Major unfunded projects identified by Infrastructure South Australia
Recognition of the critical need for improved road maintenance funding and scheduling is a key outcome of South Australia’s just released 20 Year State Infrastructure Strategy (SIS), according to the South Australian Freight Council (SAFC).
The SIS, launched by Infrastructure South Australia (ISA), encompasses social as well as transport infrastructure and covers assets and developments affecting all freight transport modes.
“This is a solid strategy for the transport and logistics industry, formally recognising many of the current issues and emerging infrastructure problems that SAFC raised in its 20-year SIS submission, Moving Freight 2019,” SAFC executive officer Evan Knapp says in welcoming the strategy’s launch.
“We applaud ISA’s practical look at the underlying infrastructure issues in SA, while noting the long-term impact that COVID-19 will have on the State’s economy, and hence its infrastructure requirements.
“In particular, it is pleasing to see ISA looking at critical connectivity issues – including the emerging requirement for better links between the under-construction North South Corridor and the South Eastern Freeway – and recognising the need to be smarter and non-partisan with infrastructure spends.
“However, the Strategy also formally reveals the scope of the infrastructure maintenance backlog in SA, which has built over successive decades and governments.
“Estimated at $730 million today, the backlog is expected to rise to over $1.2 billion by 2025 in the absence of swift action. Road network condition star ratings are significantly below target levels.”
ISA believes better funding a maintenance program “would be an effective economic stimulus that would be distributed across the state”.
Separately, it points out that regional roads are statistically over represented in fatalities, accounting for 59 per cent of fatal road crashes despite regional trips being only 30 per cent of the total.
This is due, in part, to 74 per cent of the statewide road network being rated at one or two stars out of five, significantly below the national target of having 80 per cent above three stars, it states.
Knapp notes that, for the first time, industry has state government confirmation that the SA road infrastructure backlog has increased to unsustainable levels, risking road user safety and reducing freight productivity.
“The good news is that with official recognition of the problem comes an opportunity for the Government to take action,” he says.
“This will have bonus stimulus effects in the current Covid-19 related economic climate as road maintenance is labour intensive – adding jobs – is required across all regional areas, saves money in the long-term when conducted to a sustainable program, and increases road productivity and safety.
“In response, the SAFC calls on the SA government to significantly increase road maintenance spending in the next State Budget; and to commit to reporting this expenditure in a separate budget line item.
“We put on record SAFC’s thanks to Tony Shepherd, Jeremy Conway and the ISA team for listening to industry and delivering a practical strategy and strong infrastructure vision for SA in a post Covid-19 world.”
As part of the strategy launch, ISA has also released a Capital Intentions Statement (CIS) nominating priority projects or programs for the next five years not already funded.
For transport and logistics, developments include:
- North-South Corridor completion and improvements
- projects on the LeFevre Peninsula, which incorporates Outer Harbour and industrial precincts
- updated business case for sealing the Strzelecki Track
- A grain/minerals port on Eyre Peninsula, likely at Port Bonython
- GlobeLink upgrade of major export infrastructure behind the Adelaide Hills from Adelaide
- preferred freight access solution for Kangaroo Island.
Read the SAFC’s response to recent road funding, here
The SIS gains Australian Logistics Council (ALC) endorsement, particularly on boosting the North-South Corridor.
“As the strategy released today notes, key freight routes around South Australia’s major trade gateways are heavily congested and pass though highly urbanised environments,” ALC CEO Kirk Coningham says.
“Although work is being undertaken on the North-South corridor in Adelaide, there is a need to undertake further strategic investments that will particularly enhance freight connections to Adelaide Airport and the South Eastern Freeway, which is a vital link for interstate road freight.
“ALC is pleased the Strategy endorses ALC’s long-held view that curfew restrictions on Adelaide Airport need to be reviewed. Ensuring time-sensitive exports from South Australian producers can flow to growing international markets is vital to stimulating economic activity and creating local jobs.
“ALC similarly welcomes the Strategy’s recognition of the need for improved landside road and rail connections for freight at SA’s ports and airports to address congestion. We continue to encourage the SA Government to pursue the standardisation of SA’s freight rail gauges to enhance network efficiency.
“We are also pleased the Strategy recognises the role that High Productivity Vehicles (HPVs) will play in addressing congestion and enhancing safety. We encourage the SA Government to adopt the Strategy’s recommendation to work with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and SA’s local government authorities to ensure infrastructure is capable of accommodating HPVs, particularly along any key economic corridors identified.
“ALC applauds Infrastructure SA’s view that road pricing reform should be pursued to permit more effectively targeted investment in road infrastructure.
“We trust the SA Government will continue to work closely with the Federal Government and other jurisdictions through the COAG process to more rapidly progress this long-discussed reform – particularly as revenue from fuel taxes continues to decline.
“Finally, ALC strongly endorses the Strategy’s call to break down silos in the planning system by moving toward a more integrated approach. As part of this, we call on the SA Government to adopt ‘freight and logistics lands’ as a distinct land use category within South Australian planning instruments.”