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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-22 Daily Xml
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Majors Road Interchange

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (14:54): My question is for the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister provide an update on the Majors Road interchange project?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:54): I always look forward to these days when I get these questions without notice about—

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will hear the member for Morialta under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The question seeks to elicit a response that, in my view, would contradict the standing order relating to pre-empting debate on something that is on the Notice Paper. Prior to question time, the member for Florey put a Majors Road work redevelopment report on the Notice Paper for the house to consider tomorrow.

The SPEAKER: It's a sophisticated point of order, but if I were to rule that way, member for Morialta, it would be very difficult for matters of public business that relate to some matter that might be brought on to be discussed in question time. Equally, I haven't heard the answer.

The Hon. D.J. Speirs interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, we wouldn't want to deny the Leader of the Opposition. It's a special relationship we have about Majors Road. I note the member for Davenport's strong support for this project, as it has now surpassed the support of the member for Black, who was once a very strong supporter of this.

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas: Not that long ago, either.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Just a wee time ago they were big supporters. I can advise the house that site investigations and early works to construct the very popular Majors Road interchange project will commence on 1 March, very close to the ides of March.

The Hon. D.J. Speirs: St David's Day.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is St David's Day. Of course, I am of the ancient faith—not the new Protestant faith of the Catholic Church.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I can inform the house that local South Australian Aboriginal business RAWsa have been engaged to conduct the site investigation works to help better understand the underground services and inform the project's detailed design. RAWsa will also construct the project's site facility adjacent to Riding for the Disabled Association SA site.

The Majors Road on/off ramp will provide commuters in the southern suburbs with greater access to the Southern Expressway, something that has been championed by a number of people in this house over a long period of time but has somehow now, surprisingly, one less supporter. It will provide communities with improved access to Glenthorne National Park via new bike connections, making it easier and safer to get to the park by bike, also to access the Sam Willoughby International BMX Facility and of course, importantly, the Southern Soccer Facility will be enhanced.

As I have stated previously, these works are scheduled to commence on 1 March and are expected to be completed by late April 2023, weather permitting. Procurement for the interchange design and construction contract is expected to be completed in mid-2023, with major work expected to start in late 2023 and the project completed by the end of 2025.

I remind the house that the previous plan proposed by the Liberal government would impact a minimum of 13,000 square metres of Glenthorne National Park, including 8,000 square metres of established vegetation and significant trees. Their plan would have cut a swathe of destruction across the national park.

I am proud to say that our proposed concept design has been developed to ensure minimal impact on Glenthorne National Park, with no portion of the national park to be further isolated from any other area of the park. The current design also ensures no impact to significant vegetation, Glenthorne Farm or the O'Halloran Hill Recreation Park.

Given our design so thoroughly rectifies the shortfalls in the former government's disastrous plan, I encourage the member for Black to return this project to the top of his priority list and join me in looking forward for his community rather than looking back in anger. Nothing good comes of anger.

An honourable member: He thinks you're Liam Gallagher!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, I would have been Noel. I encourage the member for Black to return to this very popular project in his electorate, or he might face the wrath of his community.

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