Work starts on Tonsley line to Flinders as Corey Wingard told to get other projects out of slow lane
SA’s new infrastructure minister is already copping claims we’re stuck in the slow lane despite only taking the job just over a week ago in the travel scandal reshuffle.
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South Australia’s new Infrastructure Minister has turned the sod on new rail extension works as he comes under fire for South Australia getting overtaken on key infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard was on Wednesday joined by federal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint for the start of new works on the Flinders Link Project, which will extend the existing Tonsley rail line to the Flinders Medical Centre.
Mr Wingard said the project forms part of the Marshall Government’s record $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure across the state.
“Once complete, this rail link will better connect residents in the southern suburbs with important services including the Flinders Hospital and Flinders University,” Mr Wingard said.
“It’s creating 55 jobs a year during the life of the project and helping support our economy during an extremely tough time.”
The sod turning ceremony coincided with the Infrastructure Australia updated 2019 priority list that showed SA had did not have an additional project elevated or added since it was last released in February.
The projects already on the list include some that have been there for a number of years – including a broad overhaul of the Adelaide tram network that the government doesn’t want.
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Civil Contractors Federation South Australia chief Phil Sutherland said years have gone by without SA achieving high priority ranking in Infrastructure Australia list.
“It should be a matter of very serious concern to all South Australians that our state is not sufficiently on the radar of the body that recommends funding to the Federal Government for transport and other infrastructure,” Mr Sutherland said.
“We are calling on new SA Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Mr Corey Wingard, to take whatever action is necessary to remedy this appalling situation”.
Mr Wingard said the state government would prepare a submission for Infrastructure Australia’s February list, and fast-track projects already close to shovel-ready.
