Public Transport

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:56): My question is directed to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. What has been the result of recent public transport upgrades and initiatives in the electorate of Ashford, including the showground station and the nearby reopened Millswood station? I should say it is in the electorates of Ashford and Unley.

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) (14:57): I thank the member for Ashford for her question and ongoing support of improved public transport services in her electorate. With this year's Royal Adelaide Show, again, thousands of commuters chose to catch upgraded public transport services to avoid traffic congestion and parking. As I have stated previously, following the state government's investment in the showground station, over 110,000 commuters used the facility in its first year of operation with approximately 50,000 during last year's Royal Adelaide Show.

I am pleased to say that this year's Royal Show saw similar popularity with show goers, with almost 2,000 more commuters taking advantage of the upgraded station than during last year's show. In addition, almost 13,000 commuters used shuttle bus services, further reducing local congestion and allowing families to easily travel to and from the show. This continued high level of patronage demonstrates the positive response from the public when public transport facilities are improved.

Similarly, as members are well aware, in October of last year, the state government delivered on our election commitment to reopen the Millswood train station on the Belair line for a 12-month trial. This was the result of a long and committed campaign by local residents (and their parliamentary representative) to return rail services to that part of their local community. It was back in 2009, I am advised, that the member for Ashford attended a public meeting that had been organised by former Unley councillor Mr Les Birch, and the Reopen Millswood Station Group was formally established.

In November of that year, a petition was organised by the newly established group and the petition, with over 300 signatures, was presented to both the member for Ashford and the member for Unley by local campaigners on the steps of Parliament House. In more recent times, local campaigner Mr John Gasper, as well as Mr Birch and Jane Brooks, together with many other Ashford and Unley residents, were delighted to hear from the then transport minister (the member for West Torrens) that the station would be reopened for a trial period. Significant work was put into improving accessibility through ramp modifications and raising the height of the platform to an acceptable standard for modern rail services. New shelters were installed, along with platform furniture, lighting, platform fencing and upgraded passenger information systems.

I had the opportunity to catch the train service to Millswood station together with the member for Ashford to a community celebration marking the reopening, where we had the pleasure of meeting many of these residents. With the completion of the trial, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has been able to analyse the patronage at Millswood. Since its reopening, over 15,600 commuters have caught train services from the station. This equates to an average of 1,300 commuters per month taking advantage of the return of services, 20 years after the station was closed by the former Liberal government.

Mad March proved to be the most popular month, with 26 per cent more commuters catching services from Millswood than the monthly average. The importance of running a 12-month trial is to ensure that patronage data is captured across the seasons, in all weather conditions, and that any potential patronage growth can be identified. Patronage in recent months, I am advised, has been markedly higher when compared to the opening months.

These figures are not insignificant as the state government continues its decade-long investment in public transport. I am pleased to report also that, although Belair line remains our smallest passenger rail line, operating on only a single track, thousands of commuters per day rely on it, and following this trial, the state government will keep the Millswood train station open, and will continue to encourage public transport use throughout the local community. I would like to thank the member for Ashford for her commitment to this initiative, and the local residents of her electorate should be incredibly proud at her continuing determination to improve services in her community.