House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Open Spaces OPEN SPACES The Hon. S.W. KEY House of Assembly Ashford OPEN SPACES The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:20): My question is directed to the Minister for Planning. Minister, can you inform the house about the latest investment the government is making in providing 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 Planning Minister for Business Services and Consumers OPEN SPACES The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:20): I thank the member for her question. One of the great priorities of the government is actually improving public open space and, around the state, this is an important asset for communities. In fact, I can advise today that $7.6 million worth of funding to local councils has been approved throughout the state. The funding includes, for example, $500,000 for the Town of Gawler, in the member for Light's electorate, to deliver active and integrated open space in Reid along the Gawler River. Another particularly exciting project is the railway lands redevelopment in Mount Gambier. The member for Mount Gambier will no doubt be pleased to know that $1 million will be delivered for stage 1 of the redevelopment. Madam Speaker, we understand that South Australians need attractive open spaces to relax and enjoy, as well as to improve their health. Delivering better open spaces throughout Adelaide and the state is part of building a more vibrant Adelaide and a more vibrant South Australia. It is about establishing places where people can come together to meet, places cities and towns can use for public events. That is why the government has now invested more than $90 million in the last 10 years from the Planning and Development Fund to develop public space and rejuvenate degraded areas, plazas, public squares and linear trails. I am also pleased to inform the house of funding for other projects, such as: the Coast Park, in the electorates of Lee and Colton, some $800,000 for construction in Henley Beach and Semaphore; Tramway Park in the electorates of Ashford and Morphett, more than $1.3 million for construction in Glenelg East and Glandore; and the Elliston Sculpture Park and Great Ocean View developments in the electorate of Flinders, more than $250,000 to implement this public realm development. The government is proud to work with councils and communities through the state to identify, plan and develop the parks, open spaces and places for our people and our growing state to enjoy.