The South Australian Government has announced a whopping $36 billion project to upgrade roads, rail, port and public transport.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill announced a 30-year transport and infrastructure plan this week, which details plans for major upgrades of all transport facilities.

A major talking point for the plan is the effort to return Adelaide’s tram network to its former glory, complete with six new lines including a city loop and airport run.

Premier Jay Weatherill says modern public transport can help keep young people in South Australia.

“There is a war on. The war is for the great cities of the world to compete with one another for attention ... to attract and retain the best and brightest,” the Premier said

“Those young people that thought you had to leave South Australia can stay here.”

Many parts of the plan are intended to improve efficiency and productivity for commercial road, rail and port users. Upgrades to intersections on city ring roads to limit congestion are flagged, as are duplications of the Victor Harbor to McLaren Vale and Mount Compass roads.

The Strzelecki Track will be sealed to aid freight and promote resources projects.

The SA Government says it will upgrade regional airports, with deep-sea port facilities on the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas to be better connected to road and rail services.

The $36 billion dollar price tag for thirty years of work has been called unrealistic by some, but the Premier says the money is there.

Mr Weatherill says $23 billion will be available for capital infrastructure spending over the next three decades, $7 billion will supposedly come from private investment (though the Government has ruled-out the introduction of toll roads or privatisation of public transport networks), and the $6 billion gap will hopefully be filled by an increase in spending from either future state or federal governments.

The Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan will be open for community consultation until November 29. More details and the avenue for feedback is available here.

The South Australian Government has released the following promotional video to outline their plans.