State of roads slammed in GPSA worst grain roads report

Released today by GPSA, the Worst Grain Roads report contains damning statements from farmers and community members about key freight routes across the state.

From being dangerously narrow, to harbouring damaging potholes and crumbling edges, respondents to GPSA's campaign detail their concerns about the impacts on their vehicles and businesses, but also the dangers the roads pose to people's lives.

Scroll down to the bottom of this story to view the state's worst roads

GPSA has responded strongly to the findings, calling on decision makers to immediately invest in repair and upgrades for the top ten at the very least.

"We will be relentlessly lobbying for a fix to these routes," GPSA chief executive officer Brad Perry said.

"The feedback we received through the Worst Grain Roads campaign demonstrates that critical grain routes are falling into disrepair and need urgent investment and attention.

"The campaign has shown that grain producers are not just losing productivity due to the condition of the federal, state and local government roads highlighted in the top ten, but they fear for their safety and that of others travelling these routes.

"This is a damning report into the condition of key freight routes for a grain sector worth more than $3 billion to our state."

Topping the list of close to 60 roads submitted was the 36 kilometre stretch of the Upper Yorke Road between Arthurton and Kulpara.

A 12km unsealed section of the Nine Mile Road between Malinong and the Princes Highway ranked second, while the Worlds End Highway from Robertstown to Eudunda rounded out the top three.

Two highways, the SA Mallee Highway and the Flinders Highway from Port Lincoln to Ceduna, were also in the top five.

The Arthurton to Kulpara stretch of the Upper Yorke Road is described by local farmers and business owners as "rough as guts" and dangerous to all that traverse it.

The road is unavoidable for father and son Paul and Sam Correll to deliver grain and lentils and they say close shaves are commonplace.

"It's narrow, rough as hell, which is harsh on our trucks, and drops steeply off the edge," Sam said.

"We've got a permit to run trucks along it but it has a lot of limitations.

"It is dangerous no doubt. When two trucks pass each other, one has to get off the road or you both have to drop a wheel.

"If you're in a car you grit your teeth as you drive by a truck and you're likely to cop rocks or dust."

Another local farmer Tom Gardner said out-of-area friends were horrified by it and said it was an "embarrassment to the Yorke Peninsula".

He said its condition and width were "ridiculous".

"A metre each side would help but that wouldn't solve the problem of how rough it is, it needs to be totally ripped up," he said.

"We drove home close to 3000km from Cairns last year and the worst road we encountered was the last 30km - this one."

Sam Colliver, owner of Sunny Hill Distillery which is situated on the road, said numerous tourists, caravanners and freight drivers who came to his premises were often quick to voice their dismay.

He fears it will take an horrific head-on accident or a family dying before the Department of Transport and Infrastructure acts.

Mr Colliver said he has continuously brought the issue to the attention of DPTI, but to little avail - an 'uneven surface - next 4km' sign was placed in one section.

"They may as well have put a sign up at Arthurton saying 'uneven surface - next 36km'," he said.

"Trying to get anything done has been like hitting your head against a brick wall.

"DPTI know the problem. It is not anywhere near specifications."

Another local farmer Simon Westbrook said carting hay was particularly perilous, with trucks dangerously leaning when forced to drop a wheel off the edge because of oncoming traffic.

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis said the road was a key freight route that routinely featured on RAA's list of priorities, but hadn't had any significant work done in decades.

He was hopeful, after a recent period of success in attracting road funding to the YP, the state government would continue to improve the road network including the Bute to Snowtown road that was also of concern for grain carriers.

The worst grain roads list consists of federal, state and local government-owned roads, one of which is the council-owned Nine Mile Road that stretches between Malinong and the Princes Highway near Meningie.

Local farmer David Eckert said the unsealed road was the community's major access route and the major freight route for local farms.

He described it as "downright dangerous" for all road users and estimated it would add $20,000 of maintenance costs per truck, per year.

"The community at Malinong have no access to bitumen at all and 98 per cent of our grain goes out the Nine Mile Road," he said.

"It's potholey, rough, extremely dusty in summer making it dangerous when passing, and muddy in winter.

"As a community we don't ask for much, but we believe we deserve a bitumen road to our local hall to put us within a few kilometres of a good road."

Trucks limit themselves to travelling at 40km/h when carting grain, slowing harvest, but Mr Eckert says it's the only way of ensuring the safety of drivers and road users. "We can fly to the moon and do everything, but we've still got a gravel road that while trafficable, is annoyingly dangerous," he said.

SA's Regional Roads Minister Geoff Brock says the three-pronged responsibility for road repairs - where roads are owned by three levels of government - has been in place for many years and he believes it is "working effectively".

"An example is the National Blackspot Program, which is a vital part of the state's commitment to improving safety and reducing crashes," he said.

"It is funded by the Australian Government and roads identified through this process can be upgraded regardless of which level of government controls them."

Mr Brock says DPTI considers several factors when prioritising road repairs, including current and future road conditions, inspections by DPTI staff and feedback from drivers and other stakeholders, including GPSA.

"The state government has a strong commitment to building and maintaining regional roads, making them safer for all users," he said.

"Over the next four financial years, $2.5 billion has been earmarked for regional roads.

Asked specifically about the Upper Yorke Road between Arthurton and Kulpara, Mr Brock said it had been "identified for future road renewal, including pavement and surface upgrades", but no date had been set and any work would be "subject to statewide prioritisation".

No comment was provided on whether it was considered safe.

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A spokesperson for the federal department of transport and infrastructure said the federal government considered regional roads as crucial to the economy and communities of Australia.

"As at the October 2022-23 budget, over 50 per cent of funding under the Australian Government's Infrastructure Investment Program supports projects that will directly benefit regional Australia," they said.

"The 2022-23 October budget announced significant funding to increase freight efficiency and safety on regional roads including the $1.5 billion Nationwide Freight Highway Upgrade Program - sealing the Tanami Track in NT and WA, and upgrading the Dukes, Stuart and Augusta highways in SA."

The spokesperson said there were numerous road projects underway in SA expected to benefit the agricultural industry, including improving access to the Dublin saleyards, upgrades to the Eyre and Barrier Highways, multi-million upgrades to the Joy Baluch AM bridge at Port Augusta and improvements to the Eyre Peninsula road network, as well as significant works on the Horrocks Highway and roundabouts at Naracoorte.