Costed plans for Adelaide tram network to be put to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

PLANS for an Adelaide tram network will be put to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in pre-election bid to seize on his demands for light rail to add value to cities.

SA man Danny Piscopo and his son Harrison, 3 years old, from Upper Sturt, about to catch the tram from Glenelg to Adelaide.

• Turnbull announces 600km rail upgrade using Whyalla steel
• Cut ministries, councils to ‘avoid deep rot’
• Raylene Mullins hijacks PM’s press conference at Whyalla

PLANS for an Adelaide tram network will be put to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a pre-election bid to seize on his demands for light rail to add value to cities.

Campaigning in the marginal western suburbs seat of Hindmarsh yesterday, Mr Turnbull said his government would not simply hand out cash but wanted infrastructure project like light rail to be treated as an investment.

Mr Turnbull said he had told Premier Jay Weatherill and other state leaders that light rail needed to be assessed on how it improved livability, home affordability and housing supply.

Responding to Mr Turnbull, state Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said costed plans were being prepared for a “menu” of new tram lines to present to the Federal Government ahead of this year’s election.

This detailed business case for the AdeLINK tram network includes lines to The Parade, Henley Square and Adelaide Airport, Prospect Road, Mitcham, Port Adelaide and an Adelaide city loop.

Asked about his Tuesday night meeting with Mr Weatherill, Mr Turnbull said he wanted to see city infrastructure projects based on sound business principles.

Plans for an Adelaide tram network will be put to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in pre-election bid to seize on his demands for light rail to add value to cities.

“And so I’ve been saying to the premiers, if you want to build light rail, fair enough, (it) can add a lot of value to your city,” Mr Turnbull said.

“But look at it on the basis of how it will build amenity, improve livability, improve housing affordability, improve housing supply.

“Do all of those things that will create real value and ensure that we get projects that are genuinely economically positive for your state or your city.”

Speaking after touring a Plympton childcare centre, Mr Turnbull again highlighted that he would fund both road and rail projects — unlike the man he ousted, Tony Abbott, who pumped money only into roads.

Mr Mullighan said the state light rail business case would have to show how trams would improve the urban landscape and the community.

Malcolm Turnbull with kids at Mooringie World of Learning centre in Plympton with Minister Matt Williams. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Local councils whose areas the proposed lines would traverse were involved in forecasting how trams would spur development.

“We’ve got the councils in the room collectively working on the right solution. So, when we ask the Federal Government for the money, they know that it’s the right solution for the city, it’s strongly supported by the state and the local government,” he told The Advertiser.

Mr Mullighan said the detailed business case would be presented ahead of the federal election, which Mr Turnbull yesterday said would be in the second half of the year.

Mr Mullighan said more detailed plans, involving forecasts of how specific stops would be located to drive economic activity and development, would be presented after the election.

The business case was commissioned last month after Infrastructure Australia listed the AdeLINK tram network as a priority project.