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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-31 Daily Xml
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Road Upgrades

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister advise the house how the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters and planning for the future by delivering the duplication of Main South Road and Victor Harbor Road?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:24): I thank the member for Elder for her question. It gives me great pleasure to rise today to talk about a project that Labor underfunded, never did any planning work for and left in a mess, but the Marshall government is fixing this. I think it's important to provide some context. When those opposite were in government, they committed $305 million to duplicate Main South Road. However, there are a couple of points to make here.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: First, they only had $100 million of money actually in the forward estimates, so they short-changed it there. Secondly, no planning work was done whatsoever. It's the same old story that we see for projects across the state since we came into government. Labor put out a press release. No planning works were done, no design work was done to back it up. It's straight from the Media Mike-Jay Weatherill playbook.

Fast-forward a few years and the Marshall government not only secured the funding for the Main South Road stage 1 but also secured $170 million extra for Main South Road stage 2 and further Fleurieu works, $92 million towards Victor Harbor Road duplication and $15 million for an overtaking lane further down Victor Harbor Road, so for the Fleurieu road connection package—$560 million.

I would like to thank our federal colleagues. With this project we worked with the federal member, Rebekha Sharkie, and partnered with her, and for the second part of this the federal government committed 80 per cent for Main South Road stage 2 and the Victor Harbor Road upgrades. That is something those opposite failed to do when they were in government. In fact, the work they had put forward for stage 1 was all funded by the state. However, we worked like adults with the federal government and got a really great deal. I am very, very happy with that.

Also, what I can say is that, with the money Labor had on the table there is no way there would have been an overpass or an underpass at all, and if they had done the work, if they had done the planning work, they would know that.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat. The member for Lee on a point of order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Standing order 98: the minister is clearly debating the answer. It was quite specific about what the current government is doing, and the minister has so far failed to address any of the substance of the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am listening carefully to the minister's answer. For the time being, the minister is addressing the question and providing relevant context. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I am glad the member for Lee has spoken up on this because it is interesting that during the week the member for West Torrens raised the fact that he felt that roundabouts weren't effective; in fact, I think he said they don't fix traffic congestion. Well, he may want to chat to the member for Lee, who in 2017 put a roundabout right outside Aldinga, a one-lane roundabout—signed off on it. I reckon the member for West Torrens was the Treasurer who agreed to it—a single-lane roundabout that has caused a great deal of angst down there. But, don't worry—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —member for Lee, we will fix it. We will fix the mess you created. It's no problem at all. As I said, when we came into government we got the department to do the planning work, the design work that Labor didn't do. That work is now complete, and we announced this week that there are two options we are taking to the community, two options for them to consider. In short, the data shows that after Aldinga the traffic volumes on Main South Road decrease significantly. The advice from the department is that duplication isn't required there.

So for around half the cost of duplication we can get the same road safety and traffic outcomes and futureproof this road for the next three decades past 2050. That would enable us to look at option number 2, to further duplicate the Victor Harbor Road, which has far more traffic on it. These are the options before the people of the Fleurieu.

We have taken that conversation to the community. In coming weeks, we will be holding community information sessions, encouraging people to come and have their say and submit their feedback online or through other channels.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: It's been three years.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It's okay. The member for Mawson is arcing up, but we have—

The SPEAKER: The minister will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —done that work, member for Mawson. We are delivering for the community. The project is going to go through 770 full-time jobs during construction.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It's a massive project for jobs and the economy. This is the $560 million package that we have all the funding for, not just 305—all of the funding for—and it is a Fleurieu Peninsula package. We welcome people having their say. It's going to create jobs and build the infrastructure that South Australia needs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the leader, I call to order the member for Schubert, I call to order the member for Chaffey, I call to order the member for Mawson and I call to order the member for Colton.

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