WEST BEACH RECREATION RESERVE (BOATING FACILITIES) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 25 September 2007. Page 893.)

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (12:38): I am the lead speaker for the opposition on this bill, but I will not be taking much of the house's time. The opposition supports this change to the West Beach Recreation Reserve Act. I preface my further comments on the changes to the act by saying that the West Beach Trust has been managing this area for a number of years now. The recreation reserve was created in 1987, under the West Beach Recreation Reserve Act, and it includes a number of facilities that were in my electorate of Morphett.

However, with the development of the Holdfast Shores area, the Glenelg Sailing Club, the boat ramp previously located on the Pat, and the Glenelg Lacrosse Club have all moved down to occupy land that is part of the Adelaide Shores area, as it is known now, which is administered by the West Beach Trust. The Glenelg Sailing Club, which is now part of the Adelaide Sailing Club, is located alongside the Sea Rescue Squadron. The national award-winning caravan park is also located in the area and, as I have said, the Glenelg Lacrosse Club has moved and is now located on land on the eastern side of Military Road. The headquarters of Sports SA is also located down there, as well as the Westward Ho Golf Club and a number of other facilities.

The changes to the West Beach Recreation Reserve Act in 2002 gave the board control of the boating facility areas, the hard stand and, more importantly, the boat ramp at West Beach. The act itself, which described the functions and powers of the trust, did not actually include the administration of boating facilities and the encouragement of boating and other ancillary industries down there. However, we now have there a fantastic boat ramp, boat storage facilities, hard stands and also some commercial facilities.

The bill inserts a provision which describes a designated place where boats may be launched, moored and stored and where ancillary associated services may be provided, and there is a provision defining 'designated area'. This gives the board the statutory authority to do what it already does according to its strategic plan; that is, to promote the area as a sporting and recreation area with a holiday village, a caravan resort, golf courses and a boat haven. With those comments, we support the bill.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (12:41): I want to support the shadow minister. My family's affiliation with the West Beach—

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

Mr VENNING: Madam Deputy Speaker, I do not know what motivates the Attorney-General to say things like that. I will stay here as long as I wish.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: I like you, Ivan, you're a good bloke; stay as long as you wish.

Mr VENNING: Madam Deputy Speaker, if I can have some protection, I will continue with what I want to say. I rise to speak in this debate, because I have a long affiliation with the West Beach Trust, which goes back to the time of the late ministers Murray Hill and Virgo. In our younger days, we used to holiday at the West Beach Caravan Park and the kids used to go to Marineland and have a wonderful time. I had good counsel. Before I was even an MP, I used to discuss matters of administration and facilitation of the asset to what it currently is today for the holidaying public, particularly the families who frequently visit that park. It has been a fantastic success story, especially when we observe what is there today. I would like to commend the West Beach Trust, particularly bearing in mind that it has had to deal with governments of all persuasions, and it has done that with great aplomb.

As the shadow minister just said, this bill is mainly about including the new facilities that were controversially built down there. As I go on my morning or late evening runs—and I would say not often enough before the Attorney-General states the obvious—I view what happens down there. It is a pity that it is continually dredged, and it concerns me that that decision was made. Irrespective of that—

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: A decision made by your government.

Mr VENNING: Don't state the obvious. All I can say to the Attorney-General is: read Hansard. It is certainly a wonderful facility but I think it could be improved; you need only visit other states to see the restaurants, etc., along the waterfront sites. I think we could do with much more of that, particularly in this region.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: I've got an idea.

Mr VENNING: The minister has an idea; that is dangerous! Fix-it Pat has an idea. I hope he has, and I hope that he brings it out quickly, because he will be out of government before he realises. So, please bring it on early, because—

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: I can see the locomotive coming.

Mr VENNING: I can—I can see the light. I hope that the West Beach Trust can be involved in such facilities, particularly as clause 3 (1)(a)(iii) of this bill is all about making the West Beach Trust responsible for the boats and boating facilities, etc. I hope that we are not giving them a poisoned chalice, because there will be an ongoing expense. I do not want to play politics with this, as they are obvious, and I do not want to fall into the trap that the Attorney-General has just put out for me. I hope that we are not handing them a poisoned chalice and that they will have to pick up a liability; I hope that this bill makes that quite clear. The ongoing costs of the dredging also concern me.

Before I sit down, I hope that the minister does have an idea and that it includes more restaurants in this area, because there is a great opportunity at this facility. The yacht club has very good restaurant facilities, and I went there once with the member for Morphett's predecessor (Hon. John Oswald). These need to be promoted more and used more by the public, as every other state really pushes their restaurants that have a waterfront view. I think that we can do more, and this presents a huge opportunity. I support the bill and commend the minister and the shadow minister for the way they have carried the bill.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (12:46): I thank the opposition for its support. This is a facility I think I had a debate about in my first week in parliament. I am a man who has always been prepared to move on and use the facility, albeit far too infrequently. I thank the opposition for its support.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.

[Sitting suspended from 12:47 to 14:00]