JENNY RESERVE

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:35): Today I rise to talk about the efforts of two of my constituents to have reversed a decision of the City of Tea Tree Gully to sell off one of its local parks. The reserve is on the corner of Scot Road and Jenny Avenue at Dernancourt and was earmarked for sale along with a couple of other reserves in the Tea Tree Gully council area.

I was approached by a number of constituents regarding this proposed sale of Jenny Reserve, and they expressed their concern over loss of local open space. This is not the first time that this particular reserve has been threatened with sale. About 20 years ago, the same reserve was earmarked for sale. Some 20 years ago, when this occurred, the constituents actually raised the issue with the then state member John Klunder, and John assisted them with organising a petition, which I believe was subsequently tabled in this house and had over 100 signatures on it.

You can certainly understand that long-term residents in the area were concerned that the council was once again trying to flog off their reserve and, along with providing support to my constituents, I also sought the assistance of our local councillor for that area, Joy Ricci, who sat down with the residents and went through their concerns with them.

My constituents then went out and collected signatures for another petition and councillor Ricci, with the support of those residents, drafted a rescission motion that was put to council. The motion called for the sale of the Jenny Reserve to be reversed, and I believe that they collected about 100 signatures on that petition.

I am very pleased to say that councillor Joy Ricci, with the support of one of my constituents, Brian Trowbridge, who I think actually instigated the first petition 20 years ago, carried the day at last week's council meeting. Both Joy and Brian presented sincere and persuasive arguments to the council. As a result, councillor Ricci was able to gain the support of the majority of council members and have the rescission motion carried. Councillor Ricci said:

The residents fought a hard battle for their reserve 23 years ago and it is causing them stress that they have to fight the battle again.

She went on to say:

I'm 67—

referring to herself, and a most delightful 67 she is—

and I can tell you, you don't want to fight battles you fought when you were 40 again. We are the council who put them through the ringer in 1988 and now we want to do it again.

Those who know councillor Ricci know how hard she works for her local community. Joy's recent efforts are to be commended particularly as she has been dealing with a death in her family, and most tragic those circumstances are.

I also wish to acknowledge the efforts of my local constituents, particularly Brian Trowbridge and his wife who brought the matter to my attention. They are to be commended for their efforts as they played a significant role in again saving Jenny Reserve from sale. Finally, the words of another local resident, Jenny Gully, I think, say it all. She says, 'I think it is a wonderful decision by council to take it off the list,' referring to Jenny Reserve. I think that indicates how strongly local people feel. I do hope that, having to revisit this issue 20 years later, in another 20 years—whoever the member is in 20 years, because I doubt it will be me—

Mr Williams: Oh, come on, Robyn. Somebody as popular as you?

Mrs GERAGHTY: Oh yes, in 20 years, I think I might have a few more aches and pains. I hope that they do not have to revisit this issue in 20 years. It is very important that we have little open spaces where residents can sit and commune with nature, and also for young children, where we can take them to a nice little reserve and let them run around and stretch their legs, particularly given that we have such small-sized blocks these days.