Cherry Gardens Road Safety

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on works to improve safety in Cherry Gardens?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:57): Another member of the government who does not leave me alone. I have to say—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: Leave me alone! Leave Tom alone!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Leave Tom alone, yes! I've got to say, the member for Davenport's advocacy on Main Road, Cherry Gardens, has been pretty fierce. It's something I think that a lot of people have come to recognise, her tenacity in this area, because this road has a very poor crash history and longstanding safety issues. I've got to say, these safety issues weren't addressed by the previous administration, but those are now being addressed because this government has listened to its members and listened to the member for Davenport and the community, who are rightly concerned about road safety along the 5.5-kilometre section of Main Road at Cherry Gardens, and I can report to the house we have delivered on our promise.

Between 2019 and 2023, there were 39 crashes along this stretch of road, with two of those crashes resulting in serious injuries. Sadly, a young man lost his life along this stretch of road in 2018. It was clear to the member for Davenport and this Labor government that something had to be done and needed to be addressed, and the member for Davenport's advocacy has made change. The upgrades that she has forced the government to deliver through her advocacy are wider lanes; curve widening at nine priority locations; new road surface, improving skid resistance; new safety barriers, with motorcycle projection rails; new and improved road signage; new line markings, including markings at all new medians; and drainage installations and enhancements.

These works were delivered as part of a larger Adelaide Hills productivity package, which was jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments over five years to support economic growth, improve road safety and increase fire resilience in the Adelaide Hills.

This project has delivered a safer road for local residents and those who use it. The member for Davenport fought long and hard for it and, as a consequence of her advocacy, there were 40 full-time equivalent jobs over the construction period created in that local community. I want to pass on my thanks to the residents for their patience while these works were undertaken. Roadworks can be quite intrusive on communities, especially when we are upgrading them, and it does create a lot of anxiety and issues, but the wait is worth it; the reward is there at the end.

The member for Davenport is a local MP who listens to her community and who takes actions on their concerns. She does so to get things done, and she gets them done. South Australia is building because we are afraid of the member for Davenport.