SA State Budget to fund permanent screens on Southern Expressway to stop rock throwing

PERMANENT screens will be erected on ten bridges along the Southern Expressway in a $15 million bid to stop rock throwing that will be revealed in Tuesday’s State Budget.

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PERMANENT screens will be erected on 10 bridges along the Southern Expressway in a $15 million bid to stop rock-throwing, with full details to be revealed in Tuesday’s State Budget.

The safety measures follow more than 40 reported rock throwing attacks up until June 27, which led to the placement of temporary 2.2m screens on several bridges.

Measures to be unveiled in the Budget will be permanent 3m high anti-throw screens on 10 bridges — comprising steel tubular posts and mesh — with work to start in coming months and completed early next year.

The fences will be improved to limit access to rocks and 12 security cameras upgraded.

Police increased patrols in the area in early June in a bid to deter rock-throwers and catch culprits.

They also monitored a group of youths they believed was connected to the incidents.

No confirmed rock-throwing attacks have been reported to police since June 27 but the State Government has faced criticism that the temporary screens were too low and insufficient.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said rock-throwing along the Southern Expressway was a longstanding issue and accused Labor of not lifting a finger to fix the problem in 16 years in office.

“We quickly provisioned the upgrading of CCTV cameras, the installation of mesh over loose rock and installed temporary throw screens on the bridges over the expressway,” Mr Knoll said.

“The whole way through we said we would deliver permanent throw screens and that’s what we’re doing.

“It’s clear our measures have been very effective to date in reducing the incidents of rock throwing.”

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas in late June welcomed temporary fencing but urged the full adoption of a six-point Labor plan.

It included deploying protective security guards and doubling the maximum penalty for rock-throwing to 10 years’ jail.