Truro Bypass Project

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:33): I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Regional Development about regional road projects in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: In November last year, the Albanese federal government axed important regional road projects across the regions of South Australia, including the Truro freight route. Last night we learnt that the Truro freight route remains cancelled. This is a project that was previously committed to by both the former Coalition and the current Labor government, and in this parliament the Public Works Committee recommended this project. My question to the minister is: will the state government commit the required funding to complete this important freight route to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Truro community and the regional community more broadly?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:34): The Minister for Transport in the other place has provided the following information that may be of assistance to the honourable member.

The Truro bypass project was jointly funded 80:20 for $202 million to fund the design and construction of a bypass at Truro which would divert heavy traffic on the Sturt Highway out of Truro's main street, aiming to improve safety, amenity and freight efficiency. It is part of the South Australia high productivity vehicle network access initiative, listed as a priority initiative on Infrastructure Australia's priority list.

The current design for the Truro bypass provides for a single-lane bypass around both Truro and Accommodation Hill. It also includes three new overtaking lanes: two westbound and one eastbound. Of course, this is the project that Tony Pasin, Vincent Tarzia and Ashton Hurn have called to be a dual-lane carriageway. This is a quote from Mr Pasin:

It beggars belief that the South Australian Government would spend so much time consulting with community on a $202 million project only to end up with such a short term vision.

He said:

If it's important to get the Torrens to Darlington section of the North South Corridor right the first time, then it's important to get any upgrades to Sturt Highway done right too.

Considering that the federal government—no doubt significantly because of the effective advocacy of the member for Mayo, as well as the advocacy of the state government—has now reinstated in this budget the funding for the Verdun and Mount Barker projects, perhaps it has a whole lot to do with the appropriateness and effectiveness of advocacy by federal members. Perhaps the member for Barker, instead of raising concerns and undermining the proposal as he did in the quote that I read out—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —should instead spend some time advocating for issues in his community. Perhaps if he was a more effective advocate—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —then the federal government would have actually funded the Truro bypass in this budget. However, this government's approach is to be responsible and to continue to advocate with the federal government for important projects for our state. We will continue to do that in regard to the Truro bypass and hope to see it funded in a future federal budget.