SA State Budget 2016: Where the spending goes in your part of Adelaide
NORTH, east, south or west, from a major Families SA hub to a new world-class BMX track — our Messenger reporters reveal the State Budget’s key spending initiatives for your part of Adelaide.
- MAIN WRAP: Your overview of State Budget 2016
- PAY FREEZE: Treasurer caps public servant pay rises
- ANALYSIS: SA State Budget 2016: Daniel Wills explains it
- SNAPSHOT: Five minute guide to the 2016 SA State Budget
- STEM IN SCHOOLS: 139 schools to get science funding
NORTH, east, south or west — our Messenger reporters reveal what the State Budget has for your part of Adelaide.
NORTHERN SUBURBS
By Elizabeth Henson
A $15 MILLION Families SA office will be built in the northern suburbs to help protect vulnerable children and families in the region.
The office, to be located at the former Smithfield Plains High School site, will replace the existing Salisbury, Elizabeth and Gawler offices.
The funding will be rolled out over two years.
The centre will provide a single service point in the north to better co-ordinate care and protection services and information for local residents.
Education and Child Development Minister Susan Close said the Smithfield Plains site was chosen because of its central location.
“Creating a northern hub for the child protection agency will support workers who need to share resources, information and support each other in their important work,” she said.
“I anticipate this will also allow for easier access to related services also working with children and families.”
The Government will also spend $275 million towards the $985 million Northern Connector road in 2016/17.
It forms part of $12 billion worth of transport, health and education infrastructure projects to be funded over the next four years.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said the projects would create thousands of jobs and help workers affected by the imminent closure of Holden’s Elizabeth plant in 2017.
“We want to build on that momentum and keep improving our beautiful state so that it’s an appealing, safe and vibrant place to live,” he said.
“This will secure jobs for South Australians now and into the future, helping to absorb the losses from our manufacturing sector including Holden.”
Also included in the budget for the north:
$3.45 MILLION for a second cardiovascular intervention suite and expanded patient holding bay at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. To be completed in 2017. Concern over the downgrading of cardiology services under Transforming Health reforms has been a major issue.
$3.57 MILLION towards the $12.3 million Gawler East Collector Link road. To be completed by June 2018.
$89.7 MILLION towards the $160 million O-Bahn extension. To be completed by June 2018.
SOUTHERN SUBURBS
By Sarah Rohweder
THE State Government is hoping to boost memberships and international events at southern sporting clubs by beefing up funding for recreation facilities.
The 2016/17 State Budget features a $2 million investment to build a Union Cycliste International-standard BMX track at Majors Rd in O’Halloran Hill.
It would be built in partnership with Onkaparinga and Marion councils, which will each chip in a further $750,000, bringing the total cost to $3.5 million — a $60,000 feasibility study into the world-class track has previously been announced.
The track would be the fourth in the country and the first in South Australia, and would be home to The Cove and Happy Valley BMX clubs.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis hoped the BMX track would give the state the ability to host large-scale events on a national and international scale.
He also hoped it would mean fewer senior riders were moving interstate to pursue their careers and encourage more children to enrol in the sport.
“The … track in the southern suburbs will further grow participation in the sport and give South Australia the ability to attract national-level events,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“We want to do everything we can to encourage South Australia’s young people to be fit, active and social, and investing in facilities at sporting clubs is one of the best ways we can do this.”
The Government has also promised to build artificial soccer pitches at the Seaford Rangers and South Adelaide home grounds.
It is part of a $10 million commitment to upgrade eight pitches across the state.
And $10 million worth of grants will be up for grabs to build female changerooms at sporting clubs to ramp up participation in soccer, football and cricket.
“Girls and women who play sport in South Australia should have access to exactly the same level of facilities as boys and men,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
WESTERN SUBURBS
By Eugene Boisvert
THE western suburbs are showered with funding in this year’s State Budget, but the biggest hope — Oaklands Crossing — has been overlooked.
Marion Council had hoped for at least $100 million to end traffic congestion at Oaklands Crossing after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced $40 million for the intersection just north of Westfield Marion in the last week of his election campaign.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said there was a chance it could be in next year’s Budget, depending on whether the Liberals formed government in Canberra.
“That doesn’t even touch the sides of what it will cost for Oaklands Crossing,” he said.
The 2016/17 Budget includes:
$10 MILLION towards the $86 million extension of the Tonsley line to Flinders Medical Centre.
$7.5 MILLION for the St Clair Recreation Centre.
$69 MILLION towards the $238 million Torrens Junction rail separation project at Brompton.
$10 MILLION towards soccer grounds — including several in the western suburbs .
$1 MILLION for a master plan for Techport at Osborne.
Stamp-duty concessions of up to $15,500 for off-the-plan apartments will be extended statewide after previously only applying for CBD and inner-rim suburbs.
Mr Koutsantonis said this would open up investment in places such as Port Adelaide and Glenelg, where rezoning has allowed taller buildings but little interest has been shown so far by developers.
“We are seeing opportunities for our foreshores and some regional communities in iconic spots where they want a higher density,” he said.
SA Health said last month it had scrapped its schedule to move rehabilitation service from the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital but the Budget still includes $15 million for the $22 million project.
Thirty-three western suburbs schools will benefit from $48 million in funding for new science labs.
Three Reception-Year 12 schools — Hallett Cove, Ocean View, William Light — will receive $3.5 million largely to refurbish existing buildings.
Five high schools will receive $2.5 million and 25 primary schools will get $1 million.
EASTERN SUBURBS
By Dan Jervis-Bardy
SCIENCE, maths and technology labs will be built or upgraded at seven eastern suburbs schools under the $250 million State Government plan to prepare children for the jobs of the future.
Goodwood, East Marden, Parkside, Paradise and Mitcham Primary schools, as well as Norwood Morialta and Mitcham Girls high schools, were among 139 schools that will receive funding over the next two years to boost STEM learning.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said investment in science and technology at schools was needed to ensure students were capable of filling jobs in the hi-tech manufacturing and engineering sectors.
“Engineering, welders, designers, computer technicians — these are the jobs that we will need in a more modern economy,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
Reception to Year 12 schools will receive $3.5 million, high schools $2.5 million and primary schools $1 million under the statewide project, which is expected to start this year and be completed by the end of 2018.
An Education Department spokeswoman said the schools had been chosen based on the condition of their science and technology labs.
The spokeswoman said the type of upgrade would depend on each school’s needs, and would range from a refurbishment of labs and classrooms to a complete rebuild.
She said consultation with schools would start immediately.
Aside from the schools announcement, the Budget largely ignored the eastern suburbs, with the State Government’s focus instead on creating jobs in Adelaide’s north and west.
The Government again ignored Deputy Opposition Leader Vickie Chapman’s call for a new primary school in the eastern suburbs to ease the pressure on overcrowded classrooms.
But today’s Budget confirmed work would start on the $10 million walking and cycling bridge at Goodwood train station.