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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-20 Daily Xml
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PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: RAIL REVITALISATION—ELECTRIFICATION OF SEAFORD AND TONSLEY LINES

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (11:55): I move:

That the 462nd report of the Public Works Committee, entitled Rail Revitalisation—Electrification of Seaford and Tonsley Lines, be noted.

The proposal brought to the committee addressed remaining works for the rail revitalisation project costed at $424 million. The project and its cost is an amalgam of the following components: the completion of the final stage of track upgrade works on the Seaford line between Oaklands Park and the city, and the Belair line between Goodwood and the city, including necessary work in the Adelaide yard; and the electrification of the Seaford line between Adelaide Railway Station and Seaford, including the Tonsley line comprising associated signalling and communication system works, the provision of a power supply facility at Lonsdale and associated power system infrastructure, and installation of the overhead wiring system and associated works.

It should be understood that the cost is not just for electrification but includes parts of the wider revitalisation process as well. The project involves multiple sites and activities to bring the total rail revitalisation project to fruition. These activities will include the works in the Adelaide rail yard, the full shutdown of the lines in question at various stages, construction of a feeder station at Lonsdale to supply power to the line, and the commissioning of equipment for use on the line. The expected completion date for the project is October 2013. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the act, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:55): The opposition supported this project in the Public Works Committee meeting and is pleased to see it come to fruition—in direct contrast to the kerfuffle in the northern suburbs where they are not going to get it, and they are making a big song and dance, and puffing and blowing about the southern suburbs electrification, which smacks of hypocrisy, quite frankly, but that is another story. The fact is that people from as far south as my electorate and down in the Yankalilla, Victor Harbor, Goolwa area will all benefit from the rail electrification, and I am sure that they will use the service when it does come to fruition and find it most beneficial.

Anyone who has travelled on the electric train services in Western Australia knows only too well how good they are and how quiet, efficient, and well managed they are. Not only that, the trains over there do not impact on the roadways, they do not go anywhere near them, they do not have level crossings, they have stations overhead, and the cars continue to flow. I think we can take a lot from the way in which the rail service runs in and around Perth, quite frankly.

A few years ago, some of us were lucky enough to go on a Public Works tour to look at the desalination plant prior to the project in South Australia and also to travel on the train service, and I found it to be remarkably good. If the one in South Australia comes up to that standard, I think we will be doing particularly well. It is with a great deal of interest that we have watched the bridge over the river down south take place and, unfortunately, the people in my electorate in Sellicks Beach would like the train to continue right down there. However, it is going to be an advantage to the people of the south and the people of South Australia when this service comes into play. I am unsure whether anyone else wants to speak on this matter but I will conclude my remarks.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Gardner.

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