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

The Albanese Labor government has reformed Australia's infrastructure pipeline, ensuring our investments in the nation's infrastructure grow, so that the economy improves in productivity and takes pressure off inflation. We all know that infrastructure projects, whether they be bridges, roads or other types of projects, are an important part of assisting and enhancing our communities. Infrastructure grows the economy and ensures positions and jobs for workers. It enhances the economy of a particular area.

I'm very proud to have currently in my electorate three major infrastructure projects—and many, many more, but I'll speak about three of them today. The first is the North-South Corridor, the Torrens to Darlington project, which was announced back in 2013. I was there for the first sod turning when the current Prime Minister was then the transport minister. This $15.4 billion project goes straight through my electorate, through South Road. It's being delivered in partnership with the state government of South Australia. It will upgrade the North-South Corridor between the River Torrens and Darlington. The section specific to my electorate will be from the River Torrens all the way down to the Kurralta Park and Plympton area, which is absolutely congested with motor vehicles from 6 am right through to 8 pm or 9 pm every single day. This motorway will free up traffic, allowing people to save time on their trips to and from work. Even 10 minutes a day, when you add it up, is 50 minutes at the end of the week or 60 minutes for people who work six days a week. Think about that. That one extra hour to read to the children before they go to bed, to help prepare dinner—to spend quality time with your family—makes a massive difference.

Once finished, the River Torrens to Darlington project will allow motorists to avoid 21 existing sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington. It will complete the non-stop, 78-kilometre North-South Corridor between Gawler and Old Noarlunga. Back in August I was delighted to join the Prime Minister, the Premier of South Australia and the other state and federal members of parliament whose electorates this project will go through to announce the preferred alliance partner to deliver South Australia's biggest ever infrastructure project. The Torrens to Darlington project will support approximately 5,500 jobs per year during main construction. Ninety per cent of labour hours will be undertaken by South Australians, with an agreed minimum six per cent Indigenous employment on the project, 600 jobs for apprentices and trainees, and opportunities for more than 220 long-term unemployed people.

Deputy Speaker, another exciting project is the $90 million—again fifty-fifty with the state government—Grange Road, Holbrooks Road and East Avenue intersection upgrade to relieve congestion and improve safety and connectivity for all road users at that location. The upgrade will remove a staggered intersection and create a direct connection, across Grange Road, between Holbrooks Road and East Avenue. I have spent over the decade writing to different transport ministers about this project and I'm very pleased that this Labor government has listened and made this announcement.

This project, being delivered as part of an $850 million suite of projects, is designed to ensure Adelaide's road network functions efficiently during construction of the T2D project—the Torrens to Darlington project—and once it is completed. Community engagement on the project is continuing, and, judging by the large turnout at recent community meetings, I know the community is excited about the upgrade.

Finally, I'd like to mention the tram grade separation projects. These will benefit residents in the federal electorates of Adelaide, Boothby and Hindmarsh. We are investing $600 million to remove three level crossings where the Glenelg tram line crosses Marion Road and Cross Road, Plympton, and Morphett Road, Morphettville. (Time expired)

See this speech in context