Infrastructure Projects

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is backing business by delivering projects such as the Regency to Pym project?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:22): I thank the member for his question. The way we are doing it is ahead of schedule and under budget. That is how we are building what matters for South Australians on South Road. Of course, I'm talking about the Regency to Pym project, a project the Marshall government secured funding for and has delivered.

This morning was a very exciting morning, to see the opening of this stretch of South Road for the Easter long weekend. We know people are going to be going away, travelling into our regions to spend money and help generate jobs on deserved holidays, and this is a really important stretch of road that will just add to that. Again, holistically what we are doing here is delivering more jobs for the people of South Australia.

The Marshall government has long committed to finishing this 78-kilometre stretch of the north-south corridor. The Regency to Pym project is a crucial link between the T2T project and the South Road Superway. This 1.8-kilometre missing piece of the puzzle will now create a 47-kilometre nonstop motorway between Gawler and the River Torrens. I was just out there a few hours ago speaking to the workers from the alliance who have helped deliver this project, and they said that the traffic from the superway to the Regency Road overpass yesterday was timed at 10 minutes and today at five minutes.

It is great to see that acceleration. It means that eight minutes will be slashed during peak hour for 53,000 motorists who use this part of South Road every day. It's a massive time saving for commuters each morning and evening, getting them home faster and allowing them to spend more quality time with their family, which we think is great.

This is also very exciting for the freight industry. We know that the freight industry is very important for South Australia and South Australia's economy, and it means that reducing the cost of doing business will also mean less time for trucks on our roads and less wear and tear on vehicles which, again, is a cost saver for businesses.

When we announced we had secured the funding for this project in 2018, it was meant to be completed in early 2022. We are months ahead of schedule. The department and the alliance have delivered this project. They have done a fantastic job to achieve that. The bitumen is just bedding down now, so the speed limits are not full speed limits, but people can use this piece of infrastructure early, and the full speed limits are expected to be in place by around June this year.

Not only is that ahead of schedule but it has come tens of millions of dollars under budget. The Treasurer always likes that, and it means we can spend that on other projects right across our state. The construction industry are really pleased as well. We have a $16.7 billion pipeline of work that we have been able to build, and we know that is delivering jobs for South Australians. Our record spend is creating more than 19,000 jobs at a time when our economy needs it most and we continue to bounce back from COVID.

It is not all over at the Regency to Pym project. Landscaping will still go on. Some more works will be done there. The ITS will be commissioned, the intelligent transport system. The final asphalting, as I said, will continue, and this project is expected to be completed in its totality by the end of the year. Importantly, we have also been able to deliver the new pedestrian and cycling overpass to make sure we keep the connectivity for the community across the road as well. I know the local community thought it was great to see that go into place.

It is important we can provide this cross-community connection as we build the motorway. We have identified that, too, as we move ahead with the hybrid plus model for the north-south corridor, the two tunnels that are going there. But I digress, because I am here to sincerely thank the department and the alliance for the great work they have done. Some 200-plus jobs have been created across the year for this project.

When you do go over the Regency bridge, have a look at it. It is a beautiful green. When you look at that green, you will think it looks very familiar. It is right alongside the Coopers Brewery. Take a real close look at that green. It's pale ale green. It matches perfectly with the Coopers Brewery, which is right there. I think it is a great little icon and a tip of the hat to the great family at Coopers and the wonderful business it is. It is a great piece of infrastructure, and we are building what matters for South Australia.