A road safety project in our region has been rewarded at state-level during the 2024 IPWEA SA Excellence Awards.

The $760,000 Malinauskas State Labor election commitment project, Redbanks Road Pedestrian Refuge and Shared Use Path claimed the Excellence in Road Safety category.

These awards, presented by the Institute of Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), recognise excellence in public works engineering in South Australia.

Member for Light, Tony Piccolo MP, praised Town of Gawler and their staff for their tremendous work in delivering the project and securing the well-deserved accolades.

“Before this project came about, children crossing at and around the busy Willaston roundabout had been a long-standing issue among students, parents and local motorists,” Mr Piccolo said.

“Hundreds of young people cross there every school day and we pleaded with the Liberal Government at the time to invest in this project to protect our children, but were told the ‘intersections are performing satisfactorily’.

“Once our government was elected, we doubled the budget to ensure Town of Gawler could deliver the best possible outcomes.

“The feedback we’ve received from the community already proves how much this investment was needed, but the award just speaks to the quality of the infrastructure and solution afforded to the Xavier College and Gawler community.”

The project was completed in October last year across Redbanks Road / Weyland Road / Haines Road and Dawson Road in Willaston.

The safer pedestrian infrastructure upgrades included the installation of new shared use paths and kerb ramp connections along Redbanks Road.

A pedestrian crossing refuge facility on Redbanks Road, positioned north of the roundabout, was also introduced.

Additionally, road reconstruction and new kerbing was undertaken on Morgan Court to ensure optimal safety measures are in place.

Mayor Karen Redman also credited the services of Camco SA Pty Ltd, who Council engaged to undertake the construction works.

“This award honours the Redbanks Road Pedestrian Refuge and Shared Use Path, a project funded by the South Australian Government through the Community Infrastructure Grant Program,” Mayor Redman said.

“This $760,000 project was delivered by the Town of Gawler on behalf of the State Government and provides improvements through enhanced and safer pedestrian infrastructure and facilities in the vicinity of the roundabout and the adjacent section of Redbanks Road.”