Rural Road Funding

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister outline roadwork programs undertaken to improve rural roads?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:48): In South Australia, we are investing record levels of investment to support and upgrade roads, including $1.9 billion over the forward estimates for road funding packages. Regional roads continue to receive ongoing routine inspections and pavement repairs as necessary to ensure state roads are kept in a safe and trafficable condition for all road users. Significant investment continues to be made for regional roads, too.

In total, across the state $532 million is being spent on road maintenance and safety measures over four years, with $341 million of this to be spent in the regions. These funds are spent each year to maintain South Australia's 13,000-kilometre arterial road network and 10,000-kilometre network of unsealed outback roads. Last financial year, in 2016-17, approximately 662 kilometres of resurfacing and resealing was delivered to improve ride quality and safety on rural roads. In 2017-18, approximately 596 kilometres of rural roads will be resurfaced, approximately 170 kilometres of shoulders resheeted and 190 kilometres of shoulders resealed. In total, nearly 1,000 kilometres, 956 kilometres, of roads will be upgraded.

Expressions of interest for more than $35 million of road projects in regional South Australia are currently out to market and being managed by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. These projects include $3.3 million for 25 kilometres of shoulder sealing on the Princes Highway between Kingston and Millicent; $2.5 million for four new rest areas on the Stuart Highway between Glendambo and the Northern Territory border—I should say, Mr Speaker, a route which has recently been gazetted as able to accommodate quad road trains; $2.36 million for eight kilometres of shoulder resheeting between Maitland and Minlaton; and $2.14 million for 26 kilometres of shoulder resheeting and sealing on the Southern Ports Highway between Kingston and Robe.

These works are in addition to other significant projects being undertaken, together with the federal government, in regional areas, including the $106 million APY Lands Main Access Road project. A $29.2 million contract to construct stage 2 of the APY lands project has just been awarded to Toll Mining Services to construct 88 kilometres between Umuwa (Double Tank) and Mimili, with the contract expected to support 40 jobs, including 13 for local Anangu. The department have also called tenders for the final section of road in the APY lands project, 66 kilometres between Mimili and Indulkana.

Further east, works will soon commence on the construction of overtaking lanes as part of the $24.86 million Sturt Highway Productivity and Safety Improvements project, laying the foundation for the future introduction of higher productivity freight vehicles on that route. BMD Constructions will build the two new overtaking lanes at Annadale and Kingston on Murray while also extending overtaking lanes at Stockwell, Renmark and Lyrup.