Augusta Highway

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport regarding the Augusta Highway.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: The opposition has been contacted by a number of motorists with regard to the newly duplicated section of the Augusta Highway between Port Wakefield and Lochiel, which is already showing signs of road surface failure, including cracking, potholing and service breakup. My questions to the minister are:

1. What actions are being taken to address these defects and ensure accountability from contractors responsible for the works?

2. When is the duplication project of the Augusta Highway between Lochiel and Port Augusta scheduled to commence?

3. Can the minister advise the chamber on what processes are within her department to ensure that works on roads around South Australia are done to a correct standard?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Autism) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question. He is correct; we have been investing a lot in roads around South Australia. As we highlighted in the chamber last sitting week, I think it was, we have delivered a number of projects in regional South Australia. If you were to take out the fantastic project I was just talking about, the T2D project, the major projects announced in regional South Australia since 2022-23 is approximately $2.7 billion, which represents 70 per cent of the total statewide transport investments.

This is a demonstration of an incredible investment in South Australia. Further little fun facts that may help you in regard to what we are doing in regional South Australia, is that if you look at road maintenance over the last three years, 57 per cent of that is spent in regional areas. So, yes, you are correct. We are spending a lot in regional communities and we have been proud of those commitments that we have been able to make.