CCF SA MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 : 2019
Morrison’s road budget gets tick from SA’s civil constructors but fails key rural freight route. The unprecedented investment in road infrastructure in South Australia outlined in rolling announcements in recent days by the Prime Minister and tonight’s Federal Treasurer’s Budget – have been welcomed by the State’s civil construction lobby. However, its mood has been tempered by what it says is a blatant failure by the Federal Government to again overlook funding for the State’s most critical regional freight route - the Augusta Highway between Pt Wakefield and Pt Augusta. The Civil Contractors Federation (SA) said tonight the carriageway traverses the spine of SA and serves as the gateway to the State’s north, northwest and northeast regions. “The Augusta Highway is part of the National Highway network and is vital for the movement of freight generally and heavy military traffic to the enlarged Army base near Whyalla,” CCF (SA) Chief Executive, Mr Phil Sutherland, said. “The section is also the major road corridor for the movement of tourists, and for people living in many parts of regional South Australia needing to get to Adelaide.
“While the broader investment in SA road infrastructure is welcome, it beggars belief that in this day and age, arguably the most important regional road in the State remains a two lane, generally degraded road characterised by a patchwork of bitumen repairs, with a narrow bridge and a railway crossing.” The road has seen more than 60 serious casualties and 18 fatalities in the past three years. Mr Sutherland says the CCF (SA) believes this trauma pattern will continue while the Highway remains a two-way road, with close to several thousand movements including oversize vehicles and road trains, having to use the route each day.
“Full marks to the Federal Government for committing to the upgrade of the State’s other key freight corridors - Port Augusta to Perth, Cockburn to Burra and Renmark to Gawler,” Mr Sutherland said.
The project would trigger a positive economic multiplier effect associated with the demand for the materials, goods, products and services required for the duplication work.”
“But the Augusta Highway, the road that really needs to be top of the list, perplexingly didn’t make the cut in 2019.
Mr Sutherland argued that a modern four lane road all the way from Adelaide to Port Augusta would improve productivity, transport and freight efficiency.
“The duplication would cost in the vicinity of $1.2 billion but would deliver a much safer road and an economic return to SA many times that figure. “It is extraordinary that there are two lanes in each direction between Gepps Cross and Pt Wakefield, and then one lane in each direction on the most dangerous section between Pt Wakefield and Pt Augusta”.
SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT UPSIDE “Beyond road safety considerations, it is important we don’t overlook the social and economic benefits from a major road construction project such as this. Road infrastructure is the life line of our economy. Bad roads contribute to a bad economy. Good, well-constructed and maintained roads on the other hand are an essential pillar of social and economic wellbeing and progress,” Mr Sutherland said. “The duplication of the Augusta Highway, a 200 kilometre road, would generate employment opportunities and create an estimated 100 new jobs including for disadvantaged groups. The work would also provide opportunities to train people with new skills or improve their skill sets so that they are employable into the future.
“Build it and they will come,” he said. “An improved Augusta Highway, as described, would see an increase in tourist numbers, the relocation of more people and business to SA regional centres along the road corridor, and improve regional communities. It would give them a higher level of social connectivity, a safer road, and a modern road route that allows them to move in a more timely manner from town to town or to and from Adelaide. “The project is just such an overwhelming case for funding. Until we do, the road carnage will continue as will the bottleneck gridlocking our State’s northern economy.” The CCF (SA) did commend the Federal Government for ‘finally cleaning up the traffic congestion mess at Pt Wakefield’ and upgrading the bridge at Pt Augusta.
“But the Augusta Highway, the road that really needs to be top of the list, perplexingly didn’t make the cut in 2019.” 7
