South Australian councils will share in $22.7 million in Commonwealth-funded road grants through the latest round of the Special Local Roads Program, supporting 27 projects across 22 local governments.
Unique to South Australia, the program enables the state’s 68 councils to pool together a portion of their Federal road funding – and distribute it through competitive grants.
The funding will help councils upgrade key regional and metropolitan roads with strategic or regional significance, including freight routes, community access roads and transport corridors.
“Local roads are the backbone of our communities and our economy, and councils are continuing to invest heavily in maintaining them despite significant financial pressures and rising costs,” said SA LGA President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross.
“Councils manage more than two thirds of South Australia’s road network, which carries significant freight and tourism traffic that bolsters the state’s economic prosperity.
“This funding enables councils to get strategically important projects moving, which helps with road safety and reliability, strengthening connections between communities and regional industries.”
The annual program has this year provided $16.47 million for projects in regional South Australia and $6.27 million for metropolitan projects, with councils contributing additional funding toward the works.
The 2026–27 projects include road reconstruction, widening, sealing, pavement strengthening, shoulder upgrades, drainage improvements and resurfacing.
“As a state spanning a million square kilometres, this program is tailored to address the unique challenges our 68 councils face in managing the nearly 19,000 kilometres of sealed roads they are collectively responsible for,” said SA Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Joe Szakacs.
“We welcome this funding, which will allow councils to deliver improvements to key roads, predominantly in regional South Australia.”
The regional projects to receive funding include:
- Lower Eyre Council – $1.62 million towards the rehabilitation of 2.1km of Bratten Way to improve its capacity for heavy freight, tourism and commuter traffic;
- District Council of Elliston – $1.23 million towards the sealing and upgrade of approximately 16km of Palkagee Road;
- City of Port Lincoln – $600,000 towards pavement treatment on Verran Terrace;
- District Council of Franklin Harbour – $1.31 million towards the Cowell–Kimba–Lucky Bay Freight Route, including a heavy vehicle bypass around Cowell;
- Copper Coast Council – $203,000 toward shoulder stabilisation on Hopgood Road;
- Light Regional Council – $1.6 million towards the final stage of sealing Bethel Road and $867,000 towards shoulder upgrades on Templers Road;
- Naracoorte Lucindale Council – $1 million towards reconstruction and widening of Diagonal Road;
- Southern Limestone Coast Council – $664,000 towards reconstruction and widening of Kilsby Road;
- Tatiara District Council – $359,000 towards widening and sealing shoulders on Padthaway Road;
- City of Mount Gambier – $600,000 towards reconstruction and strengthening of Davison Drive;
- Coorong District Council – $819,000 towards an upgrade of Narrung Road and $718,000 towards the upgrade of Kulde Road at Tailem Bend;
- Rural City of Murray Bridge – $616,000 towards reconstruction of 1.5km of Hindmarsh Road;
- Berri Barmera Council – $217,000 towards upgrading Pennyfield Road;
- District Council of Karoonda East Murray – $333,000 towards Kulkami Road and $400,000 towards Perponda Road;
- Loxton Waikerie Council – $989,000 towards the final stage of upgrades to Billiatt Road;
- Mount Barker District Council – $2 million towards the upgrade of Bollen Road;
- Port Pirie Regional Council – $313,000 towards upgrading Nelshaby Road.
Metropolitan projects receiving funding include:
- Campbelltown City Council – $900,000 towards rehabilitation of Stradbroke Road;
- City of Playford – $1.5 million towards rehabilitation and widening of Dalkeith Road and $1.33 million towards rehabilitation of Hogarth Road;
- City of Adelaide – $401,000 towards resurfacing Sir Donald Bradman Drive and $756,000 toward pavement rehabilitation on Pulteney Street;
- City of Unley – $549,000 towards upgrades to Duthy Street;
- City of Onkaparinga – $830,000 towards reconstruction and renewal of Malbeck Drive.
