Koutsantonis attacks RAA’s South Rd call
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis has attacked the RAA over its latest call for the State Government to release its study on the upgrade of the South Road corridor.
He said the RAA had been offered a briefing on South Road, which it had rejected.
“RAA has been offered a full briefing on the Torrens Road to River Torrens South Road Upgrade and the South Road Planning Study,” Koutsantonis told InDaily. “RAA has declined to take advantage of that offer.
“By its actions, it seems the RAA is more intent to sit on the side lines complaining than taking an active interest in the planning work that has been undertaken to support the Government’s objective of a non-stop north-south corridor.”
Two weeks ago, Koutsantonis told InDaily the full South Road study would be released before the next State election, but on a timetable determined by the Government.
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“We’ll release it when we’re ready,” he said.
“I’m a bit confused about (the RAA’s) policy on South Road. We’ve announced Torrens to Torrens – they were very enthusiastic about it. When the Coalition announced Darlington, they said either one’s a priority. Infrastructure Australia have said this is what should be next – this has the highest cost-benefit ratio of the two projects. So I take what the RAA says with a bit of a grain of salt.”
When asked whether it was fair enough to want the see the overall analysis of the corridor, Koutsantonis said: “Sure. When (Opposition transport spokesperson) Vickie Chapman makes a decision and when (Opposition Leader) Mr Marshall comes clean about what his priorities are on South Road I’ll release it. Until then, we’ll release it before the election, like I said we would in parliament.”
RAA Senior Manager Mobility and Automotive Policy Mark Borlace said today that while sections of the South Road Planning Study had been revealed, the completed report was yet to be publicly released.
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“We understand the completed study looks at the section of South Road between the South Road Superway and the Gallipoli Underpass,” Borlace said.
“A part of this project, the section between Torrens Road and the Torrens River was recently announced as the next section of the route to be upgraded.
“While this is welcomed, there is no information on what is proposed for the remaining section of South Road to the Gallipoli Underpass. In addition, RAA is concerned that there has been no information provided on what is proposed for the section from the Gallipoli Underpass to Darlington.”
Borlace said he understood that the overall corridor planning study had been completed and it should be released to the public.
“This would enable everyone to appreciate not only what is proposed for the remaining sections of the corridor but also how, for example, the section from Torrens Road to the Torrens River will integrate with the remaining sections of the corridor.
“We understand too that the Federal Coalition hasn’t even seen the report. So we expect it’s been difficult for them to make any considered decisions about which sections are best to proceed with and in which order.”
RAA has written a letter to Koutsantonis asking for the report to be released.
“The motoring public deserves to know how much work is left to be done, when it might be undertaken and what improvements they can expect to experience once it’s complete.”
InDaily reported in July that the Government had decided to release a high level summary of the planning study.
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