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SA roads funding announcement wins over SAFC

Freight body previously criticised budget allocation for SA

 

A federal announcement to bring forward road upgrades in South Australia has won back support from the state’s peak freight body, which previously criticised a “significant drop off in transport infrastructure funding”. 

A state and federal $415 million infrastructure package includes the acceleration of more than $328 million in federal funding across six projects.

“In South Australia we will provide additional funding for the Darlington Upgrade and Flinders Link Projects as part of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor, while bringing forward funding for the Eyre Highway and Eyre Peninsula and Horrocks Highway corridors, Victor Harbor Road duplication and a major rural roads upgrade,” Prime Minister Scott Morrision is quoted in the statement.

The breakdown of figures includes:

  • $100 million for the $143 million SA Rural Roads Safety Package
  • $86.75 million for the $125 million Port Augusta to Perth corridor
  • $75 million for the $92 million Victor Harbour Road Duplication
  • $50 million for the $55 million Horrocks Highway corridor
  • $87.5 million for the Darlington Upgrade
  • $16 million for Flinders Link

Federal transport minister Michael McCormack adds: “The Government’s record $100 billion infrastructure pipeline is delivering projects people want and need, while providing job opportunities and economic growth for communities across Australia.”

Having previously pointed to Budget figures revealing transport infrastructure funding for the state would plummet over the next four years, South Australian Freight Council (SAFC) executive officer Evan Knapp has approved the announcement.

“In April, SAFC strongly criticised the Commonwealth Budget allocations for South Australia over the 2019/20 – 2022/23 budget estimates period, noting a significant drop off in transport infrastructure funding,” Knapp says.

“This announcement is welcome in that it addresses critical infrastructure needs, and provides an improved funding allocation overall which will help maintain a skilled infrastructure construction workforce in SA.

“This package is welcomed by the transport and logistics industry, as it addresses several of the top priorities outlined in our 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy submission, Moving Freight 2019.


Read SAFC’s original views on this year’s Budget’s transport allocation, here


“In particular it addresses the Horrocks Highway – an important regional highway for the transport of grain and other export commodities – which is currently in very poor condition.

“SAFC also welcomes the reprofiling of ‘Port Augusta to Perth Corridor’ funding – which critically includes money for Eyre Peninsula roads that will face increased heavy vehicle traffic due to the cessation of grain transport by rail in the region. This was our number 2 ‘Urgent’ priority in Moving Freight 2019.

“We are also pleased that the Darlington Upgrade – part of the North South Corridor, the widely acknowledged Number 1 infrastructure project in South Australia – will be completed on time.”

 

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