Majors Road Upgrade

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the government's commitment to build the Majors Road interchange and any alternative options canvassed?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:33): It gives me great pleasure. The people of the southern suburbs have waited long enough, particularly the good people of the electorate of Black—suburbs like Hallett Cove, O'Halloran Hill, Sheidow Park, Trott Park. They were promised this interchange in 2018 and they have waited patiently for four long years. In fact, they were told over that four-year period the following. On a Facebook post on 6 March before the 2018 election, they were told:

The Southern Expressway by-passes our community with no opportunities to get on or off. If re-elected on March 17^th my number one priority will be advancing an on/off ramp at Majors Road starting with—

this is unambiguous—

planning and design works.

That post goes on to say—obviously currently an interesting comment—'Unfortunately, Labor cannot and should not be trusted to get this happening.' I think you misspelt Liberal. You've got an 'a', 'b', 'o' and 'r' in it.

Then another Facebook post on 8 March, with a video of a young, ambitious man driving along the Southern Expressway, says, 'For far too long the Southern Expressway has bypassed our community and I want that to change.' The post goes on to say, 'I'm 100 per cent focused on delivering this project with design works budgeted for in the new term of a Liberal government.' It was an ambitious and idealistic time. They were lifting their eyes above the horizon for an interchange at Majors Road.

Then the then government received their report. As I said earlier, the final feasibility study on this project was received in February 2020. But then that young, idealistic member for Black kept on fighting. On 13 July 2020, he was on the ABC spruiking the potential for the project. After they have received the report, on the basis of which he wants us to abandon it, he says, 'I don't think it's something that will happen in the next couple of years'—he was right—'but it will happen down the track'. Right again! Right again!

The Majors Road on/off ramp is a critical piece of infrastructure that the member for Gibson has been fighting for. Why? Because of the debacle over the Hove Crossing, the debacle that was of the former Minister for Transport and Infrastructure of blessed memory. We need this on/off ramp. The people of Gibson need this on/off ramp. The people of Black want it. Guess what? This weekend, they will have a chance to vote for it again. I suspect they will be very surprised to see what's happening with their local member of parliament.

We are going into detailed planning. Planning works are anticipated to be completed by the end of this year. I will consult with the local member of parliament, the Leader of the Opposition. I will consult with the member for Gibson and all the local communities, including those people who are impacted. An analysis already conducted has identified opportunities to refine the concept and minimise the impacts on the national park that people are concerned about. I am also advised that the interchange won't impact access to Glenthorne Farm. Further, final design will ensure that the continuity of the Patrick Jonker Veloway is maintained.

We will do this properly. We will make the Leader of the Opposition proud. We will make sure that his community can finally get access to that Southern Expressway and that, when he does, that young, idealistic man driving along, looking at an interchange he couldn't get on or off, can think of me, the Premier and the member for Gibson, who has worked so hard to make sure that his community can get access to a long overdue piece of infrastructure.