10 April 2026
A special ceremony was held to honour the Traditional Owners of the Kaurna land on which the South Australian Government’s Verdun Interchange Upgrade Project is being constructed, to show respect for their ongoing connection to the land and culture, and set the cultural foundations for this major project.
A total of 40 attendees, including Kaurna Elders, representatives from the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC), other Aboriginal representatives, and project team members were present at the recent Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
Held in the shade of large eucalyptus trees, the Welcome to Country was delivered by Senior Kaurna Elder, Uncle Neville Highfold.
The Smoking Ceremony was facilitated by Trevor Wanganeen Jr., who carried the smoking material around the circle, allowing the attendees to participate in the cleansing ceremony.
Speeches on the morning highlighted the importance of building relationships with the Kaurna People and creating job opportunities for Aboriginal people.
Delivered by the BMD Leed Joint Venture and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, the upgraded interchange will allow access to and from the South Eastern Freeway in all directions.