With the state election imminent, the two major parties have released their policies for the next four years, with health, education and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan the hot ticket items in regional SA.
With water an ever-present concern for the state's producers, the Liberal party said it would continue to work collaboratively with all basin jurisdictions to ensure the plan was delivered on time and in full.
This includes insisting a roadmap to 2024 be prepared with input from all basin jurisdictions as soon as possible, pursuing its options for legal action if there is no credible, timely pathway to the agreed water recovery targets in the MDBP, or if any basin jurisdiction walks away from the plan.
It said it would ensure all regions had water security strategies that took into account climate change pressures - including a remote community stocktake.
Labor said it would act on every recommendation of the 2019 Murray-Darling Royal Commission, reverse the complex criteria restricting the funding of water efficiency projects up-river and appoint a Commissioner for the River Murray in SA to report annually to parliament, deal with the MDB Authority and be someone who irrigators, environmentalists and communities could work with on challenges in water management.
In the health sphere, Labor's investment in the state's regional health system includes building a new hospital in Mount Barker, upgrading hospitals at Naracoorte, Port Augusta, Kangaroo Island, Port Pirie and Mount Gambier and entering into a seven-year funding agreement with the Keith Hospital.
It has also committed to establishing eight drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds in regional SA and bolstering emergency services in regional areas by employing more than 100 new ambulance officers.
Meanwhile, the Liberal party will invest $188 million across two years to attract and retain country doctors if re-elected. Key benefits of the agreement include a sign-up bonus of up to $50,000 for a doctor to work in remote areas and more flexibility for country doctors in how they work and charge.
It will also upgrade helipads used in medical emergencies across regional communities through a $7m investment.
SA Nationals president Jonathan Pietzsch said population concentration should not dictate access to services.
"We believe there needs to be structural change in regional health services - decisions need to be taken for the long term with an eye on regional growth," he said.
"Whether seeking mental health services or radiotherapy or an x-ray for a broken bone - these services need to be delivered locally."
The SA Greens called for four new 24/7 emergencies ambulance crews in regional centres, in addition to six regional medical transfer service crews.
When it came to education, the Liberal government committed to investing close to $40m to replace school buildings across SA schools, including classrooms in Port Augusta, Coomandook, Jamestown and Yahl.
If re-elected, it will also invest $8m for 25 new school buses for regional SA.
Labor will build five technical colleges across the state to the tune of $200m, including in Mount Gambier and Port Augusta, to allow Year 10 to 12 students to complete their SA Certificate of Education while getting trade qualifications. In addition, Labor has committed to extending the country teaching allowance to retain teachers in regional communities.
Family First called for students in rural areas studying online university or tafeSA level courses to have their fees reimbursed by the state government.
"This would leave many young people working, and contributing to their local town, as well as perhaps staying with their families, during the vulnerable late teenage years," a spokesperson for the party said.
Other key strategies for the Labor Party include appointing a Cross Border Commissioner, funding heritage agreements on privately managed properties by an additional $6m, exploring landholder incentives including reversing auctions for biodiversity outcomes and reinstating Country Cabinet meetings.
A re-elected Liberal government will invest $65m to make SA the home of modern, plant-based food manufacturing in Australia. This is part of a $378m project proposed by Thomas Foods International, Australian Plant Proteins and AGT Australia and supported by the federal government.
It will also open three new international trade offices to create opportunities and markets for SA businesses, this includes establishing an $18m fund to increase visitors into Adelaide and exports out of Adelaide.
Both Family First and the SA Nationals called on the major parties to invest in regional roads.
"Country people need safer, properly maintained roads - with increasing freight loads there is a responsibility on the state government to prioritise roads on a local basis and not to rank them state-wide," Mr Pietzsch said.
A Family First spokesperson said urgent work needed to begin on a dual carriageway duplication of the highways from Adelaide to Port Augusta and Adelaide to the Vic border.
One Nation was contacted for comment.
