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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-12 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

WATERFALL GULLY ROAD

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:06): We find that Waterfall Gully Road is yet again a place of carnage. Members might recall that, in late 2005, there was very significant flooding in the Waterfall Gully area, resulting in millions of dollars in damage to both public and private property. Since that time, whilst the government finally undertook some remedial work on the road, we had the tragic death of a cyclist in February 2007. Just last month, almost in the same place, sadly another 31 year old Unley man—a person from outside my electorate of Bragg—sustained injuries and was hospitalised as a result of an accident on this road. This matter has been the subject of some public comment.

I received information concerning another person—a third victim—in the previous month, on 29 September, who was travelling on his bicycle and had a near fatal collision. He received five stitches to his forehead as a result of the injury, which he sustained despite the helmet he was wearing at the time, and required two operations to his left arm, as well as receiving a number of other abrasions. Again, very significant and serious injury has been sustained as a result of the disgraceful state of this road.

I have repeatedly called on the government to honour its absolute responsibility to ensure that it not only undertakes the flood mitigation problem in that area. It must ensure that two things happen: one is that the roadway is repaired; and, secondly, where there is public land, including parks and areas contained wildlife, work must be undertaken to get rid of the substantial bamboo growth in there, which is causing a watercourse interference. These are two fundamental capital works programs.

In the meantime, at the very least, we asked for a copy of the road accident safety report, which was undertaken as a result of the death of a cyclist in 2007. In the last two months there has been serious injury to other cyclists on this road. As I say, we have asked that, at the least, the report be provided. The freedom of information application, which was to seek TransportSA's safety and audit report on the fatality, was denied. I have raised this issue in the parliament and called upon the government to release this report publicly and to tell us why, in this case, someone who is innocently riding their bike along Waterfall Gully Road should sustain a fatal injury. An investigation has been undertaken but this government continues to keep the matter a secret, and that is utterly disgraceful!

I remind the house, particularly members of the government, that it is not people in Bragg who are being injured; it is people from other areas. Tens of thousands of people visit this important area every year and, because it is a major tourist attraction, we have motor, cycling and walking traffic. It is a state icon. These people are entitled to use this area, but it is dangerous, and every person who visits it is at risk. They continue to sustain injury and, tragically, die.

We want to know the reason why, and we want the government to release this report and stop being so secretive. If it means dealing with capital works, if it means dealing with a change in the engineering of the road and if it means providing surface rehabilitation, let us know about it. The only reason this government is concealing the report is because it is scared to death that people who have sustained injuries will take it up with the government and take the lawful action they are entitled to. We want this report released now, we want no more secrecy and we want no more deaths on Waterfall Gully Road.

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