South Australian Businesses Halt Decisions Amid Truro Bypass Uncertainty

Businesses situated along a major South Australian thoroughfare are holding back on making decisions about their future, amid continued uncertainty surrounding a slated road project that could divert traffic around the area.

Plans for a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass have been gaining traction since the 2025 federal election, when it was again put back on the agenda as a major commitment by both major parties.

The $1 billion project includes rerouting vehicles around the township of Truro, a small town located on the Sturt Highway, which doubles as the main street.

But the full timeline for the works remains unclear, with the state government continuing to argue the federal government should fund the project on an 80:20 per cent basis.

The dispute follows previous federal and state governments committing funds for a Truro bypass in 2021, before it was defunded by the federal Labor government in 2023.

The ongoing uncertainty has forced local businesses to pump the brakes on making choices of their own, while they wait for an update on what the next stages of the project look like.

Influence of the highway

The Truro Hotel is one of those businesses situated along the thoroughfare.

It was brought back to life just under a year ago after an extended closure and sale period.

Manager Nicholas Brown, who moved to the town to take up the posting, said the hotel had since become a place for locals and travellers to connect and take a break.

"A fair bit of traffic does come through off the highway, because people driving past see the pub and they'll turn in at the last minute," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said the owners of the venue had progressed plans to rebuild a bottle shop across the road.

But he said uncertainty about how soon a bypass would be built, and what impact it would have on visitor numbers through the town, had raised concerns about its long-term viability.

"Would [the traffic] be enough to run a site on the opposite side of the road, away from the pub, where we need to employ a half a dozen people to run it?" Mr Brown said.

"I don't think it would be viable with the fact we're not quite big enough as a town; the town relies on the outside influence from the highway."

Building the bypass

Discussions about a potential freight bypass around Truro have been active for decades, with plans drawn up and scrapped by previous governments over the years.

Locals have long had differing views on the project. Some praise it as a necessary step forward and others are sceptical about both its impact on the town's identity and whether it will ever come to fruition.

The Commonwealth has offered to fund 60 per cent of the cost, and did not allocate any new funding in the May federal budget, leaving South Australia to cover the rest.

SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis told 891 ABC Adelaide this month it would start building the bypass "as quickly as possible" if an 80:20 split was reached.

He added he would "stick to his guns" on securing an 80 per cent agreement, ahead of the upcoming June state budget.

The state opposition is calling for works to progress.

Christopher Parker can see both positives and negatives in a bypass project proceeding.

The former Melbourne-based musician has spent three years living in the town after purchasing a winery to turn into a car and motorcycle museum in memory of his father.

Eric Parker left behind more than 200 historic vehicles and a wish for someone to "continue the collection" in some form, a challenge his son was keen to tackle.

"When we moved here, we weren't aware of the bypass thing. We just saw the venue and said, 'This is perfect,'" Mr Parker said.

"Then we realised, 'Wow, what a great location, smack bang on a busy highway, the main highway to the Riverland and going to Adelaide.'"

But Mr Parker said he "couldn't sleep for the first three months" in Truro, as the constant noise from passing trucks would rattle his windows and keep him up at night.

"As a resident living right on the main road, from a selfish point of view, I'd like a decent night's sleep for once in my life, but you adapt. You have to be adaptable," he said.

Despite the prospect of attracting passing travellers to his father's collection when it eventually opens, Mr Parker said he wanted a decision made so he could begin planning for the future.

"If the bypass does happen, I have great visions of closing down the main street, putting on these massive car and motorcycle festivals, hot rods, the works,"

"I see there's potential for whatever happens; we'll make it work."