Parliamentary Committees

Public Works Committee: Onkaparinga Valley/Nairne/Junction Roads Intersection Upgrade

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:14): On behalf of the member for Florey, I move:

That the 112^th report of the committee, titled Onkaparinga Valley Road, Nairne Road and Junction Road Intersection Upgrade, be noted.

The proposed works are part of a wider $150 million commitment from the Australian and South Australian governments on an 80:20 ratio to upgrade key corridors and intersections as part of the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Program. By upgrading key strategic roads through the Adelaide Hills area, the program will support economic growth, improve road safety and increase fire resilience throughout the region.

The proposed works will construct a roundabout at the intersection of Onkaparinga Valley Road, Nairne Road and Junction Road to improve safety and traffic flow, as well as make improvements to associated pedestrian facilities. The intersection is located in the centre of the township of Balhannah, approximately 30 kilometres south-east of Adelaide's central business district.

Currently, the junction is a four-way intersection, with Give Way signs on Junction Road and Nairne Road. This section of Onkaparinga Valley Road experiences an average annual daily traffic count of approximately 9,300 vehicles to the east of Junction Road and a further 8,600 to the west. Junction Road experiences 3,300 and Nairne Road close to 1,000 vehicles. Five accidents have been reported at the intersection between 2019 and 2023, including one resulting in serious injury.

The project aims to deliver key outcomes, including improving safety and driving conditions for all road users, reducing the risk and severity of crashes, improving route reliability and road network resilience, reducing travel time and delays and improving pedestrian facilities at the intersection.

The project is expected to cost $9.7 million, drawn from the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package. Onkaparinga Valley Road and Junction Road are both under the care and control of the Commissioner of Highways, while Nairne Road is under the care, control and management of the Adelaide Hills Council.

Preliminary investigations have identified the need for partial land acquisition from the St Thomas' Anglican Church and cemetery and specific details will be determined during the design phase of the upgrade. The department will ensure that land acquisition has minimal impact and that it will be undertaken in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act.

The works will build a new roundabout, construct and upgrade kerb, gutter and drainage infrastructure to manage natural stormwater through the project site, upgrade street lighting to improve visibility and enhance night-time road safety, install energy absorbing pole buffers near Stobie poles, and create and upgrade footpaths and pedestrian crossings.

The work will also require the clearance of a combination of native and amenity vegetation, as well as some regulated and significant trees with any required offsets made. The department states that the removal of vegetation will be minimised where possible and approvals will be sought in accordance with the relevant guidelines and legislation. The department will deliver the project through separate design and construction contracts. The planning and detailed design contract was awarded in December 2022, with the detailed design currently being developed and expected to be completed imminently.

A construction-only contract will be awarded through a competitive tender process with aims for the main construction works to commence in the second quarter of this year subject to the necessary approvals. Works are anticipated to be complete and the intersection fully operational by the middle of 2026. All procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the state government's procurement management framework and will comply with the relevant government procurement guidelines. The department will be responsible for project management in accordance with its project frameworks and guidelines and contract management procedures.

The project team maintains ongoing risk management and has identified the following risks and mitigation strategies:

concerns for the community, for which the department will remain in communication and engagement with local residents and businesses;

potential construction delays due to service relocations, for which the department has identified and engaged the relevant service suppliers;

potential disruption of power and telecommunication services, for which communication strategies will engage affected properties ahead of time; and

impacts on the road network, for which the department will work in collaboration with the local council, the department's traffic management centre and other affected stakeholders to minimise interruptions and delays where possible.

The department has prepared a report outlining sustainability objectives, principles and opportunities for the project and includes consideration of climate change, green infrastructure, water, noise, air quality, contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. The selected contractor will be required to develop and implement a contractor's environmental management plan that addresses key environmental and heritage aspects of the project.

The project site is located within the Kaurna people's native title claim area, but native title has been extinguished on the parcels of land affected by the works. The Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects indicates no registered or reported Aboriginal sites, objects or ancestral remains within the project area, with a risk assessment indicating a low risk of encountering unrecorded Aboriginal heritage.

The department states that protocols are in place should a discovery be made. A non-Aboriginal heritage assessment indicates there is the potential for archaeologically significant historic structures and subsurface features in the area, as well as potential early burials associated with the nearby St Thomas' Anglican Church. The department notes that the detailed design will work to minimise impacts to this property, and a construction noise and vibration management plan will be implemented to preserve any state and local heritage places near the project site.

A community and stakeholder management plan has been prepared, providing an overview of communication strategies to ensure relevant stakeholders, local residents, property owners and businesses are consulted. This includes the Adelaide Hills Council, traditional owners, landowners, industry bodies and utility service providers. Consultation will be ongoing throughout the life cycle of the project to manage, minimise and mitigate construction impacts where possible.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Onkaparinga Valley Road, Nairne Road and Junction Road intersection upgrade. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Andrew Excell, Executive Director, Transport Strategy and Planning, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, and Craig Eckermann, Delivery Manager Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time. I would also like to thank the member for Kavel for his written statement regarding this project in his electorate.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.