House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Open Space Funding OPEN SPACE FUNDING Ms FOX House of Assembly Bright OPEN SPACE FUNDING Ms FOX (Bright) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide. Can the minister inform the house about the latest investment the government is making to provide better open space and more places for people around the state? The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly Enfield Deputy Premier Attorney-General Minister for Justice Minister for Urban Development Minister for Tourism Minister for Food Marketing OPEN SPACE FUNDING The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Food Marketing) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for her question. Last week I approved more than $4.4 million of grants for local councils to improve public spaces from Andamooka, in your electorate, Madam Speaker, to Victor Harbor, in Finniss, I believe. These grants have a focus on providing spaces for unstructured recreation throughout our state. Included in the latest round of grants is $3.3 million to bring the Coast Park even closer to completion. I note the member for Bright's interest in this matter, with more than $1 million being provided to the City of Holdfast Bay for work from North Brighton to Kingston Park. More than half the Coast Park is already finished, providing pedestrian and cycle pathways, as well as improved grass areas, additional play equipment and links to the existing parks along the metropolitan Adelaide coast. When completed, Coast Park will provide a 70 kilometre linear park from North Haven to Sellicks Beach. But, this work is not just about Coast Park. I also approved funding projects like the Tramway Park in the member for Ashford's electorate, $555,000 for the Mike Turtur Bikeway; a greenway in the member for Unley's electorate—so this is being distributed around, member for Unley—$165,000 for the Glen Osmond Creek Open Space Rejuvenation; and three projects to a total of $125,000 in the member for Goyder's electorate, including stage 1 of 'Walk the Yorke' from Tiddy Widdy Beach to Macs Beach. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly The Hon. J.R. RAU: This latest investment all over the state is on top of the protective legislation the government will provide for the Barossa Valley (in the member for Schubert's area) and McLaren Vale (in the member for Mawson's area). Funding this grant program highlights that we are committed to balanced and sustainable development in this state. Development that gives us the benefits of a bigger, more vibrant state while also providing and protecting open space. We understand that South Australians need attractive open spaces to relax and enjoy, as well as to improve their health. That is why the Rann government has now invested more than $87 million in the past nine years from the Planning and Development Fund to develop public space and help rejuvenate degraded areas, plazas, public squares and linear trails. We will continue to work with councils and community groups throughout the state to identify, plan and develop the parks, open spaces and places for people our growing state will need. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Davenport.