Tremaine calls for more AusLink funding for South Australia

The South Australian Freight Council today (Monday, March 6) said seven transport infrastructure projects needed to be completed to improve the state’s deteriorating transport network if the state was to be economically viable. It called on the Federal Government to increase SA’s funding share of AusLink &#8211 the Commonwealth Government’s national road network funding program &#8211 which was only 6.7% at present. It also wants the national road network in SA extended to embrace some major thoroughfares of national significance. It set out SA’s needs in a blueprint, Moving Freight &#8211 Setting a Strategic Framework for the Future Freight council chairman Vincent Tremaine said that under present AusLink funding, SA received less per capita than any other state or territory. "Auslink &#8211 or Eastlink as we prefer to call it &#8211 severely short changes SA over every other state and territory of Australia," Mr Tremaine said. "The short thrift equates to about $112m &#8211 or $73 for every man, woman and child living in the state. It’s an absolute disgrace." Mr Tremaine said that while the SAFC recognised that AusLink was project-based, and that some states would receive fewer funds in some years, regardless, SA had been significantly disadvantaged over this present five-year funding period. "We urge the Commonwealth Government to address this state’s financial shortfall &#8211 all $112m of it &#8211 when the next round of funds is announced in 2008&#4709," he said. "Simultaneously, the Federal Government must expand the national road network in SA, which currently excludes routes which are of national significance." Priority needed to be given to extending the length of South Road that currently received national funding (from Wingfield to Hilton) to the start of the Southern Expressway at Bedford Park, Mr Tremaine said . Further, the Glen Osmond-Greenhill-Richmond roads link should be included in AusLink funding to provide a continuous "nationally-funded" route from the South Eastern Freeway to South Road at Richmond &#8211 improving access to the Adelaide Airport precinct, and Adelaide’s north-south corridor, he said.

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