SA State Budget 2017: What it means for Adelaide’s suburbs
MESSENGER reporters look in depth at the State Budget and explain where the money is being spent in Adelaide’s north, south, east and west.
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MESSENGER reporters look in depth at the State Budget and explain where the money is being spent in Adelaide’s north, south, east and west.
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THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST
By Sarah Rohweder
THE 2017 State Budget has given the northern suburbs a sense of relief with significant investments in health services, education and transport.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis announced a raft of funding commitments to projects throughout the north and northeast on Thursday.
It comes at a crucial time as the region braces itself for Holden’s Elizabeth plant closure on October 20.
Among the big-ticket items is $462.5 million to electrify the Gawler Railway Line — conditional on the Federal Government chipping in half of this which Mr Koutsantonis says he has asked for.
It will be used to complete the section from Gawler to Salisbury, and will be in addition to the $152.5 million the state has already committed to the project, which will be used to electrify the section from Mawson Lakes to Adelaide in 2018.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the electrification would mean an extra 2400 passengers would be able to use the Gawler line each hour.
“Patronage on the Gawler line rose by more than 30 per cent in the seven years to 2016, making it Adelaide’s most popular train network,” Mr Mullighan said.
“And we want to keep growing that patronage.”
The government is also investing $22 million over the next four years to increase train services across the metro area, including services that run to Gawler.
Trains will run at 30-minute intervals on weeknights, down from 60 minutes.
The State Government also announced a plan to build a new super school somewhere in Munno Para, accommodating 1400 students from birth to Year 12.
Another 100 special school students will also be catered for at the site, which will also include a 55-place children’s centre. The location is yet to be confirmed.
It will be built in conjunction with private investors who will finance, design, construct and maintain the campus.
Principals, teachers and staff will be supplied through the public system.
An extra $5 million over two years has also been allocated to the Automotive Supplier Diversification Program, which aims to support supply chain manufacturers by helping them to diversify their businesses and find work in other sectors.
It will be crucial to helping business associated with Holden, and former factory workers made redundant from the car giant.
And $5000 grants will be given to companies that hire a person as an apprentice or trainee through the Job Accelerator Grant program.
It will help to boost employment in the region, particularly teenagers.
Other funding allocations included:
$52.5 MILLION to expand the Lyell McEwin Hospital’s emergency department;
$156 MILLION for the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme to help supply water to growers;
$2 MILLION to extend the I Choose SA campaign for an extra 12 months, which aims to support local businesses such as Bickford’s Australia and Mitani chicken salt.
For Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs, the focus was on health services and transport:
ABOUT $15 million was allocated to the construction of a new Park ‘n’ Ride facility at Tea Tree Plaza to create an extra 300 car parks for commuters using the O-Bahn. It will take the total number of spaces to 1000 and comes off the back of government figures that show 31,000 people used the busway on weekdays.
The facility will also feature recharge points for electric cars, motorcycle spaces and disability car parks, security cameras, new lighting and pathways to platforms.
THE Modbury Hospital also receives a cash boost of $9.2 million.
It will be spent building an eight-bed emergency extended car unit next to the hospital’s emergency department with construction set to begin in 2018.
The unit — expected to create 30 full-time equivalent jobs — will allow dedicated clinicians to continue assessing patients who have been to the emergency department but require extra care.
It will mean a reduction in wait times at the ED and fewer hospital transfers.
Health Minister Jack Snelling said the unit would give residents “access to even better facilities” and provide them with extra emergency car services “on their doorstep”.
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THE SOUTH
By Kurtis Eichler
A NOTORIOUS stretch of Main South Rd will be duplicated under a $305 million State Government pledge to help reduce crashes.
The announcement was one of a number of key funding promises made in the State Budget for Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
The first stage is expected to start in two years on a 10km section of the road between Griffiths Dve, Seaford and Aldinga Beach Rd.
Funding will be allocated for the project — expected to create about 165 jobs — in the government’s Mid-Year Budget Review.
The road was rated SA’s “riskiest” as part of an RAA survey, as voted on by the public.
More than 7000 people signed a petition to have the road added to the list and subsequently duplicated.
There have been 77 crashes between 2012 and 2016 along the stretch of road, with one fatality and 126 serious injuries.
“We know motorists who travel this section of Main South Rd each day have been eagerly awaiting this upgrade,” Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said.
“Stage one of the duplication of the 10km section of Main South Rd will improve traffic flow and travel times, particularly benefiting those driving in peak hours.
“The duplication will also significantly increase capacity and safety on this important road, improve access for the local community and support continued growth in tourism.”
Passengers along the Seaford train line have also been promised more frequent trains on weeknights.
The $22 million rail plan, budgeted over four years, also focuses on the Gawler, Outer Harbor and Tonsley lines.
The State Government also announced it would build a new school in the Sellicks Beach and Aldinga area, catering for up to 1600 students.
The government says the school will be funded using public and private investment.
Port Noarlunga Jetty is also in line for an upgrade, with the State Government announcing plans to replace stairs and build a new landing platform.
The work will cost $376,000, with $250,000 funded by the State Government and the rest covered by Onkaparinga Council.
It is part of a $9.3 million plan to upgrade jetties across the state.
About $3.5 million was also budget to build two additional operating theatres at Flinders Medical Centre.
The hospital will have 12 operating theatres once the cold shell rooms are completed in June 2018.
The upgrade is part of a $56 million investment in the Flinders and Lyell McEwin hospitals.
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THE EAST
By Daniela Abbracciavento
THE State Government has again ignored the community’s pleas to build a Park ‘n’ Ride at the Paradise O-Bahn Interchange, with no money allocated towards it in its 2017/18 budget.
Paradise commuters, residents and Campbelltown Council have long-been campaigning for an upgrade of the car parking at the Darley Rd site, saying more spaces are needed to combat the overflow of cars that spill on to the streets.
The Budget did, however, include $15 million for building a multi-level Park ‘n’ Ride at both Tea Tree Plaza and another at Klemzig.
A plan to return trams to Adelaide’s east has also come to a sudden halt — at least for now —with the State Government giving it no funding in its 2017-18 budget.
The State Government announced its plan to extend the tramline to Magill Rd, connecting North Tce to The Parade almost two years ago.
But when the 2017/18 State Budget was handed down, there was no money included for an extension of the line to The Parade.
The government’s uncosted proposal for a tram in the east was made public as part of a wider transport plan which was released in August 2015.
It proposed to run a tram line up The Parade to UniSA’s Magill Campus in the next five to 15 years.
But the proposal had come under fire by some eastern residents who raised concerns about The Parade’s landmark ironbank trees being removed to make room for a tramline.
The intersection of Springbank, Daws and Goodwood roads will receive an upgrade.
The cost of revamping the road was not included, but Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said the Budget included “contingency funds” to realign the intersection to improve the safety and traffic flow.
The government will need to buy land to realign the roads and will consult the affected residents before a final design is approved.
Currently along the roads, there are two T-junction about 124m apart, which create congestion and cause major safety risks.
More than 60,000 cars travel through the intersection, which connects the CBD with the southern and eastern suburbs and 21 crashes have happened at the roads between 2012 and 2016, resulting in 24 casualties.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the upgrade would reduce traffic delays and improve safety.
“Anyone who drives along this section of Goodwood Rd, or approaches from Springbank or Daws roads, knows how congested and slow it can be through this intersection,” Mr Mullighan said.
“This upgrade will improve travel times and make it safer for motorists.”
Planning and design of the upgrade was set to start immediately, while construction will begin in 2018.
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THE WEST
By Patrick Keam
HENLEY Beach and Semaphore jetties will share in $9.3 million to ensure their safety and structural integrity in the State Government’s 2017/18 budget.
The popular metropolitan beaches are two of five jetties to receive funding needed to guarantee their long-term future.
Henley Beach jetty will be fully refurbished to maintain its structural integrity, including driving new piles and replacing timber, the jetty shelter and stairs.
A new shelter and seating will be built on Semaphore jetty to enhance its recreational use.
The upgrades will ensure the jetties remain accessible, operational and support local communities and business.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said the works guarantee the future of the popular jetties so they can be enjoyed by the general public for many years to come.
“Jetties are important to South Australians living near the coast, or visiting our coastlines, so it’s crucial we maintain them so they can continue to be enjoyed,” he said.
Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the additional funding was needed because of the importance of jetties to communities and local fishing and tourism businesses.
Port Noarlunga, Whyalla and Port Bonython will also share in the funding.
Sport in the west is also set for a major boost with a $4.5 million upgrade of Mile End’s Priceline Stadium, the home of netball in South Australia.
The stadium is used by more 350,000 players and spectators every year, with the funding going towards key infrastructure improvements.
A $250 million promise to upgrade The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has been honoured, with funding allocated over the next four years.
The new clinical building at the Woodville Rd hospital will include an upgraded emergency department, outpatient services, operating theatres and brain and spinal injury services currently housed at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre.
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