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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-06-05 Daily Xml
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Morphett Road Tram Overpass

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister inform the house how many trees will be removed from the tram corridor adjacent to both Maxwell Terrace and Dunbar Terrace in Glengowrie? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: A local resident, Ms Marsden, has contacted my office concerned that as of January this year, 16 trees were identified as having to be removed with only two listed as significant, but she was alarmed that the latest project update now lists 21 significant and 64 regulated trees for removal, going on to say, 'I understand trees need to be removed, but this seems excessive,' and also that removing 85 trees is a devastating outcome for Glenelg and Glengowrie residents, local fauna and the environment.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:55): Building infrastructure is difficult and probably why the member for Morphett was unable or deliberately didn't attempt to grade separate Morphett Road when they were in government and left the hard heavy lifting to us, which is probably why—

Members interjecting:

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order: it's 127(2) and 127(3), digression and personal reflections. I draw a distinction from 125. The minister can't do that. It is not for the member to raise it.

The SPEAKER: I will pay close attention to the minister as he resumes his answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I note that the member is asking this question on behalf of his constituent, which is the right thing to do. When constituents are upset about progress and the impact on the surrounds when you are building infrastructure it can be quite difficult. We have had a number of these cases where we have had to go in and build infrastructure that the previous members refused to. I give you an example: Majors Road. The Majors Road on/off ramps were something they talked about in opposition and refused to do in government. The moment we did it, the moment we began to do it, there was a lot of talk about the destruction of trees and the like.

Of course, the government knows and understands that we have to remove some trees and we have to make some destruction but we are building something for the future. What we always intend to do, at the very best, is minimise our footprint and our impact on trees, especially mature trees, regulated trees and significant trees because they are hard to replace and they are part of the local community make-up and we want to keep them, but we also want to get rid of the intersection that is down for nearly 20 minutes at a time in an hour during peak-hour traffic.

We are making some tough decisions in getting it done right the first time. I would say to the constituent of the member for Morphett: it's one thing to receive a complaint and agree with the complaint and then raise it in the parliament; it's another thing to get on and say, 'I understand the complaint but this project needs to be built.'

I would say a majority of the constituents that the member for Morphett currently represents would be a little bit surprised at the question today by the member for Morphett because this question implies somehow that the project may not be worthy, may not be important enough—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Hang on! This is the part he cuts out of the Facebook video. This is the part he cuts out. He only puts the question up.

The SPEAKER: Minister, you might return to the substance of the question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, thank you very much for your wise judgement, sir, I will return.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am deeply hurt. It's always difficult when your peers have a go at you. When your peers have a crack at you it's always difficult, it's always the hardest. It is always the hardest. When your peers have a crack, it cuts deep. But I say to the member for Morphett: we are doing our very best to minimise it. We won't take a single tree more than is needed and we will replace trees and we will make sure that it is better than ever before. I can assure your constituent we are doing what you refused to do for the entire time you were in office and that is getting rid of that grade separation.

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