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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-01 Daily Xml
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Greenways Program

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister provide any updates to the house about improvements to cycling infrastructure in South Australia?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:50): I thank the member for Little Para for his question and his interest in this area. The state government wants to see more people using their bikes, both for transport and for recreation. We know the whole community benefits when more people cycle. There are benefits to our road infrastructure: cyclists can ease traffic congestion on our roads and they have very little impact, of course, on the road network's wear and tear. There are, of course, the benefits to the individual's health and, of course, to the public health system from more people engaging in physical exercise, and there are also environmental benefits.

As well as installing more dedicated cycle lanes on our roads, we have been investing in our greenways. Greenways are cycling routes devoted to cycling and walking and usually occur alongside public transport corridors or linear open space, such as the River Torrens. I am pleased to update the house on two projects which form part of the state government's $12 million Greenways Program, a program which is part of this government's commitment to improving cycling infrastructure in the city and outer suburbs. The $260,000 upgrade to part of the Mike Turtur Bikeway, undertaken—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: You might give me a chance to look at it, member for Schubert.

Mr KNOLL: If you click on the little blue hyperlink you get everything that you need under www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/major_projects/greenways_and_bike_boulevards/current_projects. It includes the Mike Turtur Bikeway upgrades.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I will roll the dice. The $260,000 upgrade to part of the Mike Turtur Bikeway, undertaken in conjunction with the City of Holdfast Bay, has recently been finished. The bikeway follows the tramline from Glenelg to the city. The upgrade includes safety improvements to cycling and walking facilities at Glenelg's Brighton Road, Jetty Road and Maxwell Terrace. The works include a new off-road path, bike shelter and repair station and will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in and around Glenelg. The upgrade also improves access to the Mike Turtur Bikeway route, creating better access to public transport stops and stations.

In addition to this project, as recently as a couple of weeks ago works were completed on the Grange Greenway. The works lengthened and widened the path adjacent to the rail corridor, and lighting was added to increase safety for those people who are walking and riding at night. This work links the Woodville West development to Woodville Road and provides another option for those wanting to walk, run or cycle along existing public transport corridors and Linear Park open space. The Grange Greenway provides a convenient and safe alternative to main roads for people cycling towards the city from the western suburbs.

Of course, this also links up with the Outer Harbor Greenway, a project we have undertaken in collaboration with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, which is now close to completion. I know we have many members, like the Speaker, the member for Little Para, the Minister for Manufacturing and also the Minister for Tourism, who cycle regularly. With these new tracks, I would encourage all members to get on their bikes and test out the new infrastructure. It is not just the government that thinks Greenway Program investment is important. Ian Radbone from the Bicycle Institute of South Australia has said:

Our organisation has been advocating for greenways since the 1990s, and we're very pleased to see that since this idea was embraced by the Government there has been a growing network of better connected bicycle routes in our suburban areas.

The Amy Gillett Foundation CEO, Belinda Clark, also commented that the government has been investing in these greenways and said, 'Any investment in cycling infrastructure that provides a safe suburban route for cyclists is certainly welcomed.' On the Amy Gillett Foundation, we have spent $4½ million on the Amy Gillett Bikeway. It is the only project where no funding assistance has been received from the local council, and we would hope that the Adelaide Hills Council fully acknowledges the benefits of coinvestment. I know it is a project strongly supported by the member for Kavel.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Morphett for the second and final time, I warn the member for Schubert for the first time, and I congratulate the minister's staff on their elegant variation.

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