The expected cost of the new Granite Island Causeway has gone up by more than 12 per cent, increasing by nearly $5.5M to $36.543M. 

Dan Cregan MP, the Chair of the South Australian Public Works Committee, says the extra funding is required, “to deliver the proposed scope of the works,” and that the Department for Instructure and Transport expects costs to be, “further refined as part of the detailed design stage”. 

Mr Cregan says the causeway was still expected to be open to public access by the end of this year, with the historic causeway due to be decommissioned in 2022. 

Local MP David Basham also told the committee that the new causeway will have a Ngarrindjeri Ramindjeri story etched into it. People crossing to Granite Island from the mainland will be able to read the story as they walk along.

Work on the new causeway started in March after the project was approved by the State Commission Assessment Panel and Minister for Planning.

The original 170 year-old causeway will be demolished and removed, with only two stubbs remaining as viewing platforms.

The State Government is currently asking people for their ideas for future visitor experiences on Granite Island on its yoursay.sa.gov.au website. The closing date for contributions is Friday 21 May.