According to the survey, all sectors of infrastructure in the state need attention, with about half needing major to critical changes.

“While there has been progress in some areas of infrastructure over the past five years, the overall picture clearly shows that South Australia’s infrastructure is stressed,” said Doug Gillott, president of the South Australian Division of Engineers Australia.

The 2010 report card reviewed infrastructure categories across energy, telecommunications, transport and water and assigned ratings within the scales of A – F, and provides many comparisons with the initial 2005 South Australia Infrastructure Report Card.

The 2010 report card includes a rating for airports, ports, irrigation, roads overall, and telecommunications, which were not rated in 2005.

Across the 2010 report card categories - six get a good “B” – needing minor changes - six get a “C” - needing major changes; and two get a “D” - needing critical changes.

“While significant investment in new infrastructure is required, of critical importance is the maintenance of existing infrastructure rather than waiting for it to fail.

“More strategic planning and actions needs to be taken now to ensure that the State has liveable, productive and sustainable cities, towns and regions for our future,” Gillott said.

Recommendations of the report include:

# Further integration of state-wide planning, especially transport strategies, to improve the movement of people and freight
# Shifts in transport modes from road to rail for freight, and from private to public transport for people
# Increased funding for all infrastructure, including maintenance and renewal, to ensure the state’s long term productivity;
# Prioritised development of port infrastructure in regional South Australia to support the emerging mineral resources sector
# Continued diversity of water supply options, including greater take up of recycled water;
deliver improvements to stormwater infrastructure in flood prone areas and apply careful planning to new urban infill schemes;
# Increase efforts to achieve the state’s sustainability objectives with regard to energy use, especially with respect to base load electricity generation
# Provide a financial and regulatory environment that facilitates the creation of renewable energy generation and transmission infrastructure to meet the State Government’s ambitious renewable energy targets; and
# Give further consideration to road infrastructure funding alternatives to enable earlier provision of key road links.

Pic: The 17km duplicated Sturt Highway between Gawler to Daveyston in South Australia.