LONG LIFE ROADS PROGRAM

291 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (21 October 2008).

1. Of the $8.850 million allocated for the Long Life Roads program in 2007-08, what percentage of works will go towards addressing the $200 million backlog of road maintenance identified by the RAA in 2007?

2. What is the current road maintenance backlog value?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy): I provide the following information:

The total $8.850 million in the Long Life Roads Program in 2008-09 has been allocated to the first stage of the Penola Bypass. The first stage (the southern section of the total bypass) will provide a bypass for heavy vehicles transporting harvested blue gums and will remove an additional 220 heavy vehicles per day through the township of Penola.

In line with best practice asset management principles Australian State road authorities compare asset management related performance through the Smooth Travel Exposure indicator. This indicator shows a marked improvement in the performance of South Australian roads since 2002-03.

The maintenance program includes funds for routine road maintenance activities, road resurfacing and rehabilitation works, outback roads, and maintenance of ferries, bridges, pavement marking, guard fence, traffic signals and road lighting.

The total State road maintenance budget for 2008-09 is $76.6 million. This compares to an expenditure of $59.4 million in 2000-01 and $62.5 million in 2001-02.