Regional Roads

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:30): I rise today to speak about the importance of the investment into our regional roads right across South Australia, and they are vital for the economic drive of our state. The contribution that regional communities make always needs recognition in this place. Our roads really are the physical connection to our productive regional businesses to get their high-quality products to market, and no more so than on Eyre Peninsula.

Having safe roads is also incredibly important for keeping our regional communities safe. It is especially pertinent in a year like this where we see an incredibly distressing state road toll. A previous government has put significant investment into highways on Eyre Peninsula. The previous Liberal government invested into the Lincoln Highway on the eastern side of Eyre Peninsula and the Tod Highway, which goes through the middle. That wide road that was delivered under the previous Liberal government now makes such a difference to those traversing that road between the turn-off to go to Cummins all the way up to Kyancutta.

The Eyre Highway is the road that goes all the way across the top of my electorate really, from Port Augusta all the way to the border. That wide road, which has been delivered by the previous Liberal government, has made a real difference to not just local use but the significant amount of east-west traffic that traverses that road. There is also the Birdseye Highway, which is the one that goes from Cowell all the way across to Elliston. These are important investments into road infrastructure on Eyre Peninsula, which my community members well and truly welcomed with the investment by the previous Liberal government.

I really want to bring the government's attention now to the road condition of the Flinders Highway. This is the one that traverses the West Coast. It goes all the way from Ceduna to Streaky Bay to Elliston and down to Port Lincoln. It is a long road and it is a dangerous road, sadly. It is not just a road that sees domestic use but it is also a really important road that holiday-makers use. There is incredible scenery along the West Coast but it is also a road that heavy vehicles use.

With the trucks that traverse this road, it really means that the narrow pathway that is followed does provide for a dangerous situation. We need to have the shoulders sealed on the Flinders Highway. Especially, there are some really dangerous sections along that road and, sadly, we have seen some incidents and accidents that have occurred because of that interaction between heavy vehicles, caravans, cars and other freight movements along that road. The government needs to be investing into that road.

The section between Streaky Bay and Ceduna really comes to front of mind for me, as well the section south of Elliston where we see 10 or 12-inch drop-offs on the edge of a really narrow roadway. It only adds to the extra danger being faced by the people having to travel long distances. I think it is the duty and the role of the member for Flinders to encourage the government that a wider road is a safer road and it needs that investment. In particular, the Flinders Highway needs the attention and the investment of this Labor government.

I am also asking the government to release the findings and the recommendations of the Eyre Peninsula Grain Export Supply Chain Planning Study. That is a big mouthful, but it is a body of work that I understand has been substantially completed and one that has had a significant component of it funded by Eyre Peninsula councils. It needs to be released so that there is some clarity for the people of the EP about what the plan is for freight movement, including consideration of the future of the Eyre Peninsula rail network, the need for highway upgrades and the potential for other freight options on the EP. This body of work is necessary. It is important. We need some direction, and we do not need the government to play politics with it. We need answers, and we need them now.

Last week, I welcomed the shadow minister, the Hon. Ben Hood, to Eyre Peninsula and took him for a tour of the regional road network, including the dangerous sections of road within the City of Port Lincoln. I am advocating for there to be a partnership with the City of Port Lincoln council to deliver a really important upgrade to the roads at the intersection of Le Brun Street and Verran Terrace. It is a dangerous situation.

I know the Port Lincoln city council have put significant efforts into redesigning that intersection. They have applied for Black Spot funding. I understand that South Australia is the only state that has not announced its Black Spot funding for this financial year. I am encouraging the government: look at where these really important, dangerous intersections are, especially Le Brun Street and Verran Terrace in Port Lincoln. It needs investment strategically from the government, and that is what I am calling for.