PARK RANGERS

Ms BREUER (Giles) (15:02): Can the Minister for Environment and Conservation update the house on the government's progress on its 2006 election commitment to appoint 20 new park rangers, many of whom may be in my electorate?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her commitment to our state's parks and reserves. It is true, we did make a commitment at the 2006 election to provide an additional 20 new park rangers. Since 2006, the government has employed 14 park rangers across the state. I am glad to announce that, as of next week, a further four new park rangers will be put on the government payroll. So, we are truly on track to achieve that 20 by 2010. The four new rangers will be—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: You should be grateful for this, rather than interjecting. The four new park rangers will be located at Keswick, Cleland Conservation Park and Victor Harbor. The rangers will be part of a team that helps protect our 338 parks and reserves from feral animals and weeds, that helps us manage fire, restore native vegetation and assist park visitors. The appointments will place the rangers alongside existing field rangers and specialised staff so they can get the training they need to learn about land management and biodiversity first-hand from experienced staff.

The rangers will work closely with community groups, including volunteers and Friends of Parks groups to foster that whole-of-community approach that we have for caring for our parks and reserves. Our parks and reserves generate an estimated $8 million in revenue annually, attracting about six million visitors. The additional staff and funding will help our parks continue to prosper.

This investment is another step in preserving our state's environmental heritage. Since 2002, the state government has an enviable record. I must pay tribute to my two predecessors who are largely responsible for this remarkable record: the member for Kaurna and also, of course, the minister in another place, the Hon. Gail Gago.

Since 2002 the government has created 17 new parks—count them, 17—adding land to the existing 18 parks, and work is progressing on landscape scale biodiversity corridors that will help our naturally beautiful native flora and fauna adapt to the impacts of climate change. The additional rangers being appointed by the government will play a key role in ensuring our state's unique biodiversity can be enjoyed by future generations.