Connect - 2 July 2021

Paving the way

Our Road Network Maintenance team was challenged in February by heavy rain across outback regions which flooded creeks and washed out crossings.

As always, they were up to the task and quick response fixes managed to keep cattle trucks and other vehicles moving when waters subsided, much to the relief of locals across the affected areas.

Longer term repair works have since been completed, as shown by the ‘before’ photo above and the ‘after’ reverse photo below of this creek crossing on the Moralana Scenic Drive in the Flinders Ranges.

A job well done that supports the resilience of our Outback communities.

NAIDOC week 4-11 July

Next week is NAIDOC Week and a specially wrapped tram will once again be circulating across the Adelaide Metro network to mark this important time.

NAIDOC Week is a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that goes back to the 1938 Aborigines’ Day of Mourning, which made an impact on the national conversation and triggered an invitation for indigenous leaders to meet with Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.

The NAIDOC March starts at 11am on Friday from Victoria Square before proceeding down King William Street to Parliament House.

Laying down the law

The Legislative Services team is a critical section of the Department, framing bills that ultimately become law, as well as ensuring DIT officers have appropriate delegations to exercise our Ministers’ legislative powers. This work relies on strong Collaboration with business units across and beyond our Department.

A recent focus has been on the passage of the 2021 Transport Portfolio Bill which will enable the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to refuse registration to vehicles displaying offensive material. It will also strengthen SAPOL’s and Forensics SA’s ability to pursue and research (respectively) fitness-to-drive concerns not covered in the existing legislation.

All legally qualified, this specialist team does Excellent work, committed to the legislative process that our community relies on.

Andrew Parkinson, Jack Sheridan, Lisa Grantham, Aaron Mitchell and Jesse Beckinsale. Absent: Nada Petrovic, Sarah Bailes, Jana Pickering, Kathy Towsty and Rosemary Calabrese

Ovingham project ramping up

Work on the Ovingham Crossing project has stepped up a notch, with road and lane closures on Torrens and Churchill Roads now in place to enable piling works for the overpass to progress.

Such road access changes simply cannot be avoided, so making accurate and timely information available is vital. This is the role of our Community Engagement, Communications and Media staff who continue to do Excellent work across many major projects from our infrastructure pipeline.

Road Safety Week recognition

The outstanding work by our team to deliver a highly successful National Road Safety Week has been recognised again, this time by the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Hon Vincent Tarzia MP.

Minister Tarzia wrote: “A significant body of work was undertaken to deliver the many activities that occurred during the week. In particular, I would like to thank Ms Sarah Clark and her team for their hard work and commitment which delivered a successful National Road Safety Week.

“Ms Clark's continued professionalism and passion was further highlighted following a recent conversation with Mr Peter Frazer, President of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, who emphasised the vital role Ms Clark played throughout the course of the week.”

Congratulations to Sarah, her team and others involved in delivering so well on this important opportunity to share the THINK! Road Safety message.

DIT staff with state and federal Ministers and Peter Frazer (middle back) and his wife Judy (left) at the National Road Safety Week launch.

Friday Flashback

With the current colder weather gently reminding us we have a couple of months of winter to go, today’s Friday Flashback shows a snow-covered Crafers main street back in August 1905.

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