More money is being allocated through the coming budget to roads in the Grey electorate with the duplication of the Augusta Highway and the sealing of the Strzelecki Track the big winners.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said he is tremendously pleased the Augusta Highway duplication project is to receive another $148m to the accompany the $64m already in the pipeline and pledged at the time of the last election.
“This total of $212m will be enhanced by a 20% contribution from the State,” he said.
“With construction of the Port Wakefield overpass already well underway, this allocation should take the duplication through to Lochiel.
“The State Government will manage the project and I met with State Minister Corey Wingard and Department of Transport officials recently to discuss prioritisation of the works.
“Careful consideration on where to push for future works should be driven by economic benefit and there is an intention to develop advanced plans for duplication of the high traffic area between Crystal Brook and Port Pirie.
“Certainly, what will be a total in excess on a quarter of a billion dollars will go a long way. The Federal Government is also committing an extra $64m to the sealing of the Strzelecki Track bringing our committment to $164m and I expect with the State Government contribution that this will go close to completing the works.
“The sealing of the Strez will open up one of the great tourist routes in Australia and with our roads already packed with caravans I expect South Australia to reap a real dividend.
“It will also bring the Cooper Basin supply chain back to SA and provide the “brucellosis free” cattle producers of SE Queensland a chance to access southern markets.”
Mr Ramsey said that the budget will also allocate a further $12m for the upgrades on the main APY Lands access road, top-up funds for the Eyre Highway works underway and $5m for a study to establish a by-pass for “Greater Adelaide” which he would expect to come through the southern portion of the Grey electorate on the Adelaide Plains.
“These announcements demonstrate the Federal Government’s understanding of the economic importance of regional Australia and how faster, safer and cheaper freight and tourist routes benefit us all,” he said. “In all the Federal Government has committed well more than a billion dollars to road works in the Grey electorate, it is completly without precedent.”
ENDS
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 08 8633 1744
May 10, 2021
