Image: Xaragmata
Should the Labor Party win the upcoming federal election on 2nd July, 2016, Adelaide residents and businesses will look forward to an extension of its tram infrastructure.
The announcement came from federal Labor MP for Adelaide and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Kate Ellis, who said Labor will invest $500 million to kickstart the AdeLINK tram network, “creating 2000 jobs and transforming our city”.
The funding for this project will allow for the first stages of AdeLINK, which envisages a city-wide network of trams extending through the city and beyond to the inner eastern, western, northern and southern suburbs.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill was pleased by the announcement, saying that the AdeLINK tram network is a key element in the transformation of “our public transport system which we know will deliver enormous economic benefits, continue to improve Adelaide’s vibrancy and will also create jobs”.
“This is an exciting announcement which addresses two of our federal election priorities – to grow our public transport network and to support our sovereign steel industry,” Mr Weatherill said.
South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the expansion of Adelaide’s tram network has the potential to “transform our city, boosting economic growth and attracting investment”.
“Expanding our tram network has the potential to attract investment and boost economic growth,” Mr Millighan said.
He said it will encourage urban renewal, create jobs and bring residents and visitors to the city centre, while contributing to market demand for residential development throughout metropolitan Adelaide.
Not everyone was enthusiastic about the plan, including high profile personalities like disability advocate Quentin Kenihan, who told Ms Ellis over Twitter that “sadly we differ on this”.
“I could care less if the tram got extended,” Mr Kenihan said. “That $500 million could fix health cuts.”
