Crozier Terrace – Conversion of Private Road to Public Road

Marion Council has commenced a process pursuant to Section 210 of the Local Government Act 1999 to convert privately owned roads in the Oaklands Park area, around the Oaklands Railway Station.

As part of the broader Oaklands Crossing Project, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport commenced a project in 2019 to tidy up boundaries surrounding the newly updated Oaklands Railway Station to create a single rail corridor which includes track, a landscaped buffer and pedestrian access.

Currently the boundaries of the rail corridor including the landscaped buffer and pedestrian access encroach over the boundary of Crozier Terrace in the vicinity of the pedestrian access between Crozier Avenue and Morphett Street.

During preliminary enquiries to commence the road closure process it was discovered that Crozier Terrace has never been declared a public road.

The original subdivision of this portion of Oaklands Park was completed in 1915.

The roads are identified on both the title and the plan as:
• Barry Road
• Johnstone Road
• Kearnes Road
• Crozier’s Terrace
• Crozier Terrace
• Murray Terrace

For subdivisions completed prior to the enactment of the Town Planning and Development Act of 1920, all roads remain under the ownership of the original land developer until they are formally transferred or vested to the local council.

Given the extensive number of roads created through this process in metropolitan Adelaide, it is not uncommon for some roads to have never been vested or transferred to the local council.

Consequently, these roads remain private even though the local council has assumed responsibility for their maintenance.

This situation persists until an official action, such as a road closure, necessitates the declaration of these roads as public.

In situations where the owner of a private road is either unknown or cannot be located, the Council may only proceed with a declaration under Section 210 of the LG Act regarding that road if reasonable inquiries have first been conducted to identify the owner.

Should the inquiries lead to the identification of the owner, the declaration can only be made if the owner provides their consent.

The intention of the public notice is to allow anyone who believes they are an owner to come forward to Council with their potential claim. Any potential owner will need to prove their claim.

Any objections or claims relating to the proposed public roads declaration can be submitted in writing to the City of Marion at PO Box 21 Park Holme SA 5043 by 24 October 2025.

For more information, please contact Council’s Property and Facilities Team on 08 8375 6600.