Springbank Road Intersection

Mrs POWER (Elder) (15:33): For decades, our local community has been fighting to see the Goodwood Road/Dawes Road/Springbank Road intersection aligned. Some local residents tell me they have been fighting for more than 40 years to see this intersection upgraded, and understandably so. Anyone who travels through this intersection knows the current layout severely slows the flow of the traffic, creates congestion and causes potential safety risks.

Data tells us that on average more than 60,000 vehicles a day travel through this location and that there have been 21 crashes between 2012 and 2016. The former state Labor government promised the community that this problem would be fixed right before going into an election, yet there was no specific funding line in the final budget and only an artist's impression had ever been released.

Last year, along with Nicolle Flint, the federal member for Boothby, I put on the public record the launch of the Fix Springbank Intersection campaign. It was time for action. Our local community needed three things: (1) community consultation about the project plans; (2) a final master plan with detailed costings; and (3) funding actually allocated in the budget, not just hollow rhetoric. This week marks an incredibly big win for our community as we take another step closer to fixing this intersection with funds specifically allocated in the budget.

The Marshall Liberal government has got on with the job as a priority since being elected last year, working with the federal Liberal government to fund and deliver a solution. Alongside our local community, we have worked hard to see this project be properly scoped and funded, with planning underway. The community's voice has been heard. The recently announced solution, with one four-way intersection, will improve connectivity for vulnerable users, improve transport capacity and traffic flows, improve safety for all users and support adjoining land use. This means less time sitting in traffic and more time doing the things you love.

The detailed costings have been scoped, a concept plan has been developed and, this week, funding has been secured in the budget. The community can be assured that this project is going ahead. It may very well be completed as early as next year, but certainly by 2022 at the latest. As I mentioned, community members have told me that they have waited decades for this project to be completed. Just a few weeks ago, at a community forum one resident shared that she held grave concerns for the safety of her children and other schoolchildren as they attempted to cross the current staggered T-intersection, known as a dogleg.

Today, I stand proud to be part of the Marshall Liberal government that is getting on with the job of delivering for our local community. I give my thanks to local residents for taking the time to get in touch with me and care about this important issue. Whilst this week is a significant milestone in the project, I look forward to the next steps, which will involve community engagement and consultation providing residents with the opportunity to help shape the detailed plans. I will keep the parliament up to date as I continue to work alongside my local community.