Ministerial Statement

MARINE PARKS

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:07): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Today, the government is delivering one of the most significant conservation initiatives ever completed in South Australia, a final network of 19 marine parks that will protect our valued marine environment for the future. South Australia has some of the most spectacular coastline in the world and an even greater variety of marine life than the Great Barrier Reef. Many of the marine plants and animals found in our region cannot be found anywhere else on earth, and that is worth protecting.

As we have seen with the River Murray, fixing environmental damage after it has occurred is much more costly environmentally, socially and economically than preventing it in the first place. However, our marine parks are not about closing down our marine environment; they are about ensuring that it can be enjoyed and sustained for many future generations to come.

South Australia's marine parks have been carefully designed so that people can continue to enjoy their favourite activities, such as fishing, swimming, paddling and boating. It is only in the sanctuary areas of marine parks, which take up about 6 per cent of the state's waters, that fishing is not permitted, along with mining and trawling. These relatively small areas have been set aside to protect fragile habitat and breeding sites for some of our best-loved marine life.

To develop this park network, the government has finished one of the most extensive and comprehensive community engagement programs ever completed in South Australia. Over the past three years, we have consulted with tens of thousands of people and have sought to engage key stakeholders—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —every step of the way.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Through the final consultation, further changes were made to the draft marine park management plans, which will be tabled today. Today, finalised zoning regulations will be provided to the parliament, along with final management plans for each of the 19 marine parks. These regulations describe the activities that will be prohibited in each type of zone.

Importantly, these regulations provide that restrictions on all fishing activities (other than benthic trawling) do not start until 1 October 2014. This timing provides nearly two years as a transition period until fishing restrictions come into effect, providing commercial and recreational fishers the opportunity to learn where the zones are and prepare for the change.

Before closing, I would like to thank the many thousands of people who have contributed to this process. These include: the 14 marine park local advisory groups and their chairs, who donated hundreds of hours to develop their advice on zoning proposals; the thousands of people who provided formal written submissions on the 19 draft management plans; the key stakeholders who have worked with the government to represent the views of other member organisations. I would also like to thank the various ministers who have brought us to this point: the member for Kaurna, the Hon. Gail Gago, and of course the present minister, who has so ably steered us through to this conclusion.

I also thank Mrs Valerie Taylor, who has kindly agreed to have the Neptune Islands marine park re-named the Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park. This name change commemorates the recent passing of Ron Taylor and honours the Taylors' nearly 50 years of work in marine conservation, in particular focusing on sharks and Australian sea lions. The Neptune Islands are home to great white sharks and Australian sea lions and this name change is fitting recognition of their work.

Experience in other jurisdictions has shown that our marine parks will offer the state economic benefits in increased tourism and new regional business opportunities. This will be the new selling point for our state's clean, green image. As Valerie Taylor said today, a protected area that is attractive to tourists will make jobs rather than lose them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Finniss, behave or you will leave.