PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: MAIN NORTH ROAD REALIGNMENT VIA ANAMA LANE

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (11:29): I move:

That the 437^th report of the committee, entitled Main North Road Realignment via Anama Lane, be noted.

The committee has received a proposal to upgrade a section of local road (Anama Lane) to modify three associated junctions and to transfer responsibility from local government to the state government, thereby creating an arterial road link that will provide significant benefits to road users north of Clare.

The scope of the project includes three junction upgrades and the upgrading of a 2.8 kilometre section of existing local road (Anama Lane). These works have been sectioned into project areas: the Main North Road/Black Rock-Clare Road junction upgrade; the Black Rock-Clare Road/Anama Lane junction upgrade; the Main North Road/Anama Lane junction upgrade; and the Anama Lane Road upgrade.

The total project allocation for the Main North Road realignment via Anama Lane is $10.3 million. The project will be funded over the two-year period of 2011-12 and 2012-13. The key aims of the project are: to improve road safety for all road users; to improve the efficiency of the arterial road network for interstate and local freight industries; to improve the asset sustainability by extending the pavement life; and to reduce operating costs for arterial road users. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2013. Given this and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends these proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:31): Once again, the opposition supports this project.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (11:31): I rise to speak on this matter with some emotion, because that road was one of the first projects I raised in this house 22 years ago. It did not take long, did it? I am overjoyed that we are finally seeing this road upgraded. It was obvious to people travelling in the area that to travel across Anama Lane on to the Spalding to Clare Road was a much better alternative to travelling down past Bungaree, where the road was very dangerous and bendy. It is quite a picturesque area. If you happen to strike a big truck on that one bad bend there, you are in serious trouble.

Also the trucks had an area where they would tip over because the camber is going the wrong way as well. So, it was a very dangerous piece of road and a very picturesque part of the country. All I can say is that good things happen to those who wait, even though it has been 22 years. I am overjoyed.

I want to pay tribute to the Hawker family who first raised this matter with me. The late Joan Hawker lived at Anama, next door. Also, the late mayor Bob Phillips from Clare—even though it was not his area—was always on at me about that. Anyway, job done.

Before I retire I have only one project left, and that is the Barossa hospital. I have not given up. This is one project that has been there from the very start. When I was elected, Clare was actually in the middle of the electorate. Time has moved on but the projects have not, and I am very pleased that this one has come to fruition.

Mr BROCK (Frome) (11:33): I also rise to support this motion and also to congratulate the member for Schubert. Twenty-two years—why did it take you so long to actually get the job done? I would also like to congratulate the Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council. When I came to this position here, one of the first things it did was bring this matter to my attention—about the long discussions that were being held and the attempts to have these intersections or parts of local government roads transferred to government in order to share responsibility and improve intersections.

We then took the mayor and the CEO of the council to the minister and we had numerous discussions, the final result being the realignment of the Anama Lane intersection coming on to the Spalding Road and the Spalding Road intersection just north of Clare.

As the member for Schubert has indicated, the section of road past Bungaree Station is about 14 kilometres. It is very undulating, very dangerous and it has been a real bone of contention from both the council's point of view and the community's point of view when it comes to safety. It just goes to prove that, if you communicate and work in partnership with local government, good things come to fruition.

I am certainly looking forward to the completion of the work. Member for Schubert, as you say, you have one more. Let us hope that you get that up before you retire. I commend the motion to the parliament.

Motion carried.