The South Australian Government has released the 2019-20 State Budget and it includes a pipeline of projects worth approximately $11.9 billion for over four years from 2019-20 to 2022-23, which will transform the State regions as well as create jobs in the construction and trade industries.
This significant investment is set to produce world-class education, health care, cultural, innovation and tourism precincts across the State as well as build safer roads that will help save lives, bust congestion and reduce travel times.
According to Premier Steven Marshall, the State Government is investing $1.5 billion for health infrastructure and it includes $550 million for the delivery of a new state-of-the-art Women’s and Children’s Hospital that will be co-located with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“This builds on our massive funding injection into Health, which has seen the delivery of key commitments including reactivating the Repat ($69.1 million over 4 years) and ongoing major upgrades at the Modbury Hospital ($97 million), and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital ($264 million) for stage 3 of its redevelopment, including a new emergency department and operating theatres.
“We also remain committed to improving country health facilities ($140 million over 10 years) - with such works critical to supporting the health and wellbeing of South Australians,” the Premier said.
A $1.4 billion budget has also been allocated for schools and VET infrastructure, including $873 million for projects to improve school facilities across South Australia as well as support sustainable enrolment growth in government-run schools and transition Year 7 into high school.
“Glossop High School will receive $17.2 million to bring together its two campuses and accommodate all year levels on the Berri campus, creating capacity for 800 Year 7 to 12 students, while $361 million will be spent on building three new government schools, including a Year 7 to 12 secondary school in Whyalla, and birth to Year 12 schools in the Munno Para and Sellicks Beach/Aldinga regions, to be completed as Public Private Partnerships,” Mr Marshall said.
Adelaide is also a big winner in this year’s State Budget through the State and Australian Government’s jointly funded 10-year $551 million Adelaide City Deal which will see the delivery of infrastructure at Lot Fourteen - including the Innovation Hub, the Aboriginal Art and Cultures Gallery, International Centre for Food, Hospitality and Tourism Studies and Indigenous Business Hub.
“This budget provides $150 million for the development of the Government’s flagship Aboriginal Art and Cultures Gallery at Lot Fourteen.
“A further $14 million has been invested into the Heysens at Hahndorf, Carrick Hill House, Mitcham Hills Trail and Glenthorne Trail, all of which will boost the tourism economy,” Mr Marshall said.
This significant budget will also be providing $182 million for the Adelaide Festival Plaza precinct redevelopment; $155 million to build the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme that will supply water from the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Northern Adelaide Plains; as well as $390 million for solar PV generation and storage solutions on SA Water assets.
Other budget allocations include funding for sporting infrastructure - such as $10 million for a new roof at Memorial Drive - and about $500,000 for the development of a State Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Plan.
“This significant infrastructure investment means we can build and upgrade roads and intersections right across the state to bolster safety, grow the economy and help create more local jobs,” the Premier added.
The 2019-20 State Budget also includes $252 million to deliver the final 10.5-kilometre of the North-South Corridor between River Torrens and Darlington. Together, the South Australian and Australian Government have committed $5.4 billion for this project.
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Source: Premier of South Australia (1, 2); Construction Advisor