Two department chiefs axed in SA

A desire for fresh thinking, new ideas and new energy prompted the axing of two senior department heads in South Australia, Premier Jay Weatherill says.

Infrastructure chief Rod Hook and Renewal SA chief Fred Hansen will leave in July after having their contracts cut short.

Others may follow as the government embarks on a process of renewal the premier says is vital for the state's economic development.

"It's all about making sure we meet the challenges that face South Australia," he said on Friday.

"Everything we've done to this point, even the good things, aren't enough to meet the challenges that we're going to face in the next four years.

"I need new leadership, I need new energy, I need new ideas and that's what I'm going out to look for."

Mr Hook has been Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure chief since 2002 and had about two years to run on his contract.

His work has included key roles in the upgrade of Adelaide Oval and in major road and public transport projects.

Mr Hansen came to South Australia at a thinker-in-residence to look at the state's public transport systems.

He was appointed to head up Renewal SA in 2012 with a brief to oversee the revitalisation of Adelaide's suburbs.

The South Australian opposition says Mr Hook's departure is shocking news for the state, and the termination costs will run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.