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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-08 Daily Xml
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Majors Road Interchange

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister inform the house of the progress of the Malinauskas government commitment to build the Majors Road interchange, including any advocacy undertaken on the project?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:29): I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Community consultation is in. It's like election night. I don't want to call it too early, but 750 respondents to our survey. If you believe the Leader of the Opposition—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Flinders!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —I am sure you would believe that the respondents would be overwhelmingly negative.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: People wouldn't want it. The locals wouldn't want it. I can report to the parliament that, as a result of the consultation, 65 per cent of the respondents have overwhelming support for the project—65. That's higher than your margin—not very good.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You would dream about 65 per cent.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: These are numbers that are mentioned in hushed tones in corridors, 65 per cent. I have to say that there were some concerns raised by a minority of people, and they were legitimate concerns. There were concerns about the impact on Glenthorne Farm, noting the previous designs—

The Hon. D.J. Speirs: Glenthorne Farm is a national park.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sorry?

The Hon. D.J. Speirs: It's a national park.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is, but—

The Hon. D.J. Speirs: You wanted to build on it.

The SPEAKER: Leader! The leader is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Noting the previous designs show a considerable impact on Glenthorne Farm National Park, the department is pursuing, on the basis of the consultation, a design that has minimal if any impact on the park, and it will ensure that there is no significant impact on vegetation. Again, I think it demonstrates the Premier's approach to community consultation that he has asked all of us to pick up and champion. It's an approach to infrastructure projects, it's to listen, to take into consideration the important feedback from our communities and local community leaders. I want to quote some community leaders about what they think about this Majors Road on/off ramp. One said:

The Southern Expressway cuts through our community…there is no convenient access point for residents living in Sheidow Park, Trott Park, O'Halloran Hill and Hallett Cove.

I agree. Another community leader said, 'As a local who—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Colton!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He said:

As a local who uses the expressway often, I know firsthand the benefits that access to the Southern Expressway would deliver for thousands of people living in the surrounding suburbs.

Do you know who that was? The Leader of the Opposition. He went on to say this:

You have my commitment that a Liberal Government will deliver much more than a 'feasibility study', we are 100% focused on delivering this project with design works budgeted for early in the term of a new government.

I am trying to think of a Disney character that doesn't have a good memory. I know the Leader of the Opposition—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Can you give me one? Is Nemo a Disney character?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Standing order 127.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Is Dory a Nemo character?

The SPEAKER: Minister, 127; I ask you to keep it in mind. Standing order 127, personal reflection on members.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir. I won't make any adverse reflections on the Leader of the Opposition and his previous remarks. That would be inappropriate, but it is fair to say that the Leader of the Opposition's local community want their project. They want this project. The question they have is: why doesn't the opposition?

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