State Budget 2017: Adelaide’s key infrastructure projects reliant on federal funding

THE State Government has used two crucial infrastructure projects to pick a fight with Canberra, pledging funds but insisting they will only proceed if federal cash is also committed.

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THE State Government has used two crucial infrastructure projects to pick a fight with Canberra, pledging funds but insisting they will only proceed if federal cash is also committed.

It has also heeded pleas to create new lanes on a treacherous stretch of Main South Rd at a cost of $305 million — the big-ticket item of a Budget pledging $875 million towards major public transport.

Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has put the onus on the Commonwealth to pledge funds towards the North-South corridor and Gawler rail electrification projects before guaranteeing they will go ahead, in a move sure to ignite political tensions nine months out from next year’s election.

The Budget commits $415 million to upgrade the North-South corridor between Regency Rd and Pym St, as well as $242.5 million to complete stage two of the Gawler electrification project, but relies on Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison tipping in significant funding.

Mr Koutsantonis insisted the Federal Government would again have to “prove their commitment to public transport in South Australia” by providing $415 million towards the South Rd upgrade and just under $100 million to the Gawler electrification.

It continues infrastructure brawling sparked by last month’s Federal Budget that Mr Koutsantonis said ignored “shovel-ready” projects and left the state out in the cold.

“If the Commonwealth Government is genuinely committed to support a non-stop north-south corridor by 2023, we need it to commit its share of funding for these projects so we can get on with delivering them,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

In response, Federal Treasurer Scot Morrison said: “Infrastructure Australia will consider the projects, in line with standard practice.”

The Budget delivers $100 million towards the $305 million project to double 10k of Main South Rd between Seaford and Sellicks Beach — with the rest to be funded beyond the forward estimates.

A design and scoping process is also underway to duplicate the road from Sellicks Beach to Aldinga. Mr Koutsantonis assuring taxpayers funding for the second stage would be delivered in the Midyear Budget Review.

The stretches were recently voted as the highest priority for upgrade by RAA members, with 77 crashes in over a five-year period resulting in one death and 126 serious injuries.

They take in the crucial seat of Mawson, held by Tourism Minister Leon Bignell, now a notionally Liberal electorate following boundary changes.

Mr Koutsantonis has also promised to buy up land to find a solution to fix two T-junctions between Springbank, Daws and Goodwood roads in Adelaide’s south.

The total cost to realign the roads is unknown but Mr Koutsantonis said the Government would immediately press ahead with an “extensive consultation” campaign as it seeks to fix one what he dubbed one of the city’s worst intersections.

He said design options were still being considered, but construction was expected to begin in 2018.

The Budget also delivers a previously announced upgrade of Oaklands Crossing, $15 million to build Park n Ride facilities along the O-Bahn, extra train services, a Blackwood roundabout upgrade, and $1.1 million to allow larger aircraft to use the Mt Gambier Airport.