South Rd upgrade: Plan for non-stop ride from Gawler to Old Noarlunga
FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey says SA is the most difficult State Government to work with in Australia and should embrace tolls in order to have its $9 billion non-stop north-south corridor built within a decade.
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FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey says South Australia is the most difficult State Government to work with in Australia and should embrace tolls in order to have its non-stop north-south corridor built within a decade.
Mr Hockey, in South Australia today to sell his second budget, said the Federal Government remained committed to working with South Australia on the $9 billion project, but that the state’s Labor government was “incapable” of taking the politics out of it.
It follows comments from Federal Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs that he could no longer work with state Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, who yesterday released the long-awaited 10-year strategy for the north-south corridor to Advertiser.com.au.
Advertiser.com.au last night revealed South Rd would become a 78km non-stop corridor, running from Gawler to Old Noarlunga, within a decade under a $9.3 billion plan developed by the state and federal governments.
The State Government has released to The Advertiser its long-awaited 10-year strategy for the north-south corridor, which has been in development for the past six months.
The $8.5 million plan was funded by the Federal Government after Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s announcement last year that he wanted the entire thoroughfare to be upgraded within a decade.
In addition to completed South Rd upgrades — the South Rd Superway, Northern Expressway and southern Expressway duplication — and two currently underway — Torrens to Torrens and the Darlington Interchange — the blueprint includes 10 separate new construction projects.
Of the total 78km corridor, 44kms have already been upgraded or have funds committed.
The most controversial elements of the plan are likely to be almost $1 billion worth of land acquisitions on portions of South Rd immediately north and south of Anzac Hwy.
It is estimated government must spend $596 million on land purchases alone before heavy construction can begin to on upgrading the road from Gallipoli Underpass to Darlington.
A further $375 million is needed to buy land north of Anzac Hwy to the Torrens River.
The report notes this will require extensive consultation as compulsory acquisition could be needed, a “highly emotive outcome” that requires “effective community engagement”.
The upgrades around Anzac Hwy would each take almost four years to complete.
Each section of the Northern Connector would take 30 months to finish. No individual component in the South Rd upgrade could be built in less than two years.
The State Government has cast doubt on the likelihood the entire project being delivered in the time frame without an immediate cash injection from Canberra.
The Federal Government has said private funding, including an industry toll, must be on the table to fund rapid construction.
Priority projects include the long-discussed Northern Connector, which links the South Rd Superway to the Northern Expressway and is seen as a prime toll target.
It is proposed construction of the Connector be broken into two parts — a 7.1km stretch from the Northern Expressway to Bolivar Rd and an 8.4km stretch from Bolivar Rd to the existing South Rd Superway — at a cost of $250 million and $610 million respectively.
The most expensive upgrades are $1.1 billion linking Ashwin Pde south to Sir Donald Bradman Dr and $1.25 billion to connect Sir Donald Bradman Dr to south of the Glenelg tram line.
They are listed as the highest priority projects on grounds they would boost productivity, reduce accidents and improve traffic flow, but are also listed as the most challenging to deliver.
This is largely due to the complication of land acquisition including forced buyouts.
The State Government proposes it fund 20 per cent of the 10-year cost while Canberra delivers the remainder, a funding model used for the Darlington Interchange upgrade currently underway.
The total spend of $9.3 billion includes inflation and is equal to $6.7 billion in today’s dollars.
That figure excludes $1.5 billion currently being spend on Torrens to Torrens and Darlington.
Release of the document comes amid dispute between the two governments about infrastructure funding in last week’s Federal Budget. The State Government complained no additional funding was allocated, while Canberra said no projects of substance had been submitted.
SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis late today said completing South Rd would have huge productivity benefits and could be completed if federal funds were available.
However, he cast doubt on the likelihood of the plan being realised and blamed a lack of support from Canberra.
The plan was given to the Federal Government in December, well ahead of Budget, he said.
“If they were serious about doing it within a decade, there should have been about $100 million this year so that we could start purchasing and acquiring the corridor,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“We would do our bit and fund it 20 per cent. This Government haven’t spent a dollar on new infrastructure (in last week’s Budget). You have to think to yourself they’re not interested.
“Rhetoric is one thing. Commitment comes from the Budget. It’s just a plan without money.
“The world is littered with plans that never come to fruition. The Federal Government are the ones that came up with the bright idea of doing this in a decade, and we’re up for it.”
Mr Koutsantonis said he and the Federal Government had agreed to release this report together next Friday.
However, in a press conference last week Premier Jay Weatherill said he was willing to share the study sooner.
The State Government released the report late today on media request, angered at comments made this morning by Federal Assistant Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Jamie Briggs where he indicated SA Labor was holding up its release.
Mr Briggs said the plan was too high-level for any individual projects to win immediate funding, and he had forwarded it to Infrastructure Australia for cost-benefit analysis of components.
Mr Briggs said he had been urging the State Government to release the report, but SA ministers had held off while considering funding models including a possible industry or freight toll.
“It’s achievable if the State Government actually come to the party and have a discussion with us rather than keep playing political games,” Mr Briggs said.
“We need them to actually do some work. “This highlights that the State Government needs to get their act together.
“The reason we funded this plan ... was because we wanted to get on with it.”
Mr Briggs said delivering the plan in a decade required “an additional funding source”.
“That’s why I’ve been urging them to give consideration to a heavy vehicle toll.
“It will happen a lot slower (without a toll). We want to get this corridor built.
“With good intent from both sides, we can get a lot more happening in the next couple years.”
The report warns compulsory acquisition can take up to two years to complete where residents or business owners have refused government offers to purchase the land through negotiation.
The study list the benefits of a completed South Rd as stimulating the economy with new jobs which would attract business and grow the population. It says freight productivity would be increased and confidence built.
Negatives include disruption to road users. Preliminary work shows the return to the economy of building the full road would outweigh financial costs.
Politics gridlock threat to project
Analysis - Daniel Wills
THIS is a big idea that is at risk of being gridlocked by petty politics.
Delivering the dream of a traffic-light free South Rd from Gawler to Old Noarlunga has long excited the imaginations of motorists and business alike.
It would cut huge amounts of time off the trip to carry goods to ports and shops or to visit friends and family.
The engineering challenges are problematic enough, and then there is the added difficulty of finding the money — equivalent to more than $5000 for each South Australian — buying up properties by force and dealing with constant roadworks. On top of all that, the possible introduction of tolls will spook many.
But the biggest threat to the plan becoming reality is the ongoing barney between the state and federal governments as they trade blame and seek to gain a political upper hand.
Even this report, a starting point for much more detailed studies that could unlock the funding necessary, has become a political football, as both levels of government accuse each other of holding back its release and lacking the commitment to deliver the build in full.
The State Government’s decision to release it now, after requests from The Advertiser, was driven by frustration at Coalition claims it hadn’t done the work needed to win funding.
The problem largely stems from a clash of personalities.
Federal Assistant Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Jamie Briggs says he has found some common ground with his state counterpart Stephen Mullighan. The two have been able to work constructively on projects that are already under way, and others to come.
But it’s clear Mr Briggs and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis, the man whose Budget must include funding for any future projects to go ahead, find it very hard to get along.
Claim, counter-claim and personal insults punctuate their public “debates”. That must be resolved for there to be a good chance of more work to be done on South Rd.
Prime MinisterTony Abbott says he wants it done in a decade. The State Government says South Rd is its highest infrastructure priority and accuses Canberra of dragging its feet.
Compromise is needed, and the State Government will very likely have to reconsider its long-time refusal to even consider toll roads.
The freight industry is willing to pay, and the Federal Government wants it on the table. At this stage, there is no suggestion ordinary motorists will be forced to pay.
This absurd situation would be funny if it weren’t so stupid.
Dead end for traders as presence lost
SOUTH Rd businesses face an uncertain future following confirmation that land on both sides, from Anzac Highway to Darlington, will be acquired for the North-South corridor.
While they recognise a South Rd upgrade is necessary and well overdue, owners say it will severely affect their businesses.
Yamaha World co-owner Tim Pumpa said it would be hard for his businesses to relocate.
“Everyone knows that Yamaha World is on South Rd, we’ve been selling bikes here for 30 years,” he said.
“At least half of our business is from people driving past.”
Ferrari Formalwear owner Brian Ferrari agreed.
His business has been on South Rd for more than 15 years.
“We bought on South Rd because of the value it has … being on a main road is good advertising,” Mr Ferrari said.
“But the road must be widened and they’ve done such a good job north of the city, they need to hook it up with the rest of South Rd and the Southern Expressway.”
EGLO Lighting associate director Kirsten Fieldhouse said it was unnerving.
“There are hundreds of businesses along South Rd and most just can’t relocate,” she said. “For us we have retail space and a warehouse.
“It’s not as easy as just packing up and moving … people’s businesses mean more than that.”