Coronavirus stimulus: A pothole-led recovery might not be sexy but it could be exactly what SA needs, writes Matt Smith

The State Government has announced a stimulus package low on detail. But South Australians may need to turn to a satirical government agency and a rock band for inspiration.

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The State Government has announced a $350m stimulus package centred mainly around infrastructure.

Some details have already been appearing in the pages of The Sunday Mail, $22m for tourism projects, and The Advertiser, $15 million for regional hospital upgrades.

But one of the first criticisms has been lack of detail.

Such a pot of money is enough to get people excited about brand new shiny projects.

In an episode of the ABC television series The Hollowmen, titled ‘Edifice Complex’, the fictional Prime Minister has hinted that he wants the Central Policy Unit to come up with a legacy infrastructure project.

Something that will be visible from as many parts of the uniquely designed city as possible.

“Big buildings, public buildings, impressive buildings.”

Something that would rival Spain’s Guggenheim Museum.

The Central Policy Unit set about the task, seeking input from key department officials.

And the answer came back – roundabouts.

Or more specifically, roundabouts that would help create the traffic flow the city so desperately needed.

To quote the great Rolling Stones: You can’t always get what you want/ But if you try sometimes, well, you might find/You get what you need.

Over the next few weeks ‘shovel-ready’ projects will be slowly unveiled.

But it could be the little things, the less sexy projects, that give the state the greatest bang for its buck.

There is a reason the former State Government unveiled the $40m Fund My Neighbourhood program in the lead up to the state election.

Small community projects, more often than not built by councils via contractors, can be approved and built quickly.

Both concrete and money pour into communities quickly.

The alternative is to wait for agencies like the government’s Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to get the projects in the fast lane.

Civil Construction Federation boss Phil Sutherland, the man who represents contractors build the state’s largest road projects, does not have much faith in government departments.

“While we acknowledge good intentions at the political level,” he told The Advertiser yesterday, “at the agency level the current snails pace of project delivery isn’t going to cut it.

“The much-hoped-for stimulus won’t occur when and where it’s needed.”

SA Local Government Association President Sam Telfer made a good point when he said the level of government often best placed to deliver local infrastructure projects was the one closest to communities — councils.

“Funding provided to local government is more likely to be spent locally, creating jobs and supporting local businesses,” he said.

Fixing potholes, painting school halls, upgrading regional hospitals and installing new seesaws in playgrounds may not be a sexy as a Guggenheim Museum on the Torrens.

But it could be the best way to get money flowing swiftly through the community where it is needed the most.