Park-and-Ride Facilities

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house on the state government's investment in park-and-ride facilities across our state network, particularly in my electorate of Florey?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:03): How topical, Mr Speaker. Thank you to the member for Florey for her keen interest in this important area of investment. I do answer the question, I have to say, with mixed emotions because, while we have had significant success in these programs in the past, we are not 100 per cent sure how successful we can be into the future—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —particularly not in Paradise. What an excellent interjection from the member for Hartley. What a wonderful birthday he is having!

An honourable member: His best ever.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: His best ever, that's right. His cup runneth over. Just last week, we celebrated the official opening of the Dumas Street park-and-ride with the Mayor from the District Council of Mount Barker Anne Ferguson and, of course, my good friend the member for Kavel up there as part of another productive country cabinet meeting, this time in the Hills. Local residents from Mount Barker all the way to Strathalbyn and Murray Bridge have already hailed this investment—

Mr Bell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mount Gambier is warned.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —as a huge success. Constituents of the member for Kavel—

Ms Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —even the member for Heysen. Was that you slandering someone?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: You were talking to someone, not just yourself? Okay, no worries. We have had tremendous success with these park-and-rides, particularly the one in Mount Barker: it has been filled to two-thirds its capacity. For townships outside of Adelaide, infrastructure that promotes public transport use and connects communities is absolutely vital. Park-and-rides have proven themselves to be an efficient approach to encouraging more patronage throughout our public transport network. By providing a safe and reliable transport point onto Adelaide Metro services from private vehicles, we reduce the need for busy commuters to choose between a car or a bus, train or tram.

We recognised the benefits of this transport infrastructure to local communities and that is why at the last election we outlined a raft of policies to improve our public transport network. Part of our public transport strategy has been to increase these park-and-ride spaces across the established network, building on this continued success. As the house would be aware, this government successfully added over 5,300 parking spaces to key parts of our network since 2002. That is at least 5,300 commuters saving time and money without having to drive and park in the city.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Apparently improved public transport is a socialist measure. Is that something you are interested in—social issues now, is it—Leader of the Opposition? Finally you are interested in health issues, you are finally interested in public transport—the revelation! Only six months and nine days after the election, you are finally interested in social issues. What a revelation this day has been for the Leader of the Opposition—what a revelation! For the benefit of those opposite, from the latest counts, the site of the Paradise interchange is regularly exceeding capacity, with a proposed upgrade and extension now at risk—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —because of the decisions made by those opposite.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned for the second and final time. I mean it.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Our site at Tea Tree Plaza in Modbury, a popular destination for north-eastern commuters catching O-Bahn services, is regularly filling to 90 per cent capacity. Further down the O-Bahn track, at Klemzig, it is also regularly full during peak periods, showing the overwhelming popularity of the recent investment by the state Labor government.

Our investment continued with the expansions of two of our busiest park-and-ride locations at Smithfield and Noarlunga, opened last week. With over 680 spaces collectively, these two sites meet growing demand along our two most popular rail lines. Although our hands have been potentially somewhat tied by decisions taken in recent times, these are still incredibly important pieces of public transport infrastructure, and I am very glad to report their progress and success to the house.