House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Marine Parks MARINE PARKS Mrs PENFOLD House of Assembly Flinders MARINE PARKS Mrs PENFOLD (Flinders) (14:33): My question is also to the Minister for Environment and Conservation on the same subject. Has the government considered the economic cost to Lower Eyre Peninsula communities as a consequence of declaring 2,627 square kilometres of the region's coastline a marine park, and will an economic impact statement be done? The Lower Eyre Peninsula is home to many of the state's most popular recreational fishing tourist destinations that underpin the economy of the local communities. These communities are heavily dependent on recreational fishing and all its attendant benefits to commerce, industry, accommodation, hospitality, entertainment, as well as various services, including banking and health, and they are also dependent on a critical mass of visitations. Real estate is also affected by the popularity and viability of these destinations. Local councils in the Lower Eyre Peninsula believe that Marine Park 6, if adopted as proposed in January 2009, will devastate the local economies. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 MARINE PARKS 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) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. In relation to her specific questions the answers are yes and yes. In relation to the marine parks, I will make this prediction: in the future the professional fishing interests across South Australia that make their living out of fishing within marine parks will actually be using them as a marketing tool in the future.