Road Safety

Mr GEE (Napier) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Road Safety. Can you advise of the outcomes of the final funding applications for the Motor Accident Commission local government road safety initiatives program?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his question and also his interest in road safety, and he has been badgering me for a number of roads to be addressed in his electorate. I am pleased to announce that another 18 road safety projects across the state have received funding. This was the second and final round of money from the Motor Accident Commission's local government road safety initiatives program. The MAC local government road safety initiatives program set aside $4 million of MAC's Road Safety Infrastructure Fund for local council projects that have a history of casualty crashes.

The projects announced today join the 41 projects previously announced by the government in this place back in February. In conjunction with council contributions, the 18 projects announced today are scheduled to see an investment of over $2.5 million in road safety infrastructure across the state. I, like all South Australians, have been saddened by the number of deaths on our roads in recent months. What comes to mind is the service only last weekend, which I and also the member for Mitchell attended, for road trauma victims and their families. Those sorts of services bring home the huge impact on families and communities from our road deaths.

The government's road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, and this involves continued investment in safer road infrastructure. All projects selected in this final round were assessed by the road safety initiatives advisory group, which includes representatives of the Motor Accident Commission, South Australia Police, the Local Government Association, the RAA, and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Sadly, rural and regional drivers continue to be overrepresented in our state's road toll and this worrying trend continues. In 2014, 67 per cent of all fatal crashes occurred on rural roads—an increase of 6 per cent from 2013. I am pleased to announce that three-quarters of the funding again targets regional South Australia across six local council areas. Targeted expenditure on regional roads reinforces our efforts in regional South Australia and supplements regional campaigns such as the Motor Accident Commission's Keep the Bromance Alive.

The road safety infrastructure works proposed for these projects include shoulder widening and sealing, the installation of guardrails and audio tactile line marking, increased signage and improve lighting, vegetation removal, road realignment and installation of roundabouts and a pedestrian crossing. Three of the projects totalling $152,500 include improving road safety on Balmoral Road in The Barossa Council, in the member for Schubert's seat, which I am also happy to say I have been lobbying for as well.

Between 2009 and 2013, there were unfortunately 13 casualty crashes on Balmoral Road, including one fatal crash and three crashes resulting in serious injuries. The provision of shoulder sealing, installation of guard fencing, audio tactile line marking and the removal of some vegetation will provide for increased safety along this road.

Abattoirs Road, south of Port Pirie, will also receive funding. This road will be widened for approximately eight kilometres at a cost of $626,000, including a $300,000 contribution from the Motor Accident Commission's fund and $326,000 from the Port Pirie Regional Council. The road widening will improve road safety for heavy vehicles as well as other road users. The member for Napier and his electorate will also receive $122,000 in funding for upgrades to roads in the Craigmore area.

The co-investment in these projects made by the Motor Accident Commission and local councils contributes to the state's investment in roads and road safety infrastructure, in which regional areas alone will be allocated $136 million in 2015-16. A full list of successful projects will be available online later, and I congratulate all those successful councils who are receiving funding. May I also take this opportunity to remind all road users that we are all responsible for one another on our roads. I encourage all road users to take care during the coming festive season.