Communities across South Australia's outback are about to receive a wide range of infrastructure upgrades and new facilities, thanks to new funding from the Australian Government.
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (the Department) and the Outback Communities Authority (OCA) have successfully applied for funding for a combined total of 11 outback infrastructure upgrade projects under the third phase of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
The nine funded OCA projects include a wide range of community infrastructure upgrades valued at approximately $3.8 million.
These include construction of a new $2 million purpose-built remote area health clinic at William Creek (in partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service RFDS which is contributing $1 million), the installation of public wi-fi at selected remote sites, various upgrades to Andamooka Recreation Centre and new toilet waste disposal points in several outback communities.
Meanwhile, the Department has received $3.43 million in funding to deliver major floodway upgrades on Kempe Road and Anne Beadell Highway and $1.5 million to install public toilets at various locations across the outback road network.
The floodway upgrades will be undertaken at multiple creek crossings at Lora Creek and Arckaringa Creek on Kempe Road; and two floodways on Anne Beadell Highway near Coober Pedy.
The new toilet facilities including signage will be constructed on the Stuart Highway (at Bon Bon and Ranges View), the Eyre Highway (at a parking bay approximately 100km from the WA border), and three locations on the Strzelecki Track (the Strzelecki Crossing, Montecollina Bore and the Dog Fence).
The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, whose department administers the LRCI Program, South Australian Ministers Geoff Brock MP, Clare Scriven MLC and representatives from the OCA, will visit several of the project sites in conjunction with meetings with outback communities from Tuesday 31 January to Friday 3 February.