House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Playford Alive PLAYFORD ALIVE Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Light PLAYFORD ALIVE Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:33): My question is to the— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Everyone take a deep breath. Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Mr PICCOLO: Take a chill pill. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Take a chill pill. The member for Light. Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Mr PICCOLO: My question is to the Minister for the Northern Suburbs. Mr Pengilly interjecting: Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Mr PICCOLO: What was so funny about that? Mr Pengilly interjecting: Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Mr PICCOLO: When are you going to ask some questions? Can the minister update the house on the progress of the Playford Alive project and advise about an exciting new project to encourage community involvement— An honourable member interjecting: Mr PICCOLO House of Assembly Mr PICCOLO: You wish, mate; you wish. The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly Wright Minister for Families and Communities Minister for Northern Suburbs Minister for Housing Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:34): Thank you, sir. Ms Chapman interjecting: The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: It would be nice to know when the last time the member for Bragg was out there. Ms Chapman interjecting: The Hon. J.M. RANKINE House of Assembly The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I bet you're not! I thank the member for Light for his question and he has, along with the members for Napier, Little Para and Ramsay, a great deal of interest in this Playford Alive development. It is a billion-dollar, massive urban renewal and new housing development project and it is taking place in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Over more than a decade, the state government and the City of Playford will create new life in and around the Peachey Belt to build on the current strengths of the community and create a better mix of housing. The Rann government will be delivering 4,500 new dwellings on greenfield land and attracting around 17,000 new residents to the area which is going to more than double the population to over 30,000 people. The spirit of the Playford community is extraordinary and, for this reason, community involvement is central to the success of the redevelopment. This is why the state government has committed to a multimillion dollar community development fund which will capture 1 per cent of the price of sales from land sold in the greenfield site and urban renewal area over the 15 year life of the project. The aim of the fund is to encourage community groups and not-for-profit organisations to apply for grants or sponsorship to help sustain or develop local community projects and activities. What we know about the people in the northern suburbs is that they have a deep commitment to their community, and I am thrilled that this money is available to make the regeneration project even better. There is a strong ethic of volunteering in the north, so this fund will give people the means to make a difference and put back into their community. Applications are particularly encouraged for many different kinds of initiatives, projects, events or activities, like those which support and strengthen community groups, encourage volunteers and participation in community life. A key principle of the fund is that each applicant must also provide some form of matching funds towards their submitted project. This could be through a volunteer contribution, financial contribution or professional services that have been secured. The first call for submissions was made last week with a final date for submissions of 20 November. A further call for submissions will be made in mid-2010. The Playford Alive development also achieved another milestone recently with the opening of the Playford Alive sales centre. The members for Light and Napier were present. It marked the significant on-site advance for the Playford Alive project. The centre is the first visible sign of the transformation in Playford Alive, and I am pleased to say that work on the first of 51 homes in the display village has already started. The centre is going to provide an on-site presence for the project selling agents until a permanent centre is constructed as part of the display village and be a catalyst for future development of the Peachey Belt. The sales centre will be the driving force for a new future for the area that will see thousands of new homes built and a thousand more homes undergo renovation and renewal. There is no doubt that the northern suburbs are on the move.