Federal Budget 2021: Industry groups respond to SA infrastructure spend

Billions of dollars in funding for SA infrastructure projects has been welcomed industry groups but they say problems remain with the rollout.

South Australia has received more infrastructure funding than any other state or territory in Australia in the 2021/22 Federal Budget.

However, construction work on the big-ticket item for SA – a re-announcement of $2.6 billion for the next stage of the North South Corridor project – will not begin until late 2023.

Industry groups have welcomed the funding but say the budget lacked new project for the state.

The Opposition says construction work on the next stage of the North South Corridor ­­– for the section from Darlington to Anzac Highway – needed to begin sooner given SA has the worst unemployment rate in the nation.

The proposed start of the lowered motorway at Darlington.

SA will pocket $3.2 billion for road projects in the Federal Budget, while NSW will receive $3.02 billion and Victoria will gain $2.997 billion.

Queensland will pick up $1.6 billion and Western Australia will get $1.3 billion for infrastructure projects.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick on Tuesday reportedly complained that his state was being short-changed in the budget as smaller “city states” such as SA got a larger share of funding.

The Northern Territory and Tasmania will receive $323.9 million and $322.6 million respectively.

Civil Contractors Federal SA chief executive Rebecca Pickering said while the Federation commended the funding, she noted most projects were “repeat announcements”.

Ms Pickering said there needed to be “closer alignment between announcements like this and construction start dates”.

“Far too much time passes between these events,” she said.

“There needs to be greater accountability of State Government and Agencies to minimise this time and get on with construction.”

Concept of proposed tunnels under Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville.

South Australian Freight Council executive officer Evan Knapp noted there was “not a huge amount that’s new” in the budget.

But he said he was pleased $161.6 million had been allocated for a Truro bypass and he hoped it would include the duplication of Sturt Highway from Greenock.

Mr Knapp said $148 million for stage two of the Augusta Highway was also a move in the right direction. It involves the duplication of the thoroughfare from Port Wakefield to Lochiel and planning work for the future duplication of the highway between Port Pirie and Crystal Brook.

However, Mr Knapp said the 31km upgrade from Port Wakefield to Lochiel was “only a fairly short stretch”.

“We certainly would have liked to have seen some lengthier stages on the Augusta Highway,” he said.

RAA road safety expert Charles Mountain said the organisation was “very pleased” with the infrastructure announcements.

“The projects announced are something that we’ve been asking for, particularly the duplication of the Augusta Highway, that was one of our federal election calls,” he said.

Mr Mountain said he had hoped funding for the duplication of the Dukes Highway to would be included in the budget but he was optimistic the project may be considered as part of the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass Planning Study, which has been funded.

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan it was “simply not good enough” that construction work on the next stage of the North South Corridor project will not begin for more than two years.

“We have basically had a slamming on of the brakes on work on the North South Corridor under the State Liberal Government and that’s a massive disappointment to the tens of thousands of South Australians who find themselves stuck in traffic using South Rd on a daily basis,” he said.

“SA has the highest unemployment in the nation…we need construction work underway.”

SA Transport and Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard said South Australians would be “getting used to seeing roadworks around the state, which shows we are getting on with delivering key infrastructure projects now as well as into the future”.

“Projects such as the North-South Corridor, Truro Bypass and Augusta Highway duplication will reduce travel times, improve safety, support business investment - particularly our important freight industry - and create thousands of jobs across the state,” he said.