Public Works Committee: Welch and Waterport Roads Roundabout Hindmarsh Valley

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:33): I move:

That the 539^th report of the committee, entitled Welch and Waterport Roads Roundabout Hindmarsh Valley, be noted.

On the Noarlunga to Victor Harbor Road it is proposed to realign the Welch and Waterport Roads and construct a roundabout to improve safety at this currently staggered intersection.

Over the past six years (being 2008 to 2014), 20 crashes have occurred at this intersection, three-quarters of which have been right-hand manoeuvre incidents. It is proposed to construct a single lane roundabout at the intersection realigning Waterport Road to meet Welch Road. Road lighting will also be improved as well as upgraded line markings and signage. The existing speed limit of 80 km/h will remain.

Consultation has occurred within the local community and council as well as the immediate neighbourhoods, including Urimbirra Wildlife Park, which is adjacent to this area that we are talking about today. A sheltered right-turn slot will be provided to access the wildlife park that is situated adjacent to this intersection. Construction is due to be undertaken between January and June 2016 at a cost of $434 million, exclusive of GST. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Finniss, it is not necessary for you to interject.

Ms DIGANCE: You can have your turn.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, don't respond. Your turn is to speak now.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Finniss, I will call you to order under 131, or you can leave the chamber, whichever suits you best. Member for Elder.

Ms DIGANCE: Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now you would like to speak, member for Finniss, and I will make sure you are listened to in silence.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:35): I was actually trying to assist the member for Elder. It is $4.34 million, not $434 million.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is okay: you have your chance to correct that now.

Mr PENGILLY: Obviously, this is a step in the right direction. I have been pursuing this outcome for a number of years so I am very happy that it is actually happening and it is happening now. There is a substantial amount of equipment necessary that is in place down on the corner and it will be happening over the next few weeks.

The member for Elder referred to the crashes, which brings on the bigger issue of Main South Road from Adelaide to Victor Harbor. I seek some major works on, particularly, the Cut Hill section, for a start. A lot of the road is not too bad because it has had considerable work done on it while I have been a member but the Cut Hill section still leaves a lot to be desired.

I was pleased when the section we are talking about today was reduced to 80 km/h. One of the major causes of accidents was the fact that it was still 100 km/h through there, but it would not matter whether you had a speed limit of 20 km/h because there would still be accidents there. It is a bad piece of road and it is a bad junction, and this will go a long way towards fixing it up and making it far better.

We have quite a number of older drivers in that area who use that road a lot. I know that it is very easy to have an attack of the nervous Nellies if you are trying to cross from Waterport through to the bypass, so I look forward to that project's completion. It was a simple project for the Public Works Committee to look at but it is a good project. It is $4.34 million.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:38): Thank you to the member for Finniss, on many fronts. Thank you for your input as the local member: I know this project was of extreme importance to you. As a member of the Public Works Committee, you were able to ask the questions that represent your electorate very thoroughly. Thank you for your correction on my issue to do with the dollar amount for this project.

I also thank other members of the Public Works Committee, all those who support the Public Works Committee and those who came in and gave evidence. It is certainly a very worthy project and I think we will see some good results from it, and I recommend it to the house.

Motion carried.