CITY OF ADELAIDE PLANNING

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister inform the house about the government's latest work to build a more vibrant Adelaide, particularly the work undertaken in Bank Street?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his question. I know that the honourable member is very much a supporter of Vibrant Adelaide, and he is very vibrant, although presently not as vibrant as he has been on his better days. Nevertheless, as minister assisting the Premier for the arts he contributed a great deal to the vibrancy of our city. Our planning reforms have unlocked a great deal of investment in the city and the government is very proud that investment is being brought into the city through planning reforms and initiatives like Bank Street. I hope most members, if not all members, have now had an opportunity to have a look at Bank Street.

We are delivering more places for people in the city centre because we want more people to come in and enjoy everything the city has to offer. Adelaide, as you would know, Mr Speaker, was recently identified as the most liveable of Australian cities. The Leigh Street trial has been very successful and we are hopeful that this will, in the fullness of time, become a permanent feature of Leigh Street. Can I say that the Liberal Party headquarters, I think, have officially endorsed the project. It shows how bipartisan the government is that we are quite happy to rejuvenate and make vibrant the street in which the Liberal Party headquarters sit.

The official launch party to celebrate the rejuvenation of Bank Street was held on 27 February. Bank Street traders have welcomed the investment, which includes 'parklets' for outdoor dining; closing one lane to traffic and widening pedestrian areas; and making the street more bike friendly. Feedback from businesses on the street has been outstanding. I might just quote from a letter written to my department from one of them without identifying the particular business, and I quote:

[I write]...to thank you and your team at the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for the recent upgrade to Bank Street, Adelaide.

It has been less than a week since the opening, and we are happy to advise that the store turnover has increased by 55 per cent and as a result we have had to increase the number of staff at this store.

So already the impacts of these measures are actually being felt in employment and improvement in business activity. This shows you where the government's priorities are. I go on with the letter:

The positive feedback from our customers has been overwhelming and the community spirit on the street is engaging. It is vital to our business to use the unique and innovative design and development of Bank Street to showcase the street and the individual traders and to draw customers both old and new to the area.

Although the launch on Wednesday was a little wet, it was a great concept and we feel that it is vital to maintain this community spirit through trader activities which we look forward to participating in.

Mr Speaker, that is the most marvellous letter a minister or a department can receive after doing work like this from people who appreciate the work and not only appreciate the work but employ South Australians in their business as a result of initiatives undertaken by the government.