Published May 2023
The proposed Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is “economically positive” with “actual demand for industry to use this route” because truck drivers won’t need to stop, supporting “benefit to their business”, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport says.
But on Monday night after spruiking the benefits of the project - at a public forum hosted by community group Our Roads SA - DIT representatives had to walk on eggshells in response to a fiery crowd after confirming the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass isn’t guaranteed to go ahead.
DIT Executive Director, Andrew Excell, told attendees “we know if we invested into that network – it is economically positive. In other words, a benefit-cost ratio of more than one.”
But CEO John Whelan poured cold water on the positivity, telling the outraged crowd that “a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass is not funded at this time”, while Mr Excell confirmed there is not “a lot in terms of action on the ground”.
When Tom Koutsantonis was quizzed in Parliament on whether the Malinauskas Labor Government will be building the Bypass last week, he arrogantly evaded the question.
The Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass will enable trucks to be diverted from the South Eastern Freeway onto the regional north-south freight route and the Sturt Highway, reducing the need for a proportion of heavy vehicles to travel through the metropolitan area.
Forum attendees raised concerns about noise, saying “we are sick and tired of bulls***” and challenged bureaucrats to “live here at 3 or 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning and hear the noise of all the trucks.”
A $10 million planning study into the Bypass was due to be completed at the end of last year, yet the Malinauskas Labor Government remains silent on the project.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Vincent Tarzia, said the local community deserves to know if the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass will become a reality.
“South Australians live in fear of when the next truck tragedy will happen at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway and we know this Bypass will get many heavy vehicles off that stretch of road,” Mr Tarzia said.
“Right now, the community is getting conflicting signals when it comes to the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass from the Malinauskas Labor Government when they deserve clarity on this important project.
“Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonis have an opportunity to end the traffic turmoil in and around the South Eastern Freeway – so they need to get on with the job and deliver this Bypass as soon as possible.”
Member for Bragg, Jack Batty, said locals regularly raise safety concerns about heavy vehicles on Portrush Road and their frustrations boiled over on Monday night.
“My local community is very loudly saying ‘bring on the Bypass’, but under Peter Malinauskas this important project has stalled,” Mr Batty said.
“It’s incredibly frustrating for department bosses to say in one breath this project stacks up, it’s economically positive, and there’s demand to use it – but that it’s not guaranteed or funded in the next.
“Our local roads are not appropriate freight routes – homes, shops and schools just simply shouldn’t be mixing with B-Doubles on a regular basis – and the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass would solve this issue.
“There is no time to waste – Peter Malinauskas and Tom Koutsantonis must end the confusion and come clean with South Australians about the fate of the Bypass.”
