NORTHERN SUBURBS BUS ROUTES

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister assisting the Minister for Transport questions about northern suburbs bus services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I have recently been approached by residents of the northern suburbs concerning the bus route changes which came into effect in September. Having given the new system time to take full effect, these residents have now requested that I take up a number of issues with the minister. As a result, my questions are:

1. Why are there no public bus services planned to cater for the rapidly growing new portions of Andrews Farm and Munno Para West until September 2010?

2. Will the minister indicate why the first morning bus to Adelaide along Main North Road does not arrive in the city until 6.46am, much later than services from other areas of Adelaide?

3. Why do the routes 224X and 225X, so-called express services, run via Mawson Lakes Interchange, defeating the purpose of an express service?

4. When will services be provided to residents in the heart of Gulfview Heights?

5. What action will the minister take to ensure that bus schedules on the 451 route match the times of train services on the Gawler line?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and for his ongoing interest in the issue of transport. I am very happy to refer those questions to the Minister for Transport in another place and bring back a response.

Again, I take this opportunity to make sure that the record is quite clear about this government's commitment to public transport. DTEI's capital expenditure is $1.1 billion for 2009-10, up $160 million a year from eight years ago. Over the next four years, $3 billion will be spent on transport alone, and that includes: a rail revitalisation program (the government's $2 billion investment to transform our public transport network); the coast-to-coast rail commitment in relation to providing coast-to-coast light rail services (construction has already commenced); additional trams that have been secured to supplement our existing fleet; the rail car depot relocation; the South Road/Anzac Highway underpass; and the Glenelg tram overpass. The list goes on and on. It is an unprecedented commitment of $3 billion over four years.