Public Works Committee: Mount Barker Road and River Road Junction Upgrade

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:52): I move:

That the 118^th report of the committee, entitled Mount Barker Road and River Road Junction Upgrade, be noted.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has identified the need for upgrades to the River Road and Mount Barker Road T-junction that is located to the west of the township of Hahndorf, roughly 24 kilometres south of Adelaide's central business district. It is an unsignalised general access vehicle route, and generally experiences approximately 11,500 vehicles a day. In its current layout, semitrailers moving through the intersection are unable to remain within their lanes. Additionally, a bus stop within close proximity to the junction allows motorists to drive extremely close to waiting pedestrians when turning left onto Mount Barker Road.

The project aims to improve access and safety at the intersection for all road users, including cars and heavy vehicles, as well as pedestrians, by improving the current lack of pedestrian facilities. The proposed upgrades will widen Mount Barker Road, while modifying the existing channelised right turn, and improving lighting, pavement and drainage. The works also include a new footpath on the southern side of Mount Barker Road, and a new pedestrian refuge on Mount Barker Road, to improve pedestrian safety, access to bus stops and community connectivity. The scope of the works includes:

extending the existing right turn on Mount Barker Road into River Road;

widening Mount Barker Road north of the existing road corridor;

creating a new footpath on the southern side of Mount Barker Road east of the junction;

relocating the bus stops on Mount Barker Road, including building new indented bus bays;

installing a new pedestrian refuge on Mount Barker Road east of the junction;

constructing new paving and surfacing;

installing new signage and line marking;

building new safety barriers where required;

installing and upgrading road lighting to improve visibility and enhance night-time road safety;

improving drainage infrastructure;

removing vegetation as required;

creating landscaping and urban design; and

enacting any required relocations to existing services, including Telstra, SA Water, SA Power Networks, NBN and Optus.

Construction is anticipated to commence this quarter, with the aim to be completed by the end of the year.

The project is expected to cost $9.5 million, and funds will be drawn from the $36 million Hahndorf traffic improvements project, which is jointly funded on an 80:20 basis by the Australian and South Australian governments. Ongoing operational costs are expected to be sourced from the department's annual operating budget.

The works will be undertaken on land which is under the care, control and management of the Commissioner of Highways, the Mount Barker District Council and SA Water. Preliminary design has determined the need for partial land acquisitions from two properties, one privately owned and the other belonging to SA Water, with the department stating that all acquisition will be undertaken in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act.

The project will be delivered through a construct-only contract, and all procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the state government's procurement management framework, complying with South Australian government guidelines. Project management will be undertaken by the department in accordance with its program and project management framework and guidelines, as well as its contract management procedures. External specialist resources may be engaged if required.

As part of the project management process, the department undertakes risk management on an ongoing basis, with key risks identified including community concerns, for which the project has developed a stakeholder engagement plan; delays in obtaining statutory approvals, for which the department will undertake early engagement to ensure relevant approvals are obtained in a timely manner; construction delays due to service relocations, for which the department has identified the affected existing services and is in early engagement with the relevant suppliers; and impact on the road network during construction, for which the department will work with local council to implement measures to reduce impacts on motorists and affected stakeholders to minimise interruptions and delays where possible.

The project will be assessed and managed in accordance with the department's environment and heritage impact assessment processes and guidelines. A sustainability report outlining the sustainable objectives, principles and opportunities for the project has been developed, which includes consideration of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, green infrastructure, water, noise, air quality and contamination.

The selected contractor will also be required to develop and implement a contractor's environmental management plan that addresses key environmental and heritage aspects of the project. The department notes the project will require clearance of a combination of native and amenity vegetation, and necessary approvals will be sought in accordance with the relevant guidelines and legislation.

The project is located within, or adjacent to, the Kaurna people's native title claim area. An Indigenous land use agreement exists between the Kaurna people and the state government, and native title does not exist at the project location. The Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects indicates no registered or reported Aboriginal sites, objects or ancestral remains within the project area. A risk assessment indicates a low risk of encountering unrecorded Aboriginal heritage, and discovery protocols will be utilised should a discovery be made. The department states that the project will have no impacts on commonwealth, state or local heritage-listed places.

A community and stakeholder management plan has been developed that provides an overview of communication strategies to ensure relevant stakeholders will be consulted regarding the works. This includes the Mount Barker District and Adelaide Hills councils, traditional owners, industry bodies and utility service providers, as well as local residents and property owners. The department has engaged in community consultation, and detailed feedback was provided in relation to proposed safety and access improvements at the junction. The department has also consulted with relevant government departments, agencies and representatives.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Mount Barker Road and River Road junction upgrade. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Andrew Excell, Executive Director, Transport Strategy and Planning, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; Dariusz Fanok, Delivery Manager, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; and Amanda Collins, Director, Engagement, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time.

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.

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:58): State and federal Labor's mismanagement of the Hahndorf bypass or the lack thereof under those two governments is writ large by what we have just heard and that mismanagement now continues with the need to upgrade the River Road junction. There ought to be no clearer message to South Australian Hills' residents across the board that you need state and federal Liberal governments to get things done in the Hills.

This abandonment is no thanks to the current member for Kavel and the incumbent member for Mayo, who appeared to be very comfortable with the Albanese Labor government's abandonment of the entire Hahndorf bypass funding that had been committed by the former state and federal Liberal governments. By pushing as hard as we have, we have restored that federal commitment to the Verdun interchange. That is extraordinarily important. But the fact that state Labor has embarked upon this bandaid insult to River Road residents is now continuing with the need to spend more money after bad in order to make safe a turning point for trucks at that intersection.

The Leader of the Opposition has joined me and the member for Hammond has joined me in livestock trucks and in logging trucks, as those magnificent people have turned up and demonstrated back and forth just how inappropriate and unsafe this is. But there was no sign of the Premier and no sign of the minister despite multiple invitations. The residents of River Road will not be going quietly. We will make sure that we keep up the fight for a proper investment in this area.

Debate adjourned.