Public Works Committee: North-South Corridor (Torrens Road to River Torrens)

Adjourned debate on motion of Ms Digance:

That the 512^th report of the committee, entitled North-South Corridor (Torrens Road to River Torrens), be noted.

(Continued from 25 February 2015.)

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:54): I am more than happy to have a few words to say on this project. It will probably be the last time I get up to speak on a project for the Public Works Committee, as I am no longer on it. I am already missing it something terrible, but after 11½ years it was time to let somebody else have a go and get somebody else from this side—

The Hon. S.W. Key: That is your story.

Mr PENGILLY: No, that is true. No, I was not coerced into anything, member for Ashford; it is a committee that I have taken a great interest in for a long time, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it and tried to participate in it. It has been a committee that has had a fairly constantly revolving membership over a number of years. Over probably the last 12 to 18 months, it has been pretty steady, but it changed far too often at one stage with the revolving door of presiding members and members on the other side. Anyway, that said, the committee work goes on. I know they have a meeting tomorrow morning, and we will wait and see exactly what happens with that. I understand the project then is the tram extension, which will be entertaining in its own right.

The north-south corridor project, which is here this morning, was supported by both sides of the committee, and we will wait to see exactly what happens when it is finished. It is going to be a significant project in the scheme of things. Like a lot of these projects, unless we get federal funding, a number of them will not go ahead. I do not think that enough praise is given to the current federal government for their financial input into a lot of projects in South Australia. As I have said, many of them would just not go ahead.

Member for Elder, it seems like a long time ago that we dealt with this project—a long, long time ago. I really just about need you to get up and give us a bit of a rehash of it. We did not have any great issue with it. There were a number of questions we wanted to put to the departmental officers, which we did, and at the end of the day the project went through the committee. Might I say that, at the moment, the Public Works Committee probably has a fairly heavy load. It will be a fair bit of work between now and the end of the parliamentary year—possibly until the end of December—for the committee to deal with projects as they come up. It is a committee that puts in a big effort.

What has pleased me greatly, particularly in the last 12 or 18 months, has been that the committee has gone out around the state and looked at projects, and I think this is a critical part of its role. It needs to get out and see what is happening, and I believe that there may well be another one or two trips. The member for Elder can inform the house on that. I think there may be one included to parts of my electorate. The best way to learn where taxpayers' money is being used is to get out and have a look at the project and judge the merits of it for yourself and, particularly, talk with the workers on the job to get an understanding.

Let me say that the senior government officers we have had coming to the committee lately, particularly those from the Department of Transport, are very good people. They certainly know their stuff and acquiesce to any demands the committee makes with regard to tours or information. They are only too happy to take questions on notice back to various bodies and come back to the committee with answers, as required. In particular, I find Mr Jon Whelan and Mr Don Hogben, who I have had quite a bit to do with, very good operators. There is no beating around the bush: you know exactly where you stand and there is no attempt to fudge answers. I take my hat off to them.

Time moves on. I may even come back and pay a visit to Public Works at some stage when it is sitting, just to fill the day in. I think I have probably just about filled the time in here now, Madam Deputy Speaker. With those few words, the opposition supports the project, obviously, but it was a long time ago. It is a needed project and it is part of those roadworks that will only improve the state of South Australia as it goes along.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (12:00): With those final words from the member for Finniss, as his final duty with the Public Works Committee, I recommend this report to the house.

Motion carried.