Morphett Road Tram Overpass

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house how the Morphett Road tram overpass will improve transport for local residents?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:00): Can I first acknowledge the advocacy of the member for Gibson and the incredible work she has done, and the member for Badcoe, in fighting for this Morphett Road grade separation, as well as the member for Boothby. This $200 million project, funded fifty-fifty between the Albanese government and the Malinauskas government, will improve the travel experience of nearly 25,000 vehicles that pass through that crossing each and every day—25,000 vehicles that experienced the boom gates often being down for up to 16 minutes an hour during the peak. This causes congestion, queueing, and delays for public transport users, and stands to increase the number of potential accidents as drivers take more risks.

Between 2019 and 2023, there were 106 crashes including 40 injuries at the level crossing and the adjacent intersection. The delivery of this project will have a genuinely positive safety impact, and the Morphett tram overpass will be undertaken by the recently appointed Tram Grade Separation Projects alliance of McConnell Dowell, CPB Contractors, Arup, Mott MacDonald and the sub-alliance partner Aurecon, together with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Critically, it will be built simultaneously with the $400 million Anzac, Marion Road and Cross Road overpasses and the rebuilt South Road tram overpass, as part of the Torrens to Darlington project. Completing the works on all overpasses at the same time will fast track construction time and reduce the impact on local residents, businesses and commuters. Perhaps most importantly, this means that only one single tramline closure will be necessary to get all three projects built completely simultaneously. This closure, in the second half of 2025 to January 2026—in time for the return to school—is now expected to be only six months' long, and we are working to see if we can reduce this even further.

Together, this project will provide an important boost to the South Australian economy, supporting approximately 1,100 full-time equivalent jobs over the construction period. Major construction is expected to start later this year, with the level crossings to be removed by the end of 2025. Imminently, community members will have the chance to meet with the project teams throughout September, and I will be hosting a series of community drop-in sessions. These will be opportunities for the project teams to share the concept designs, provide more information about onsite activities and timings, and also an opportunity for community members to share their thoughts about urban design.

South Australia is building under the Malinauskas Labor government—a vast difference between the stagnation of the previous four years under the Marshall Liberal government, where this project was completely ignored, especially by those in cabinet who did nothing to ever advocate for a grade separation of Morphett Road. You would think if you went to cabinet you would have some voice. You would think you would try and do something. You would think you would, but unfortunately the member for Morphett did nothing—he did nothing about it. I've got to say it is very, very disappointing for his local community, but he's jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak now, on the coat-tails of Louise Miller Frost, on the coat-tails of the member for Gibson, and the member for Badcoe. If only he could possibly catch up, he might have something done.