South Australian premier Jay Weatherill says $150 million in savings from the Northern Connector road project should be redirected into a project to remove the Oaklands level crossing south of Adelaide.
The state government says the savings have been realised for the road project thanks to “competitive conditions in the construction industry”.
The Northern Connector road was budgeted to cost $985 million, with $788 million committed by the Commonwealth, and $197 coming from the state.
Weatherill reckons cost savings free up around $150 million in extra cash, and he’d like to see that money – or at least some of it – put towards removing the Oaklands Crossing in Marion, 10 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD.
$40 million was committed to the project by the Federal Coalition in the lead-up to the election.
But with an approximate $190 million price tag attached to the removal, Weatherill says the Commonwealth should do more.
“We want to partner with the Commonwealth to keep building South Australia, adding to the more than $2.5 billion of projects we are currently delivering together,” the premier said on July 28.
“This project is the obvious next step in that partnership.
“The Federal Liberal Party made a token funding commitment during the election campaign in a bid to win votes in Boothby. This is an opportunity for them to demonstrate they are serious about this project and follow through on the promise made.
“Anything less will be a betrayal of those in the southern suburbs who voted for the Coalition and its local candidate Nicolle Flint.”
State transport and infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan said the injection of funds would speed up the removal.
“The Federal Liberals have already indicated their support for this project and now we call on them to follow through and help us to get moving on delivering the upgrade,” Mullighan said.
“We are already partnering with the Commonwealth on our top priority rail junction – the $238 million Torrens Junction project near Bowden – and now we want to extend that joint approach to the Oaklands Crossing.”
