Government will redo design, consultation for Torrens to Darlington project, which Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis says was a ‘debacle’

The government says it has to “redo” the reference design and community consultation for the Torrens to Darlington project.

The government will “redo” the reference design and community consultation for the Torrens to Darlington project, which Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis has labelled a “debacle” at the hands of the previous government.

Mr Koutsantonis has previously said the Labor government would look to lower or remove elevated roadways at Anzac Hwy and West Hindmarsh, but on Tuesday told parliament the changes would be sweeping.

“It doesn’t work ... the only thing (the former Liberal government) got right, at the very end, was making the tunnels three lanes,” he said.

“Everything else is a debacle. We have to redo the reference design, we have to redo the community consultation.”

He later told the Advertiser: “The Department are telling me that the reference design will have to change dramatically”.

“It’s impractical and unfinished.”

The Brickworks site for the North-South Corridor. Picture: Supplied

The row dominated question time, after a leaked Cabinet document revealed the timelines, including tunnel digging, for the $9.9bn North-South Corridor project were “reasonable and possibly conservative” — contradicting state government claims of an unrealistic timeframe.

The confidential final business case, undertaken by Infrastructure SA, stated the project met industry standards and the duration “could be shorter” than first forecast.

The Assurance Review Report, dated October last year but which has never been publicly released because of Cabinet secrecy rules, had “high-level” allowances for future operations and maintenance.due to minimal lack of design work.

The state government has now delayed the project and flagged design changes, which the Opposition has criticised.

The delay means work on the final 10.5km section, between of the North-South Corridor the River Torrens and Darlington, will start in 2024, rather than next year.

The completion date to motorway traffic will be pushed back a year to 2031.

An artist impression showing inside one of the Torrens-to-Darlington North-South Corridor tunnels. Picture: Supplied

But the Infrastructure SA report, prepared for the former Liberal government, states: “The project schedule is developed in accordance with industry standards.

Interviewees confirmed that the tunnelling production rate is reasonable and possibly conservative, and is informed by the tunnelling production rates advised by the construction advisor.

“This assumed lower output level would mean that the actual duration could be shorter than what is indicated in the project program.”

It added: “The FBC … includes high-level allowances for operations and maintenance.”

“Interviewees noted these costs were based on reasonable benchmarks as many factors that influence operational and maintenance, for example tunnel mechanical and electrical services, have completed little or no design work.”

The report interviewed 39 senior government officials, industry bosses, council chiefs and community leaders.

They included former Transport Department boss Tony Braxton-Smith, the project’s now sacked head Susana Fueyo Suarez and previous Treasury chief executive David Reynolds, now in charge of the Department for Trade and Investment and an Infrastructure SA board member.

Also among interviewees was Transport Department executive director Wayne Buckerfield, who has since reviewed the project alongside new departmental chief executive Jon Whelan. Mr Buckerfield did not respond for comment.

An artist impression of part of the elevated North-South motorway. The project is the state’s biggest on record. Picture: Supplied

Mr Tom Koutsantonis at the weekend revealed the review identified an “overly optimistic and unrealistic” timeline set by the previous government to complete the new motorway.

Ms Fueyo Suarez, who last week abruptly left from her role as the project’s executive director for the past two years, has criticised infrastructure ventures being “politicised”.

Sources said she was a victim of the review, which identified concerns with the project’s wider budget and timelines.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Koutsantonis was unapologetic for the changes.

“This is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by our state government,” he said.

“We are unapologetic about doing the due diligence to get this right to minimise community impact and any unnecessary cost to the South Australian taxpayer.

“We want to improve the consultative process, which has been criticised by many impacted residents, and ensure they have every opportunity to be heard.”

Opposition Leader David Speirs at the weekend said Labor needed the $1.1bn funding cut over four years to pay for expensive election promises.

Mr Koutsantonis said the total cost of the project remained at $9.9bn but instead of $4.3bn being spent over the next four years, it will cost taxpayers $3.2bn.

The Minister opposes two expensive elevated works, at Anzac Hwy and at West Hindmarsh, adjacent to the Brickworks. Both of those have been controversial with communities, some of whom live in his local electorate.