Local pollies join forces for road campaign

A recent road survey has identified the Southern Ports Highway as one of the most concerning roads in Barker and has prompted two local politicians to establish a permission to secure more funding for the notorious stretch.

The South Australian Government recently allocated $18million to a 30km section of the road but neither Federal member for Barker Tony Pasin or South Australian Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and Regional Roads Ben Hood MLC believe this doesn’t go nearly far enough.

Mr Pasin, who championed the recent survey, accused the Federal Government of allowing the national road network to fall into disrepair with billions of dollars in funding cuts and delays since coming to Government.

“As someone who spends considerable time on local roads in Barker, as well as visiting colleagues interstate as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, I know first-hand how terrible much of the Australian road network has become,” Mr Pasin said.

“The number of survey responses received alone tells me that our roads are of serious concern for the local community

“Motorists take responsibility for ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy and pay taxes and charges for the right to use our road network. It’s a core responsibility of Government to ensure the road network is up to standard. The Albanese Labor Government is not living up to its end of the bargain.

Mr Pasin thanked local residents for taking he time to complete last month’s road survey.

“We know that there is serious concern about roads in the Barker, with Southern Ports Highway as one of the most concerning,” Mr Pasin said.

Ben Hood echoed the findings, saying the state of Southern Ports Highway is nothing short of dangerous.

“Tony and I recently held a community forum in Beachport where 80 people voiced their serious concerns about this road,” Mr Hood said. “We heard harrowing stories — such as an ambulance struggling to safely transport a shark attack victim because the road condition was so rough that the officers had to stop tending to the patient and hold on for dear life.

“Regional residents are expected to keep their cars roadworthy, yet they are forced to drive on roads that are anything but carworthy.

“We’ve had people report thousands of dollars in damage to their vehicles because of the poor condition of the Southern Ports Highway. It’s time the government took their responsibilities seriously and made our roads worthy of the cars that drive on them.”

Mr Pasin said he would continue to advocate to the Federal Government to increase Federal Government road funding needed to see the necessary upgrades undertaken to roads like Southern Ports Highway.

“The recent State Government announcement of $18 million for a 30km section of the Southern Ports Highway is nowhere near enough,” Mr Pasin said. “It represents another half measure which will do nothing more than add another patch on an already patchworked pavement.”

“The time for bandaid repairs is over.

“I encourage local residents to help us advocate for increased Federal Government infrastructure funding to make our local roads safer and more productive.

“That’s why Ben and I have started a petition, calling on both the Albanese and Malinauskas Labor Governments to make the investment necessary that will see Southern Ports Highway re-built properly.”

The petition can be signed at www.tonypasin.com/fixourroads_southern_ports_highway