Road Maintenance

Ms COOK (Fisher) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister explain to the house the government's investment in road maintenance on South Australian roads?

Mr Pederick: Four minutes isn't long enough.

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) (14:51): It isn't—because there's so much work going on. The member for Hammond is correct.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is warned.

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Can I thank the member for Fisher—

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —for her question and her interest in this area. I note some very late, after 13 years and eight months, interest from members of the opposition in roads earlier today, and that is a good thing. Hopefully, some of it filters forward towards the front bench.

As members would be aware, the Treasurer, in the June state budget, announced an additional $110 million for improvements to South Australia's existing road network. This included an additional $70 million to improve critical road infrastructure, focusing on resurfacing and resealing works, and to provide better quality road surfaces. The budget also included an additional $40 million to improve road safety, such as shoulder sealing, over the forward estimates.

This is an extension of the highly successful funding program over the previous four years that has significantly increased safety for road users, particularly on regional roads. Importantly, $71.5 million of this extra $110 million of funding will be spent in regional South Australia. Overall, this brings our total investment in improving our existing roads to a total of $513 million over the next four years, with approximately $322 million of this to be invested in regional South Australia.

Projects already completed include rehabilitation and resurfacing works at Port Wakefield Road near Balaklava, in the member for Goyder's electorate, as well as seven kilometres of shoulder sealing on the Balaklava road between Balaklava and Bowman, and also at Happy Valley Drive in the member for Fisher's electorate. Projects currently underway include Waterloo Corner Road, in the member for Ramsay's electorate; 17 kilometres of the Copper Coast Highway between Paskeville and Kadina, also in the member for Goyder's electorate; and about 1.3 kilometres of Marion Road between Thirza and Alawoona Avenue, in the member for Elder's electorate.

In addition, road rehabilitation and resurfacing projects on sections of road set to commence before the end of this year include:

Main South Road—approximately 1.2 kilometres between Myponga and Yankalilla, in the member for Finniss's electorate;

Regency Road—about 1.6 kilometres between Hampstead Road to Main North Road, in the member for Enfield's electorate;

Barossa Valley Way—about two kilometres within the Tanunda Township, in the member for Schubert's electorate;

RM Williams Way—approximately six kilometres between Spalding and Hutt River, in the member for Stuart's electorate;

Meadows to Willunga Road—about five kilometres between Meadows and Phillips Road in the electorates of the members for Heysen and Finniss;

Berri to Loxton Road—about one kilometre between Lock and Mildura on the Loxton to Pinnaroo Road, within about 800 metres, I am advised, of the Loxton township in the member for Chaffey's electorate—

Mr Whetstone: Chaffey.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Chaffey. Yes, you are Chaffey.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: That's right—and Daws Road, about 800 metres from Winston Avenue to Goodwood Road in the member for Waite's electorate. This is in addition to road safety improvements such as shoulder sealing and audio tactile line marking. Sealing the shoulders of high-speed roads can make a huge difference in preventing a driver losing control of their vehicle when it strays off the road, and audio tactile line marking is another effective measure which creates noise and vibrations when a motorist veers out of the lane.

The SPEAKER: Alas, the minister's time has expired. Leader.