Eyre Peninsula Overtaking Lanes

The Hon. S.L. GAME (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, on the overtaking lanes project on Eyre Peninsula.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME: A March 2021 report prepared in alliance with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport shows a $32 million monetary commitment to the overtaking lanes project as part of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative. Yet, a more recent May 2023 report stated that it cost $51.25 million, which is $19.25 million more than the initial commitment. As part of the project, all four of the new overtaking lanes completed in either late 2021 or early 2022 have already needed repairs to the road surface, with three roads closed for months due to the issues with the bitumen.

As of 1 June 2023, locals told me that one of the roads is again already showing signs of damage, just two weeks after the completion of previous repairs. I was also told by local residents that what should have been a six-month project has taken longer than two years, with over nine months of required repairs further causing reduced speed limits.

My questions for the minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport are:

1. What was the total cost of the entire Eyre Peninsula overtaking lanes project?

2. Why did the construction of the project take so long?

3. Why did the cost of the project increase by over $19 million?

4. Why did the roads need repairs so soon after completion?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for her question, and certainly I will refer it to the relevant minister in the other place. Certainly, in terms of general comments, I am aware from my many discussions with people in regional areas that on a number of occasions weather events have affected work, including new work done. Also, difficulties with supply chain issues, availability of labour and increases in costs of materials overall, which has been felt across the economy, have all contributed to a number of changes in costs for a variety of projects. My guess is that some of those would be relevant to the honourable member's question, but I will get a more detailed response from the relevant minister in the other place.