Woodside, Hahndorf, Victor Harbor Rd upgrades under threat from federal government’s infrastructure review

Four multimillion-dollar road upgrades across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula are at risk, the federal opposition says, as crunch time looms for a spending review.

Traffic on Hahndorf’s main street. Photographer Emma Brasier

The future of a $250m upgrade to one of South Australia’s most popular tourist destinations may be in doubt as the deadline for a review approaches.

The federal Opposition has renewed concerns the Hahndorf upgrade project to take heavy vehicles out of the main street would be put at risk as the deadline for the infrastructure review looms.

Ahead of the deadline for the review, about a month away, federal opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Senator Bridget McKenzie said the Hahndorf project was more at risk than others after funding cuts.

Hahndorf’s busy main street. Photographer Emma Brasier

“With over $77m in cuts and delays to the Hahndorf road project in Labor’s first two budgets, this important project appears to be on thin ice,” Senator McKenzie said.

“What local community members have made clear is that this project should go ahead.”

Ms McKenzie described the potential axing of the project as “an accident waiting to happen” with heavy vehicles travelling down narrow streets.

South Australian Liberal Senator Anne Ruston said the Hahndorf project was one of a number of important road projects “at risk of being cancelled” by the review.

Ms Ruston said this included a $2m project to upgrade Onkaparinga Valley Rd in Woodside, at the intersection with Nairne Rd and Tiers Rd, and a $20m Main South Rd upgrade to fix problem curves at Myponga and Yankalilla and build an overtaking lane at Delamere.

“Also at risk is the final section of the Fleurieu Connections projects, which was set to duplicate Victor Harbor Road approaching Victor Harbor and upgrade the intersection.”

A spokeswoman for Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said it was “unwise to pre-empt the outcome of the review”.

“This is a genuine review to achieve the best outcome.”

A state government spokesman said $50m put towards “a suite of works”, including the upgrade of the Hahndorf main street, “remains committed to these projects”.

“We are not in a position to comment on what may or may not be considered under the federal review,” the spokesman said.

Rebekha Sharkie – the federal member for Mayo, which takes in many of the at-risk upgrades – said it was “imperative” projects in the area go ahead.

“We would take a very dim view of the federal government if those funds were taken back,” she said, adding the Hahndorf project was a priority because it “desperately needs a solution”.

However Ms Sharkie said she had been given “no sign” from Ms King the projects would be in jeopardy ahead of the review deadline.

Last month ahead of the federal budget, Civil Contractors Federation SA cited “deep concern” across the industry over projects under threat by the review.

“New project announcements are often followed by years of design and planning works to support the projects’ commencements,” said the federation’s chief executive, Rebecca Pickering.

“This review may lead to decades of delays for these projects that are crucial for the advancement of South Australia.”