ROAD MAINTENANCE

279 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (23 October 2007).

1. Has any State Government funding been allocated for the maintenance of the road between William Creek and the Oodnadatta Track and if not, why not?

2. What consideration has been given to the re-aligning and re-sheeting of the road between William Creek and the Oodnadatta Track?

3. Has the any State Government funding been allocated for the maintenance of the road between Beltana Roadhouse and Beltana Station and if not, why not?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy):

i. & ii. William Creek is on the Oodnadatta Track and there is no road between William Creek and the Oodnadatta Track. In the past six years, State Government expenditure on the Oodnadatta Track has totalled approximately $6.5 million in major upgrade works plus routine maintenance expenditure of a further $1.2 million.

iii. On average, $5000 per year is allocated for the maintenance of the road between Beltana Roadhouse and the Beltana Station. The road was last fully graded in April 2007.

iv. The Mount Serle to Umberatana Homestead Access Road is maintained by DTEI and is graded once a year. The road from Umberatana to Arkaroola is station track and is not a public road maintained by DTEI.

Flood damage repairs were undertaken on the Mount Serle to Umberatana Homestead Access Road in July 2006, January 2007 and May 2007.

v. As at 23 October 2007 there were 13 routine maintenance gangs, one contract gang, two re-sheeting gangs and one construction gang operating in the far north region of South Australia.

vi. For the 2007-08 financial year, $13.3 million has been allocated to road gangs operating in the far north for routine maintenance and minor works. In addition, the State Government has allocated $23.5 million for flood damage recovery and $3.1 million to the roads to recovery program to further improve road conditions in the far north.

Projects that are currently being undertaken by the Department include re-sheeting of the Birdsville Track—Lake Harry to Frome Creek, re-sheeting of the Oodnadatta Track—Coward Springs to Bopeechee and targeted re-sheeting of the Merty Merty—Cameron Corner Road.

The Strzelecki Track upgrade, Blinman—Wilpena Road upgrade, Marree—Lyndhurst Road upgrade and Road Condition Sign Automation projects, with a total cost of $23.4 million, will all be completed by 2010. These projects will be cost shared through a 50:50 contribution between the State and Australian Governments, under the Auslink Strategic Regional Roads Program.

In addition, the State Government has committed funding of $2 million under the Rural Road Improvement Program to upgrade the Oodnadatta—Hamilton Road.

The Department will continue to undertake its routine maintenance activities (patrol grading) across the 10 000 kilometre unsealed road network.

vii. Gang and staff numbers working in the far north region at any one time may vary according to work demands and project scheduling.