Answers to Questions

APY Lands Road Upgrade Project

184 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (21 October 2014). (First Session) In reference to 2014-15 Budget Paper 3, page 134, what transport projects are being undertaken with the budgeted expenditure of $106 million for transport upgrades in the APY lands and what are the details of these projects?

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): I provide the following information:

The $106 million transport upgrades project in the APY lands is a jointly funded project between the South Australian government and Australian government. The state government is contributing $21 million and the Australian government $85 million for this project over the next five years.

The APY lands road project includes an upgrade of 210 kilometres of the main access road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja (Ernabella) and more than 20 kilometres of community roads in the lands, as well as providing all-weather access to airstrips at Pukatja (Ernabella), Umuwa, Kaltjiti (Fregon), Mimili and Marla.

The project will include ongoing training and employment for Anangu through the development of an employment strategy as well as the delivery of a road safety education program.