Adelaide Hills - Rail Tunnel Scoping Study
Dr Paul Szuster
MBA and management students benefit from my practical pedagogy and andragogy, drawing from my extensive business and management career, and underpinned by my relevant qualifications as a management educator.
In 2005 I was commissioned by an international management consultancy to identify potential civil projects in South Australia that might benefit from their expertise.
One such opportunity was to scope the social and economic benefits from the development of a rail tunnel system through the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east of Adelaide in SA.
In recent times, the public dialogue surrounding transport congestion along the SE Freeway has brought to the fore the consideration of improving rail access in the region. Consequently I brought out my records and began approaching key stakeholders from the three levels of government and the private sector. On Monday the 2nd of August I had the opportunity to put my proposal for a scoping study to the District Council of Mount Barker.
As I left the meeting I was “door-stopped†by Lydia Kellner, a journalist from the daily paper, The Advertiser. She was excited by my proposal and asked whether she could write an article about it. The article has generated strong positive interest, it was headlined as;
“Business strategist Dr Paul Szuster calls for scoping study into dual rail tunnel to Adelaide Hills†can accessed at:
In the presentation I noted a range of social and economic benefits.
Social Benefits
??????Reduced usage of the SE Freeway through the hills.
??????Urban growth in and around Murray Bridge.
??????Regional growth: Mt Barker, Mannum, Tailem Bend, Monarto and Strathalbyn.
??????No need for a freight line via Palmer and the Barossa Valley.
??????No need to widen the SE Freeway through the hills.
??????Reduced pressure on the northern and southern urban fringes of greater Adelaide.
??????Release of current rail line from Nairne to Belair for urban activities
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??????Employment.
??????Minimal "Not in my back yard" (NIMBY).
Economic Benefits
??????A Mega project. Remember the effect that the Snowy Mountains Scheme when?Australia had to recover from the devastation of WWII.
??????Heavy Industry. Commercial activity for enterprises like Century Manufacturing?etc
??????Industrial projects.?Supply chain?benefit.
??????No need for a freight line via Palmer and the Barossa Valley.
??????No need to widen the SE Freeway through the hills.
??????Brinkley airport connection.
??????Employment.
??????Regional growth.
??????Minimal "Not in my back yard" (NIMBY).
?My proposal is for the conduct of a Trade Off study to weigh up the options as demonstrated by this diagram.
HR Manager
3 å¹´Essential for Hills dwellers, especially Mt Barker. Hope it is feasible
Commercial Manager | Strategic Thinker | Innovator
3 å¹´As the Heysen Tunnels was a game-changer, going underground to solve the many downsides of the SE freeway looks well worth a feasibility study. New ways of thinking from the most creative minds is essential if SA is to remain competitive. The South Rd / Flinders intersection outcome indicates we are in real need of new ideas. Progressive thinking Paul.
Managing Shepherd and Risk Taker
3 å¹´Forward thinking as usual Paul - this is a project that is so badly needed! Infrastructure never seems to keep up with population growth as so clearly shown in the Adelaide Hills at present. I wonder if there isn't a better route for freight trains north of Adelaide.
Strategy & Business Adviser at 'Strategic And Business Advisory Services' (SABAS)
3 å¹´I can appreciate the inevitable benefits of this project ... but ponder how 'The Office' on North Terrace would or could ever afford it. If a 6 to 8 kilometre tunnel under South Road has a budget of just shy of $10B (which will inevitably blow out to $15B plus!) I'd be intrigued to see how 'The Office' would fund this worthy rail based endeavour ... in particular in an environment where 'The Office' flatly refuses to even consider business opportunities in this State that would make this great State debt free AND Billions of dollars cash flow positive each year for at least the next 20 to 30 years! I wholeheartedly support you pushing this worthy initiative! ??