Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to stand here today and talk on the appropriation bills: Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026. It gives members of parliament an opportunity to look at budget promises that were made and what's been delivered—and certainly in the area of infrastructure, lots has been delivered in the federal seat of Adelaide.

We have seen the tram grade separation projects, which basically included building new tram overpasses over certain roads, something that's been an issue in the federal seat of Adelaide for many years. Ever since I've been a member, constituents have lobbied me and have sent me letters about the traffic congestion, about crossroads, about the tram crossing and about Marion Road, which has been a huge congestion pocket. It is right on the border of the member for Boothby's electorate and mine, and I'm very pleased that funding of $870 million—jointly funded by the Australian federal and South Australian state governments, 50-50—has now come to fruition. We've seen the Marion Road and Cross Road level crossing removals with the tram overpass, starting at South Road, going right through to Marion Road and down to Morphett Road into the seat of Boothby.

For many years, the South Road Tram Overpass Upgrade is something, as I said, about which constituents have been lobbying members of parliament to have fixed. I was very pleased that it was announced at the last election and that it's now come to fruition, together with the state government. I went down to the original sod turning and then to different stages of the project. It was great to see the $435 million of federal funding—and the rest from the state—come to fruition and clear up the congestion that used to take place. That makes it easier for people to access the Marion Road and South Road and, of course, Morphett Road in the seat of Boothby.

We also had an upgrade in the suburbs of Cowandilla and Hilton at the Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection. Those from South Australia who know that area know that crossing through Sir Donald Bradman Drive takes you straight into the airport. Thousands and thousands of cars use it every day. It was getting really congested. Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive are major commuter freight and public transport routes, with around 60,000 vehicles crossing the intersection daily. The intersection became very congested with long queues, especially during peak times, with increased demand. The current intersection will not cater for future road-user demands, and therefore this project has come to fruition and is nearly completed, with $85 million from our federal Labor government and $42.5 million from the South Australian state government. The day after the last federal election I was there to do the announcement, together with the then state infrastructure minister, Tom Koutsantonis. So we had the election on the Saturday and on Monday morning at nine o'clock we did a press conference releasing the information. I'm very pleased that it is now just about completed, if not completely completed.

The other big one in South Australia, of course—which is huge and has been going since 2013—is the River Torrens to Darlington project. This project involves constructing two separate tunnels under the ground, the Southern Tunnels and the Northern Tunnels. The tunnels go right through my electorate and will be connected by an open motorway. The motorway and the tunnels will have three lanes operating in each direction, with a combined total distance of 10.5 kilometres. A preferred alliance partner has been selected to deliver this important project. The consortium includes John Holland and others. There are more than 120,000 vehicles using South, Marion and Goodwood roads each and every day. When completed, with the rest of the network it will decrease the crash rate. The crash rate along the T2 section of South Road is 11 times higher than along the Northern Expressway and seven times higher than on the Southern Expressway.

Infrastructure Australia expects daily car trips across Adelaide to increase by 26 per cent by 2031. That's up to 6.2 million car trips each day. This needs to be addressed, and I'm very pleased that this government is addressing it. In fact, in 2013 we turned the first sod with the Prime Minister, who was then the infrastructure minister, Minister Albanese, and I recall that moment very clearly. To see this project coming to fruition today is a great result, because this congestion will clear up the North and South roads, especially going right through my electorate. It had put into the Australian economy more than $230 million each year in lost productivity, just from the time wasted on that north-south corridor. It's one of Adelaide's most important transport corridors. It has access to Adelaide Airport and to Port Adelaide, the state's maritime gateway, as well as to the wider national highway network, and there's funding of $7.7 billion—so, $15.4 billion in total. It is another project where we're working very closely and collaboratively with the state government and the federal government.

Also during the last election many commitments were made in my electorate, and I was very pleased that some of them are starting their works right now. For example, the Western Youth Centre, through the Thriving Suburbs Program, was given $7.5 million, and the council is putting in some extra money. The Western Youth Centre is a great community group in my electorate. They are a governing body that has about 15 different groups that operate at the centre—everything from football to cricket to judo to kinder gym; you name it. It offers programs for individuals of all ages, from infants right through to seniors. I'm very pleased that the $7.5 million will come to fruition by the end of this year. It'll be a great refurbishment of the club rooms, the tennis courts and the oval. Certainly it'll be an area that many people in Cowandilla and those western suburb areas will be able to use for years to come. For example, I played sport there when I was a kid, my kids played tennis there and my grandkids are now participating in the activities there, from kinder gym right through to tennis and other things. So three generations just in my family have used those facilities. I'm very pleased they were successful in getting the $7.5 million.

We also have the Hutt Street revitalisation. That's another three-point-something million dollars. Those of you who know Adelaide will know that Hutt Street is a beautiful street with restaurants, pubs, cafes and small shops. This will be redeveloped to entice more foot traffic into the area to ensure that the street remains a thriving street. It needs to be revitalised, because it's a great street. There were some issues with parking and how many car parks we're going to have. That's been resolved. We conducted a meeting with the state member, Lucy Hood, and the shop owners. Thankfully, council listened to them and have come up with a viable plan now that everyone's happy with. We believe works will be starting very soon once they've been ticked off by the infrastructure minister. This will be keeping Hutt Street's village feel and making it safer and easier for people—

Debate interrupted.

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