SA should have a population target of two million – as long as the infrastructure can keep up, says RAA

SA should aim for a population of two million people over the next ten years, the RAA says – although that figure comes with a big ‘if’.

The chief of the state’s largest member-based organisation, RAA’s Nick Reade, is urging a population target for South Australia of two million by 2032.

Stressing the growth from 1.8m people within a decade must be underpinned by roads, schools and other infrastructure, Mr Reade argued this was an achievable target that would meet community expectations.

A survey of the RAA’s 800,000 members in December found 68 per cent opposed growth in SA’s population because of concerns about insufficient infrastructure.

Growth could be accommodated only if infrastructure was developed in parallel, respondents said, citing health, schools, public transport, roads, energy, green spaces and housing.

Mr Reade, RAA’s chief executive officer, said setting a growth target was important because it provided a focus on necessary steps to achievement.

RAA CEO Nick Reade with a collection of old equipment and uniforms at the RAA’s headquarters in Mile End, as the organisation prepares to mark 120 years. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We want to see the infrastructure in place and what I’d be advocating for is a measured growth in population. For me, it’d be two million by 2032.

“In ten years time, at around two million, that’d be growing about 1.6 per cent, on average, for the next ten years. That’ll get us to two million, and I think that’s a good aspirational number.

“But it’s not too out there. It’s not going to stretch us where perhaps we can’t quite deliver on and it also meets the community expectations a little bit better. It gives us some time to get there as well. I think that’s pretty important.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas, in a Sunday Mail interview, did not set a population target but said he believed a majority of South Australians were “comfortable with the idea of population growth, provided the requisite investments have been made in infrastructure”.

The Sunday Mail revealed the largest single release of residential land in the state’s history, to trigger almost $1bn worth of home construction, backed by the formation of an Infrastructure Planning and Development Unit charged with co-ordinating electricity, water, sewerage, roads, schools and other infrastructure.

An early electric truck, circa 1921-31, owned by Adelaide Electric Supply Co in Grenfell Street.

Mr Reade, a former CEO of both BankSA and the Premier’s Department under the Marshall Liberal government, said increasing the state’s population from 1.8m was “critical from an economic growth perspective”.

An influx of young people after the Covid pandemic struck, many working in interstate jobs but living in SA, had bolstered the state’s reputation.

“They’re saying it’s an amazing place to be … I think we’ve got a great opportunity to really pick up the pace on population and have a great place to be,” he said.

“ … I look forward to more young people, more talented people coming with the skills that we need to grow our businesses here in South Australia.”

Mr Reade said RAA members wanted infrastructure development to keep pace with this growth, rather than being flatly opposed to the state’s population increasing.

“They want to see that keeping pace so we don’t leave people behind, so to speak. I think ultimately it’s led from the top. It’s great to see a focus from government on it (population growth). Business leaders need to get behind it. We need to advocate and promote it,” Mr Reade said.

RAA member Dr C Reissmann at the start of the first RAA reliability trial in 1905.

In an interview with The Advertiser, Mr Reade also:

OUTLINED plans for an RAA 150-site, statewide electric vehicle charging station network, being built by the end of 2024 in conjunction with the state government.

HIGHLIGHTED environmental gains from electric vehicles and smarter homes using electricity more efficiently.

INSISTED Adelaide’s prized lifestyle could be maintained if infrastructure development supported population growth.

URGED promotion of SA on the eastern seaboard and to major businesses.

BACKED public transport digital ticketing to encourage patronage and ease road congestion.

CALLED for maintenance of roads and other existing infrastructure to be kept up as the state’s population grew.

Mr Reade said the RAA was a “huge advocate” for electric vehicles and wanted to help educate members about issues with changeover from fossil fuels, particularly range anxiety and access to chargers.

Motorbike-mounted RAA guides in 1927.

He predicted electric vehicle costs would be lowered as technology improved and Covid-related supply chain issues eased, while range anxiety would be eased by the statewide charger network.

“The infrastructure is an issue, which we’re working with the government on, which is really pleasing. We’ve got the first chargers rolling out in the near term, and we’ll have 500 points over 150 locations within a year and a half, which is really fantastic. So that will really take some of that concern away from people,” he said.

“It’s particularly if you’re driving in regional locations, that’s where it’s the most acute, that you’ll be concerned. But within 18 months, I think that will start to dissipate and the costs of EVs will start to come down.”

Originally published as SA should have a population target of two million – as long as the infrastructure can keep up, says RAA