iPAVe Road Survey

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:48): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Could the minister please inform the house when the results of the iPAVe road survey will be made public? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr McBRIDE: The iPAVe3 completed a road survey across the MacKillop electorate last year. Data from the survey was due to be available earlier this year but nothing has been released.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:49): I thank the member for his question. As I have said previously in the house, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport contracted the National Transport Research Organisation to undertake a sealed roads network survey of approximately 13,000 kilometres to test pavement deflection with its state-of-the-art intelligent pavement assessment vehicle, iPAVe, for an approximate cost of $2.2 million. This vehicle enables the department to collect network-wide deflection data on the department's sealed roads for the first time in the state's history. This data will enable my department to access pavement strength and improve the prioritisation of maintenance activities.

Due to some technical issues with the equipment on the truck that occurred last year—which goes to the first part of your question about why it wasn't released last year—specifically with the Doppler lasers that measure the deflection in the road pavement, the NTRO completed the full 13,000-kilometre survey in March this year. The survey data is now being validated by the provider prior to being released to the department. Once I get it, I will release it. I think I have said previously in parliament that I want to release it in the second half of this year, so anytime after 1 July and before 31 December.