Civil Contractors Federation asks State Government to accelerate regional road upgrades announced in State Budget

Building contractors worry they’ll run out of work before regional road upgrades begin — they’ve called on the State Government to step on it.

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The State Government must fast-track its newly announced $1.1 billion regional road funding plan because civil engineering firms face running out of work within the year, the industry’s peak body has warned.

Civil Contractors Federation president Paul Davison said too many projects fun­ded by the plan were too far off to help his organisation’s members.

“Some members are despondent about the delivery of the projects,’’ he said.

“Our members are concerned about the lack of work in the short-term.’’

Premier Steven Marshall on Sunday announced a $1.1 billion regional road fund, from a combination of state and federal sources, which will be further outlined in next week’s State Budget.

However, the timeline of when projects start is still to be clarified, with some not expected to begin within the four-year timeframe of the Budget forward estimates.

Regional infrastructure will be a centrepiece of this month’s State Budget.

Mr Davison said the current government was slower to get projects up and running than the previous Labor administration.

“We had a previous government that was keen to stay in government and now we have a government that is trying to meet budget projections,’’ he said.

Mr Davison also said he would liked to have seen a commitment to duplicate the highway between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta.

Last month, the CCF labelled the 200km stretch of road a “corridor of death’’ and said there had been 22 fatalities on it during the last three years.

As part of the state government’s announcement, it said $250 million would be spent of upgrading the Princes Highway, of which the Augusta Highway is part.

However, it is not known how much will be allocated to that section.

Regional highways in poor condition are set to be upgraded, in funds announced for this month’s State Budget.

The RAA has estimated the cost of duplication of the highway at around $2 billion.

Business SA has also called for a feasibility study into improving the road between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta.

Business SA’s director of industry and government engagement Anthony Penney said the highway was crucial, particularly because of the expected growth in the population of Whyalla, due to investment in the steelworks and renewable energy, and the closure of freight rail on the Eyre Peninsula.

“It is expected there will be a significant increase in the volume of traffic and heavy vehicles,” he said.

The State Government announced yesterday that the $1.1 billion fund would be included in this month’s Budget, to help reduce road deaths and injuries and boost economic activity.

Since the start of 2011, 537 people have died on regional roads in SA, compared with 285 on metropolitan roads.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll told the Sunday Mail the State Government was confident of bringing forward more funding in upcoming budgets.