Population growth blueprint in South Australia 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy

A top-level blueprint adopted by Premier Peter Malinauskas reveals the infrastructure needed to grow Adelaide’s population beyond two million.

The equivalent of almost two new Royal Adelaide Hospitals and 21 new R-12 schools will be needed as metropolitan Adelaide’s population grows beyond two million by 2051, a top-level infrastructure blueprint reveals.

The 20-year Infrastructure SA plan also recommends investigation of an underground CBD rail link, saying Adelaide Railway Station is at capacity and will reach “a tipping point”.

Released exclusively to the Sunday Mail, the 194-page blueprint canvasses toll roads as part of leveraging private sector funding, saying a record $25.6bn state infrastructure spend means funding to “support the forward pipeline is placing pressure on state and national debt”.

The State Infrastructure Strategy calls for a “southern connection” between the South Eastern Freeway and the $15.4bn Torrens to Darlington project after its 2031 completion, likely fuelling federal election campaign debate over potential to expand Cross Rd.

Population growth requires affordable home supply, the strategy says, with infrastructure playing “a critical role in unlocking land for housing and ensuring our communities have access to jobs and services”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas, whose government has adopted the 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Premier Peter Malinauskas, who will outline his population growth plan in a major State of the State address on Monday, vowed to “make smart, forward-looking decisions to ensure South Australia has the infrastructure it needs to support jobs, communities and the environment”.

“South Australia is building, with a growing economy and the opportunity for increasing prosperity. But we need to have the infrastructure in place to capitalise on the opportunities before us,” he said.

“This strategy lays out a clear and evidence-based approach to plan, maintain and deliver infrastructure in the right place at the right time for future generations.

“Through smarter investment and long-term planning, South Australia will be better positioned for continued prosperity and sustainability.”

Infrastructure SA chairman Tony Shepherd. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Infrastructure SA chairman Tony Shepherd, who pioneered toll road projects including the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and Melbourne City Link, said opportunities to leverage private sector financing should be explored “when it is logical and efficient to do so”.

The Malinauskas government has followed Labor predecessors in ruling out toll roads as unworkable for Adelaide but has adopted the Infrastructure SA strategy, which leaves the prospect open as part of a detailed examination of “leveraging capital to invest in our infrastructure”.

Greater Adelaide is forecast to grow to 2,005,404 people by 2051, which the strategy says will require planning and delivering extra capacity for about 1500 new hospital beds – equivalent to almost two RAHs – and sufficient school capacity for up to 35,000 to 40,000 students – or 21 new R-12 schools, almost one per year.

“It is important to note that a growing population will also support a growing economy and hence provide enhanced capacity to invest and deliver the necessary infrastructure over time,” the strategy says.

The strategy says the choked Adelaide Railway Station’s “lack of thoroughfare limits the ability of the passenger rail network to expand services on existing or new lines” and recommends examining “a through-running system or link under the CBD”.

“The significant growth forecast for the north and south of Greater Adelaide will create a need to provide mass transit options that move large numbers of people. However, Adelaide Railway Station presents a constraint,” it says.

“Creating an underground link could release significant capacity within the network and connect all lines seamlessly.”

Originally published as Population growth blueprint in South Australia 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy