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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-29 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Victor Harbor Road Safety Improvements—Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road Intersection Upgrade

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:18): I move:

That the 83rd report of the committee, entitled Victor Harbor Road Safety Improvements—Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road Intersection Upgrade, be noted.

This project is part of a broader strategy to increase road safety along Victor Harbor Road between Willunga Hill and Victor Harbor and will result in improved road safety at the intersection of Victor Harbor Road with Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road.

In pursuit of the National Road Safety Strategy's target for an over 30 per cent reduction in serious injuries and a 50 per cent reduction in fatalities on South Australian roads, the Australian and South Australian governments have partnered to commit $15 million to this particular section of road on an 80:20 basis through the Fleurieu Connections project.

I do not need to tell you, Mr Speaker, but the Victor Harbor Road is a main road that runs from Main South Road in Old Noarlunga through the McLaren Vale region and Mount Compass, ending in Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula. In recent decades, traffic on the road has grown steadily, due to a rising population and increased tourism in the region, and the road has earned notoriety for being particularly dangerous.

The intersection in question interrupts a 29-kilometre high-speed section between Willunga Hill and Victor Harbor, requiring traffic turning off the road to slow or stop in the path of high-speed traffic following behind. This can leave motorists, often local residents, essentially parked in the road hoping that the drivers approaching from behind are paying attention. It is a risk that is only exacerbated by the high volume of commercial and tourism traffic not intimately familiar with this stretch of road. The public works submission to upgrade the intersection with Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road will ensure safer travel for both local and visiting motorists, as well as provide unobstructed journeys between Willunga Hill and Victor Harbor.

The intersection has an annual average daily traffic count of over 8,000 vehicles, of which 9 per cent are classed as heavy commercial vehicles. Between 2018 and 2022, there were 14 reported accidents at the intersection, sadly, including one fatality and two serious injuries. By introducing dedicated right-turning lanes, adjusting road levels, and installing new lighting, the proposed works will help prevent future rear-end and right-angle collisions.

The intersection upgrades will widen the road to accommodate two separate dedicated right-turn lanes off Victor Harbor Road onto Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road respectively; adjust road levels to improve sightlines for drivers entering Victor Harbor Road from Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road; include new and upgraded lighting to increase visibility at night; and provide new and upgraded road pavement, road surfacing and line marking. The works will also include drainage upgrades, vegetation removal, and the relocation of Telstra, SA Water and SA Power Networks services.

As it stands, the sightlines at the intersection are obscured by a significant crest, and the works will re-profile approximately 350 metres of road to improve visibility for all drivers approaching or entering the intersection. The design of the new road surface has considered the unique needs of heavy vehicles when stopping and turning, and new drainage infrastructure, including side entry pits and stormwater culverts, will help manage stormwater flow.

The road upgrade will cost $10.5 million drawn from the jointly-funded Fleurieu Connections project and will require the Commissioner of Highways to assume management of a portion of Virgin Road from the City of Victor Harbor. Construction is expected to begin in the last quarter of this year, with the intersection open to regular traffic in July 2025. The works are expected to create approximately 40 full-time equivalent jobs over the life of the project.

Inevitably, the works will cause some inconvenience and interruption to neighbouring properties, as well as to regular users of the road. A community and stakeholder plan has been developed to identify issues of concern and to develop appropriate communication strategies, including media releases, phone, website, newsletters and meetings. The department will also work with the local council to implement measures to reduce impacts on motorists and local traffic to minimise traffic delays.

Service authorities have been engaged early, as commencement of the works is dependent upon the completion of SA Water relocations. The department states that these relocation works should not cause any major outages, and they will work with local residents to ensure as little inconvenience as possible.

A sustainable development report has been prepared that provides a summary of these key aspects relating to the project, including the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions and resource use over the duration of the works. The report also includes climate change considerations such as the risks of increased temperatures and flooding.

An impact assessment has investigated key environmental and heritage aspects of the project such as vegetation, fauna, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage, water quality, noise and vibration, air quality, and contamination. The project will require the clearance of some amenity and native vegetation, which will be minimalised through design. Where removal is unavoidable, approvals will be sought through the Native Vegetation Act.

The project area is within a native title claim, but it has been determined that native title does not exist over the project area. The Register of Aboriginals Sites and Objects determined the nearest registered site to be located approximately one kilometre from the project area and consists of culturally modified trees. The detailed design development will endeavour to avoid damage, disturbance and interference to the known Aboriginals sites, objects and remains. Where this is not possible, appropriate legislation approval will be obtained. There will be no direct impact on commonwealth, state or local heritage-listed places.

A communication and stakeholder management plan has provided an overview of necessary stakeholder consultation, including the City of Victor Harbor, local members of parliament, government departments and agencies, the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and surrounding residents and businesses. The project will continue to communicate with stakeholders, identifying potential issues and manage them appropriately. Ongoing consultation with adjacent landowners will minimise and mitigate construction impacts where possible.

The committee has examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Victor Harbor Road Safety Improvements—Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road Intersection Upgrade Project. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Andrew Excell, the Executive Director, Transport, Strategy and Planning, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, and Michael Rander, Delivery Manager, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the member for Finniss for his statement to the committee in support of the project in his electorate.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (11:26): It is certainly a very important project. The fixing of this intersection is really an important safety issue on the Victor Harbor Road. As has been pointed out, there have been many injuries, accidents and fatalities occur, sadly, at this intersection over time. I am very appreciative of the previous minister, Corey Wingard, for actually getting this on the agenda of works that needed to be done. It certainly was a community-led process. The Jolley family, in particular, who adjoin that intersection with their dairy farm and use that intersection many times a day, have feared for their safety every time they make a turn going into Virgin Road off Victor Harbor Road, fearing they will be hit from behind or cars coming over the hill from the Adelaide direction causing significant injuries. It is so important that this intersection is upgraded.

Pleasingly, I can report that some works have actually already started. We have seen SA Power Networks move a Stobie pole as the first stage of those works. So there is definitely work underway at the location—not significant works yet, but it is going to be a fairly disruptive piece of work going into Victor Harbor, particularly in the lead-up to the summer period. It is going to make it a bit more complicated for people getting into town, but the good thing around that is some of the other works that are currently going on.

I have been informed that works on Waterport Road, which is currently under closures during weekdays for works by SA Water, will hopefully conclude next Friday. So that will allow traffic movements to move elsewhere and hopefully give this area better access for the work that needs to go on. It is a really important piece of work. It is important that it gets done.

Victor Harbor Road is one of those challenging roads. It has large traffic volumes at normal times and very large traffic volumes over the summer period. People get frustrated and make mistakes in their choices and sometimes it leads to really bad outcomes. Hopefully, the work that is being proposed will actually lead to a much safer outcome for the people of South Australia and particularly the community of Victor Harbor and the seat of Finniss.

The SPEAKER: Before we go to the member for Florey, I would quickly like to just add the support of the community that I represent. It is a very important upgrade. There is a lot of flow between the people of Willunga, McLaren Vale and other parts of the electorate of Mawson, particularly in football season, with people going backwards and forwards between the two localities. It is very much welcomed by the people of Mawson.

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:29): I take this opportunity to thank the member for Finniss not only for his contribution to the debate today but also for expressing his support for the project when the committee was considering it. I also thank you for your kind words, Mr Speaker, and I make the point that I know you have always been a passionate advocate for road safety on this particular road.

Motion carried.

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