Local Councils are vested with responsibility for the care and control of roadside vegetation along public road reserves within local government districts in South Australia. Transport SA manages 23 000 km of the State’s road network and endeavours to protect the native vegetation within road reserves when undertaking any road maintenance or construction work.

Transport SA also owns the land over 1 600 km of the State’s rail network that is leased to and operated by private rail operators. This rail network also has significant corridors of native vegetation.

Transport SA endeavours to protect biodiversity and exercise good land management when building and maintaining transport infrastructure.

• Environmental impact assessments are undertaken when planning infrastructure works to assess the impact on vegetation. Revegetation and weed control minimise the impact of roadworks. Environmental standards and conditions are incorporated into infrastructure and maintenance contracts.
  
• Vegetation surveys have been undertaken on road and rail corridors across the State to identify significant vegetation. An environmental database and roadside marker scheme (PDF) has been developed to identify sites of environmental significance along road reserves.
  
• Vegetation surveys are undertaken throughout the State to identify significant vegetation. See Bordertown to Border (PDF) and Keeping it Green (PDF)
  
• Care is undertaken to avoid the spread of weeds and disease when undertaking works. Weed identification guides, such as Weeds of the Mid-North (PDF) and Weeds of the Northern and Western Region (PDF), and management plans are prepared for each region to assist staff in weed management. Hygiene measures are undertaken to avoid the spread of the plant disease Phytophthora when working in high-risk areas. See Phytophthora (Dieback Control) Operational Instructions 21.3 (PDF)

A recent example of the management of a new transport development was the Adelaide Crafers Highway Project.