Regional Roads

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting South Australia's recovery through upgrading regional roads?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:58): I can, indeed. I thank the member for Finniss for his question and do note the very near completion of the Torrens-Crozier roundabout, a very key intersection in his electorate. I have had representations from people who may or may not be related to the member for Finniss about the naming of that roundabout and I will consider those requests in due course. I'm not sure that the budget extends to a brass bust, but I will go and have a look.

Even before COVID-19, this government has had a strong agenda—in fact, a record agenda—about delivering infrastructure here in South Australia. As part of our $12.9 billion infrastructure program, we are actually upgrading over a thousand kilometres of regional road over the next four years—a thousand kilometres out of 10,000 being fixed under this government. I think the tally is up to about $1½ billion that this government will spend upgrading roads.

Of that thousand kilometres, 300 kilometres of road are actually being upgraded as we speak. In the coming months, we will see a $22 million package of works on the Ngarkat Highway for the member for Hammond and I think the member for MacKillop goes down that far, and to reinstate the 110 km/h speed limit that both of those MPs have been badgering me about for about the last two years.

We have underway a package of works part of which falls under the Roads of Strategic Importance package that we were able to secure funding on last year in the member for Flinders' electorate. It was started in April and will be completed this month—16 kilometres of shoulder sealing along sections 15 ks north of Cowell to Lucky Bay Road and from Cowell to the Birdseye Highway, as well as audio tactile edge lines that will also be put in place.

We will also see a $15 million package of works starting in the coming months. A tender has just been awarded on the notorious Browns Well Highway, a highway that the member for Chaffey and I drove, and it is fair to say that there are some sections of that that get a little bit dicey. This government has put money on the table to fix that again to reinstate the 110 km/h speed limit that we have promised.

There are works all over South Australia, and whether it is the $6.5 million of work going on on the Cleve road, again in the member for Flinders' electorate, or whether it is on the Sturt Highway (actually in my electorate), the $8.5 million package around Truro, and some work that is happening north of Truro in the member for Stuart's electorate, as well as a $7.8 million package worth of works on the South Eastern Freeway that is completed. I think technically it helps out the member for Hammond more than it helps out the member for Kavel, but I think we can all share the road and share in the fact that this is a road that has needed a significant amount of investment for a long period of time.

We have also put in money to help improve the productive capacity of our economy, and that is why the Naracoorte roundabouts that are being upgraded in the member for MacKillop's electorate to help beef production in that area, and more efficient freight movements in that area, are so important, or whether it be again across on the West Coast, the Bratten Bridge upgrade, which I know is going on at the moment because the local mayor, Sam Telfer, has been trying to take credit for that work, even though it is funded by the state and federal governments. There are some pretty good construction photos at the moment on his Facebook page, and I encourage members to go and have a look.

There is also starting in coming months $14 million for the construction of road access upgrades for Thomas Foods International. That is business that is going to underpin—and already does—and will further underpin red meat production here in South Australia. This government is willing to invest to get high-productivity vehicles access to that plant so that we can keep more cattle and more small stock being processed here in South Australia with those processing jobs here in South Australia, especially after the scenes we saw of the fire at Murray Bridge and the devastation that that has caused for that community.

The people of Murray Bridge and the people in the member for Hammond's electorate and all regional South Australia, especially those farmers growing that livestock, can know that they've got a government that is willing to invest to have those jobs grow right here in South Australia.