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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-07-06 Daily Xml
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Parliamentary Committees

Public Works Committee: Torrens and Goodwood Rail Junctions Project

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:03): I move:

That the 547th report of the committee, entitled Torrens and Goodwood Rail Junctions Project, be noted.

This is the second stage of the Torrens and Goodwood Rail Junctions Project, with the Goodwood Rail Junction and Adelaide Showground Station components having already been completed in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has referred the three remaining components, which are the subject of this report—namely, the Torrens rail junction grade separation, Mike Turtur Bikeway overpass and Leader Street level crossing safety upgrades.

Currently, at the Torrens rail junction, the interstate rail freight trains are required to give way to the metropolitan passenger trains. This delays not only the interstate freight trains but also vehicles at the level crossings in the lead-up to the Torrens rail junction as the massive 1.5-kilometre freight train slows to stop. The proposed changes will grade separate the two lines, allowing for much more efficient rail and vehicle movement.

Specifically, the Outer Harbor passenger rail line will be lowered under the Australian Rail Track Corporation interstate main line and Park Terrace and will incorporate a relocated lowered Bowden train station. This will produce a 1.5-kilometre underpass from the River Torrens bridge to Chief Street in Bowden. In addition, it will improve pedestrian and cyclist access and safety. The cost of delivering this section of the overall project is $238.3 million (GST exclusive). Early works have commenced on this project with the project due to be completed by mid-2018.

The second component, the Mike Turtur Bikeway overpass proposal, will grade separate the bikeway at Goodwood over the ARTC interstate main line and the Seaford and Belair passenger rail lines. Specifically, the project consists of a new shared cycling and pedestrian bridge to enable direct connection across the rail corridor, upgraded access to Goodwood Station to ensure compliance with disability legislation, decommissioning and removal of the current underpass access, and local amenity works, including landscaping. The cost of these works is $7.1 million (GST exclusive) and are due to be completed by the end of 2017.

The Leader Street level crossing project, the smallest of the three projects, will implement safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians through the provision of automated gates and visual warning lights at each of the two pedestrian cycling level crossings. This will be activated through the rail signalling system. The delivery of these projects and works are to occur in the 2016-17 financial year at a cost of $2.1 million (GST exclusive).

The total cost of the three projects is $247.47 million (GST exclusive) and will be jointly funded by the commonwealth and state governments, providing $189.35 million and $58.12 million respectively. The state government has already provided $110 million for the two completed components, namely the Goodwood rail junction grade separation and the new Adelaide Showground Station.

I would like to thank my fellow committee members for their contribution in considering and reviewing these important infrastructure projects, and I would also like to thank the committee staff for their work. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:06): I thank the member for Elder for her comments. They encapsulate the project in its entirety. I would add that if it were not for the federal government, we would not be going ahead with this. The federal Coalition government is funding a large part of it but, that said, it is something that has been needed for many years. It will streamline and make the rail system far more efficient in the city than it has been.

It has been a long-term hiccup, and this will finally once and for all fix that part of it and separate the grades and keep things moving. It will assist greatly; freight trains will no longer have to stop. They will be able to keep moving and come straight through, and there will be no interruption—well, there has not been anyway—to the passenger network. Interestingly, the bike track will benefit those cyclists who take on that pursuit, myself not being one of them. It is a major part of it and it is a good project. With those few words, I think my colleague wishes to speak as well in due course, but we have no hesitation in supporting it.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (11:08): I will be extremely brief. I, too, rise in support of this project. I guess I would make this point: what we are seeing here in South Australia, and not just Adelaide but throughout South Australia, is the most unprecedented delivery of infrastructure services that anyone has ever seen in this state. This is no small project.

Mr Bell: Not in the South-East.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Well, I am sorry that over the years—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There are to be no interjections and, although you are being severely tried, no response to interjections. I will have to start calling people to order straightaway which means you might be in trouble by question time.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I will move on, Deputy Speaker, ignore them and take notice of you.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Hammond.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Anyway, again, the most unprecedented infrastructure projects that this state has ever seen, and we are undertaking these projects, setting a legacy that will last for many decades to come. I am very proud of these particular projects. They will be transformational projects, and we will see Adelaide and the million people who live here being able to access all parts of the city in the most efficient and effective way.

I do not want to rain on anyone's parade, but I would make the point that we know that the future of our rail and light rail network is through electrification. I made this point at the hearing that we had, to see whether or not consideration had been given to ensuring that preparatory work for that electrification could be undertaken whilst this project was proceeding, as opposed to having to, necessarily, retrofit it at a later date.

Of course, what they are doing with respect to train stations is preparing those in such a way that they will be able to accommodate the electrified system. I would only urge that if any other money became available—and I note the member for Finniss's comments about the federal contribution, and we welcome that—what better money is there to spend than that of someone else? It is nice to get it from other people. It is also good to see that the then, if you like, federal government—because we do not know who will be the federal government in a few days' time—changed their attitude from one that did not consider people as freight, to a government that decided to fund these projects which are about moving people and enhancing—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! You can have a turn in a minute.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I thought I was actually congratulating the government on the contribution they have made, and I am still getting heckled—can you believe it! Getting back to my point, if more money becomes available, and I hope it is money from elsewhere—even if it is some of ours, that would also be okay—that we look at these projects in such a way that we do not have to retrofit and that we do the preparatory work that will save money into the future. I do remember and I have been around long enough to know that when we were going to have the Port River Expressway the initial proposal was for at-grade intersections, which would have been the most ridiculous thing that ever would have occurred.

If we look at the Gallipoli Underpass (the one on Anzac Highway) could they not see that train coming, or that tram coming? So, we had to then retrofit that. Whilst I think we have improved the way in which we manage these projects, and we look beyond just the project itself, I would again reinforce the point that if work can be done in regard to preparatory work for the electrification of our system, that should be undertaken. Having said all of that, I commend the project. I again congratulate the state government on all the work that it is doing with respect to this unprecedented level of work being undertaken on our roads and transport systems.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:12): What a pleasure to get up and support the 547th report. Yes, it is a good infrastructure project. For me, it is a project that is very city-centric, but there is a productivity gain with the grade separation, particularly with the Torrens Junction grade separation. The freight line that operates between Adelaide and Melbourne is increasing its operations by 20 per cent, and the delays on that freight line were highlighted. About 50,000 vehicles were competing with about 160 rail movements every day, so that is a really good outcome. The Mike Turtur Bikeway is one of the most patronised bikeways in the state, with 1,000 people per day using it. Again, upgrades to that are a productivity gain, allowing people to move more quickly.

One of the concerns that I raised in the hearing was in regard to the Australian steel and concrete content in this project, like every project that the government undertakes. Obviously, it has been quite well documented, through FOI, that there is no regulatory requirement. There is no obligation for anyone, or any record keeping by any government department, to keep records or actually acknowledge where Australian steel is used, and that is a concern.

Also, apart from the steel and concrete in the project, there was a small amount of impact on the Parklands and soccer pitches as part of the project, so there will be some challenges on just how that is managed. I think there will be some trade-off with some of the soccer pitches, where the land is taken away. They will in turn be responsible for some of the maintenance of those grounds. It will also assist in the maintenance of the Outer Harbor and Grange lines and the ARTC works.

It is a good project primarily driven by the commonwealth government. The total cost of the project is $443 million, and it was started in 2012. I commend the project to the house.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:15): Thank you to all of the speakers: the members for Finniss, Colton and Chaffey. This is a very significant project, a good project, allowing for the smooth flow of freight and passenger trains, and it also allows for the safety of cyclists. With that, I recommend the report to the house.

Motion carried.

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