Morialta Electorate

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:31): The Marshall Liberal government was elected just three years ago and in that time there have been substantial improvements to a range of infrastructure projects, transport intersections and transport services around my electorate of Morialta. These are very significant projects, a number of which I have been campaigning on since 2008, when I was first chosen as the candidate, and in the 11 years I have been in the house.

I am so proud to be part of a government that is delivering on the commitments we made to the people of South Australia, the people of my electorate, ahead of that 2018 election. As a member of the community, I know how much difference the significant projects we have already completed are making to our daily commutes and to safety on our roads—and there is more to come.

In recent weeks, in recent months, I was very pleased that the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, through his department, made available funds for further road-sealing projects. Gorge Road is one road that has often been in need of that support, and it has improved dramatically going east from Stradbroke Road. However, just west of that roundabout ground has been broken on a project that has been sought for many years, and that is traffic lights at the intersection of Gorge Road and Silkes Road, on the boundary of the member for Hartley's electorate and my own.

When I was collecting signatures on a petition as long ago as 2011-12, the resealing of Gorge Road was the number one request. Some of it was resealed by the former government, and we have resealed a great deal more now, but traffic lights are a solution to make traffic flow better for people leaving Athelstone and Paradise, getting to Lower North East Road if they are going that way because it is the closest route, and enabling those who are able to come out on Gorge Road to safely do so. These traffic lights are going to make a big difference. That is a $3.6 million commitment now underway, and I am looking forward to seeing it completed.

I can inform the house that people in Paradise, in Newton, in Athelstone, in Highbury, in Dernancourt and even in parts of Rostrevor who use the Paradise Interchange are very pleased with the work that has been done, the $18 million upgrade as a result of the Marshall Liberal government's election. It is possible to get a park in the car park at Paradise at 8 o'clock in the morning now, something that could not have been said on any workday, even in school holidays, for many years leading up to this stage. There are hundreds of extra parks there in a well-landscaped design that is delivering benefits for commuters and encouraging continued and increased use of the excellent O-Bahn service, making life easier for residents in my area.

Works are currently underway that benefit not only the residents in my electorate but also the residents in the electorates of the member for Hartley and the member for Norwood, and indeed importantly the productive section of our economy, which will benefit dramatically from reduced freight times as a result of the improvements to the Portrush Road and Magill Road intersection. This is a significant $88 million project that is underway now, supported by the state and commonwealth Marshall and Morrison governments, and I cannot wait to see it finished. It will be a dramatic improvement for many residents.

I bring to the attention of the house the Dernancourt shopping centre and the traffic lights that have made life much easier for residents in my electorate—in Highbury and Vista—who use that shopping centre, as well as residents in the member for Newland's electorate. People in Hope Valley use that shopping centre, as do people in Dernancourt, in the electorate of the member for Torrens.

I commend the member for Lee when he was the transport minister. He came out and had a look at some of the challenges. We sat at that intersection waiting to turn right into Lower North East Road for a long period of time and, to its credit, the former government put in place a model for an upgrade, but it did not put in place the gold standard upgrade that the people in that community deserved. The traffics lights that have come since the election as a result of our election commitment are doing the trick and have made a dramatic improvement. I know that shop holders and residents alike are very much appreciating them.

Soon to be appreciated will be the $4.4 million upgrade at Chain of Ponds on North East Road. It is not going to be part of my electorate going forward. It is very sad for me to be losing that part of my community to the electorate of Schubert, and I think the member for Newland is feeling similarly sad that he is losing it too. However, I tell you what, we will be happy every time we visit Gumeracha or Birdwood, or go out into that area, out to Kersbrook, as a result of the safety improvements.

The tragic loss of life that has occurred so many times at that intersection I expect to be dramatically reduced as a result of the $4.4 million project, the benefits of which people will be seeing very shortly. Improvements to traffic lights at Graves Street and Newton Road and the Thorndon Park Primary School crossing have been completed. The $13.5 million Magill Village project is about to start.

I can report improved footpaths and little bridges at Mount Torrens, the Lobethal footpaths, and indeed the school crossing on Lower North East Road for the Highbury Primary School, are all projects delivered by the Marshall Liberal government. It is a government I am proud of, and I am very pleased that the work we are doing will continue and the benefits will continue for our local residents.

Time expired.