By Raquel Mustillo
SEVERAL of the region’s vehicle-damaging potholes have been fixed, with contractors travelling hundreds of kilometres across the Limestone Coast to undertake the urgent repair work this week.
While Wattle Range and Grant District councils have welcomed the repairs, the two regional councils have called for long-term moves to tackle the poor state of the road surfaces.
Civil engineering company Fulton Hogan – which was awarded the contract for maintenance of the region’s roads last year – reportedly started the upgrade works last week.
The Border Watch viewed crews undertaking repair work along the Princes Highway and Bay Road on Tuesday, with a crew stating workers had travelled between 350 and 400km throughout the region to address the potholes.
Wattle Range mayor Des Noll said while the works were an improvement, the region’s roads required millions of dollars of investment.
“Obviously the State Government has received our message but patching up the potholes doesn’t resolve too much at all and it is still a serious issue,” he said.
“What they have done is just a temporary band-aid and in a couple of years we will see the same problem and the same potholes.
“I want them to dig up the roads and resurface the roads properly instead of quick fixes.”
Last week, Mr Noll penned a three-page letter to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard seeking long-overdue upgrades for several roads within the council area, including the Princes Highway, Mile Hill Road, Kangaroo Flat Road and the Overland Track.
Mr Noll said council had been informed of the department’s intention to undertake approximately $5.8m of road construction and asphalt sealing on Mile Hill Road, Mount Burr Road, Springs Road, Kangaroo Flat Road and the Overland Track.
A Transport Department spokesperson said the roads are included in the department’s two-year reseal/rehab program, which aims to improve roads across South Australia.
The spokesperson said works were scheduled in the next financial year and were expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
But Mr Noll said council would continue to lobby for total reconstructions and upgrades of several State Government-owned roads, including Mount McIntyre Road and the Southern Ports Highway.
“We have invited Minister Wingard and [Shadow Transport Minister] Tom Koutsantonis down to the region to drive some of the roads so they can see for themselves what it’s like,” he said.
“I am not going weak at the knees now just because the trucks have gone down a few of the roads.
“I am happy [Member for Mount Gambier] Troy Bell has also highlighted the issue and called for a compensation scheme for people who hit potholes.
“I support Troy 100pc on this and I will be standing right behind him.”
Following a number of incidents around the Grant District area, mayor Richard Sage has also written to Mr Wingard calling for urgent intervention relating to the “extremely dangerous and extremely life-threatening state of our highway”.
Grant District Council works manager Adrian Schutz said recent wet weather, a lack of maintenance and an increase in vehicle traffic and size compared to when the road was first constructed could be contributing factors to the rapid decline.
Mr Schulz backed Mr Noll’s call for a road reconstruction, highlighting Princes Highway, Glenelg River Road, the Riddoch Highway and Sea Parade as problematic areas.
“The last time the Princes Highway was reconstructed was probably over 40 years ago and like anything, the pavement wears out over time,” he said.
“When the roads were first constructed truck drivers might have been two tonnes and now you’re looking at 70 to 80 tonne with the log trucks.
“You can also imagine the increase in the volume of traffic on those roads and we need roads that can handle the number of cars and the weight of cars because everyone should be able to drive the road at 110kph.”
The Transport Department and Fulton Hogan were contacted for comment but were not able to provide comment before print deadline.
HAVE YOUR SAY – editorial@tbwtoday.com.au
