MARINE PARKS

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier inform the house about the recent progress in completing South Australia's marine parks?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:27): I can, Madam Speaker, and I thank the honourable member for his question. Last November, the Minister for Environment and I postponed the release of the draft management plans for the state's marine parks to allow further discussions to occur with key interest groups to find common ground on marine parks zoning.

We had got to a situation where there was a stalemate between the various interests between the groups. So, I am pleased to inform members that this pause, which was to enable a re-engagement to occur, took place on Friday 27 April, when this government reached a key milestone in the path of creating these 19 marine parks for South Australia.

Last Friday, we unveiled a map of priority conservation areas agreed to by representatives of the conservation interests—the commercial and recreational interests. The map, which incorporates much of the work that had been carried out by the local groups (the marine park local advisory groups), is now the blueprint for the location of sanctuary zones in each of the South Australian 19 marine parks.

The detailed discussions that led to this blueprint focused on areas of high ecological significance and value for research, education and ecotourism. They also focused on the social and economic implications. Efforts were made to simplify the design of the sanctuary zones and make them less complex and more efficient to manage, while minimising impacts on recreation and commercial fishing.

Marine parks offer enormous value to South Australia. They are a means of protecting our precious marine environment for the future but also a significant marketing opportunity for the future. South Australia is home to an incredible array of truly unique marine ecology. Something like 80-odd per cent, or over that sum, is unique to South Australia. Things and places such as seagrass meadows, fish spawning areas, mangroves and reefs are absolutely crucial for the healthy ecology of our marine environment.

Sanctuary zones are an essential part of marine parks, where small selections of marine habitat and the creatures that call them home are set aside for conservation. We have now a proposed zoning plan that will set aside areas of high natural value while preserving access for South Australians who rely upon the sea for recreation and income. It is a win for the environment and for those who fish within our waters.

South Australians will continue to enjoy our recreational fishing pursuits, including shoreline fishing at our popular beaches and all jetties and breakwaters. The work of developing the draft management plans and impact statements incorporating proposed sanctuary zones is proceeding, and we intend to release the statutory process in the coming months.

I would especially like to thank the community volunteers in the 14 local advisory groups who gave up their time. They have done an enormous amount of work in what was, in some cases, quite challenging circumstances. I would like to thank the leaders from the conservation, recreational and commercial fishing sectors and the Chair of the Marine Parks Council and the Chair of the Scientific Working Group for their contribution. Most importantly, the recent forum was chaired by minister Caica, and I want to acknowledge the extraordinary effort that he made in bringing together these groups and landing what has been a controversial issue.

It is a testament to his skills, and I think that it is also a testament to those people who come together to seek common ground to advance this state's interest. It is another example of where we have done this and we will continue to do this. It is what the public expects of us—that we find solutions, that we do not engage in empty negativity.

The SPEAKER: The member's time has expired. The Leader of the Opposition.