Elder Electorate

Mrs POWER (Elder) (15:21): I rise today as part of the Marshall Liberal government which, led by the Premier, is working to help create more jobs and better lives for all South Australians. We are building what matters, creating thousands of local jobs and better lives for people all across our great state, with a record investment in roads, hospitals, schools, housing and infrastructure.

What does all this mean for people in my local community, in the great electorate of Elder? It means we are reactivating the Repat into a thriving health precinct, just as we promised. We are now reaching significant and exciting construction milestones as part of our commitment to redevelop the site into a thriving health precinct. Up to 400 new jobs have recently been created at that site, and in this budget we have announced $6 million for a step-down unit to care for brain and spinal patients at the new site. This builds on the great investment we have already made at the Repat.

We are also delivering an $8.5 million capital upgrade to the Flinders Medical Centre emergency department. The emergency department capacity will increase by up to 30 treatment spaces; it is almost doubling. It is absolutely incredible and is a real game changer for residents in our great South, residents south of the city, particularly in my electorate of Elder, so that they can access the care they need closer to home.

We know that Flinders Medical Centre has the busiest emergency department in the whole state, and we are committed to ensuring that the hospital is equipped to meet growing demand both now and into the future. Not only is the emergency department going to see capital upgrades but we are also going to see additional doctors and nurses at the site.

Building what matters means investing in the largest ever job creation infrastructure project in South Australia's history. Residents in my electorate are absolutely delighted at the news delivered in the state budget that we will deliver the final section of the north-south corridor. The 10.5-kilometre stretch between the River Torrens and Darlington will be transformed over the next decade, creating up to 4,000 jobs.

Once complete, residents will have access to a nonstop, free-flowing motorway from Gawler to Old Noarlunga, allowing motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights—it is absolutely incredible—and saving up to 24 minutes in travel time. That is almost the equivalent of some sort of episode on Netflix. So people can spend less time in their car and more time doing the things that they love, whatever that might be.

This upgrade of the final section of the South Road corridor will remove 110,000 vehicles from South Road per day. By doing this, it will make it so much easier for residents in my local community to travel east to west and also within and around our local community. Importantly, this project will also save really special iconic places, preserving heritage buildings—and we have heard lots about the Thebarton Theatre and how pleased people are to see that saved.

Building what matters means we are fixing the Springbank Road intersection. I have heard that residents in my local area have waited up to 40 years to see this intersection aligned. I am super proud and pleased that it was our government that developed the plans, engaged the community, listened to their feedback and, importantly, funded the project—and now we are creating jobs by delivering it.

We are certainly getting on with the job, not only with the Springbank Road intersection but also with the Flinders Link project, where we are extending the Tonsley rail line all the way to Flinders Medical Centre. For the very first time, this line will have evening and weekend services. Residents in Mitchell Park, Clovelly Park, Tonsley are absolutely thrilled with this announcement. Of course, they will also be getting a brand-new Tonsley station.

Building what matters also means that we are investing and upgrading our local schools. We have really significant upgrades happening at Springbank Secondary College, Hamilton Secondary College and Unley High School. Every single secondary student in my electorate is going to benefit from their local public high school being upgraded. We are also upgrading and providing funding to all our government primary schools—it is absolutely incredible—and a number of kindergartens and preschools.

There is so much in this state budget, so much that is not only benefiting South Australia but my electorate as we build better facilities, deliver better services and provide significant crucial jobs, creating economic stimulus for South Australia at a time when it needs it most. We are building what matters.

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