Ministerial Statement

O-Bahn Tunnel

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) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Today, the Premier and I have announced the next stage of the O-Bahn city access project. The O-Bahn is one of our most important pieces of public transport infrastructure, carrying over 31,000 commuters to and from the city on any average workday. Currently, between 7am and 9am, we have 150 bus services carrying thousands of commuters along the busway and along Hackney Road, often suffering delays at the Botanic Road intersection. In February last year, the government committed $160 million to build an O-Bahn to take bus services more quickly into Grenfell Street and to provide more road space for the road users on the inner city ring route.

After further planning and scoping works, today we have announced an improved project which has benefits not just for bus commuters and for motorists but also for our Parklands, our East End precinct of Adelaide, for event organisers and for pedestrians and cyclists. This innovative project outlines a tunnel for O-Bahn buses and realigning Rundle Road, both to link directly with Grenfell Street. This improved project, to be delivered within the original budget of $160 million, provides important time savings for commuters and further improves the reliability of the O-Bahn bus services.

This realignment of Rundle Road means that the state government can return over 3,000 square metres of Parklands and deliver bigger and better open space for events staged in Rundle and Rymill parks, such as the Adelaide Fringe. The repositioning of car parking from Rundle Road to East Terrace, and the removal of through traffic from Rundle Street, means a better environment for shoppers and diners in our East End precinct.

On the realigned Rundle Road, vehicles will have a more direct route to Grenfell Street which is where our modelling shows over 60 per cent of cars currently using Rundle Road are headed. A separated median strip will reserve the corridor for the future EastLINK tram extension, as outlined in the draft integrated transport and land use plan. New walking and cycling tracks, improved open event space, more trees and a new urban design for the eastern Parklands will today be opened up for community feedback, allowing the community to contribute to this project and tell the government what improvements they would like to see in this part of our vibrant city.

Over the following weeks, I will be offering briefings and information to other members, relevant stakeholders, businesses and residents, and of course those who rely on the O-Bahn every day. If anyone would like information on the improved O-Bahn city access proposal, including members present, they can visit the O-Bahn page of www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au. Alternatively, they can email the team at DPTI.OBahn@sa.gov.au or call the project inquiry line on 1300 443 198.