads built when the district was more rural.
The petition has gone to a parliamentary committee to examine possible fixes; Planning Minister Nick Champion opposes a development freeze, saying it could cost jobs and limit housing options.
Residents in Playford, Adelaide’s northern suburbs, are calling for road upgrades as traffic congestion worsens.
A petition with more than 10,000 signatures urges the government to improve local roads.
Suggested measures include adding lanes to Curtis and Womma roads and widening Main North Road.
Playford’s population grew from about 71,000 in 2006 to 116,000, and is projected to reach 184,000 by 2046.
Planning Minister Nick Champion says freezing development would cost jobs, limit housing options and reduce council revenue for road upgrades.
- Who
- Playford residents, including petition organiser Bronnie Coulter, are calling for road improvements. Planning Minister Nick Champion opposes a development freeze.
- What
- Residents are seeking upgrades to roads amid worsening congestion, and some have called for land releases and home approvals to pause.
- When
- The article was published on 7 November 2026. The petition was tabled in state parliament last month.
- Where
- Playford council area in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, South Australia.
- Why
- Residents say population growth has increased traffic on roads that were not built for current volumes.
Playford residents and road-upgrade campaigners
Planning Minister Nick Champion
Development controls
Playford residents and road-upgrade campaigners
A council motion called for land releases and home approvals to pause, while residents’ petition urged road improvements.
Planning Minister Nick Champion
Champion says a development freeze would cost jobs, limit housing options and sacrifice council rates that could fund road upgrades.
Playford’s population grew from approximately 71,000 to 116,000.
Sarah Game MLC tabled Bronnie Coulter’s petition in state parliament.
A Playford council motion calling for a pause on land releases and home approvals failed by five votes to seven.
Playford’s population is projected to reach 184,000.
- Petition
- More than 10,000 signatures
- Population in 2006
- Approximately 71,000
- Population reported
- 116,000
- Projected population by 2046
- 184,000
- Council motion
- Failed 5–7
What people are saying
People couldn't get in fast enough [to sign] … they can't believe the growth has happened without improvements to the local roads
cost jobs
We need new housing, but we need the new infrastructure to support it.