JETTIES

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Will the minister inform the house of how the government is ensuring jetties will be around for future generations to come?

The SPEAKER: I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear the question.

Dr CLOSE: How will the government ensure that jetties are around for future generations?

The SPEAKER: Jetties—excellent! Minister for Transport.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for her question. I can happily inform the house that restoration works for the Vivonne Bay jetty on Kangaroo Island—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —they may want to pay attention; get the ear horn out and have a listen—were completed just last month.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sorry, sir?

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You are a very silly man, I know. The Vivonne Bay jetty—

The SPEAKER: Has the member for Finniss taken offence?

Mr PENGILLY: No, sir, he hasn't, but he wasn't getting away without an answer.

The SPEAKER: The minister for Transport. Billy Hughes had an ear horn.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He did, and they have a lot in common. The Vivonne Bay jetty upgrade is what I was talking about. The government invested approximately $600,000. The works included the installation of steel piles, the replacement of defective structural timbers, and the replacement and widening of the jetty deck.

This upgrade further builds upon the state government spending $8 million since July 2010 upgrading, strengthening and restoring the following jetties across the state, including the Granite Island Causeway—another one in the member for Finniss' electorate—the Screw Pile jetty, the Rosetta Head wharf at Victor Harbor, Kingscote, Semaphore, Streaky Bay, Port Broughton, Moonta Bay, Largs Bay, Southend, and Cape Jaffa.

The government is committed to ensuring state-owned jetties will continually be maintained to be safe and have safe standards that provide continual enjoyment for our children and our children's children as an iconic part of our coastline. It is an issue that is very important for our local community in attracting tourists and holiday-makers. I will also take this opportunity to say that not only is the Vivonne Bay jetty a great attraction for visitors holidaying on Kangaroo Island but it is also an important commercial facility for the rock lobster fleet that operates in the waters off southern Kangaroo Island.

Whilst speaking of Kangaroo Island, it would be remiss of me not to mention the upgrade of the Penneshaw jetty, completed last year. Part of those works included the construction of a cruise ship tender landing platform, which was used during the cruise ship season over last summer to deliver international passengers to the delights of Kangaroo Island, including, probably, the member for Finniss. The design and construction of the tender landing platform was undertaken by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, with funding support from Tourism SA. I would like to acknowledge at this juncture my colleague the Minister for Tourism for his contribution to promoting Kangaroo Island.

Additionally, the government has spent approximately $12 million in the past two years refurbishing the Port Bonython jetty, which is crucial in ensuring the state's export potential is secure and has the capacity to grow. It is a very important piece of economic infrastructure for the state, serving to generate export dollars from the wonderful potential we have helped unlock in the Cooper Basin. What is evident and what is clear is that jetties play an important economic and social role in our state and should be preserved to ensure our future prosperity. I hope all members enjoy our jetties in the future.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: A supplementary from the member for Davenport.