Riverland regional development

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister inform the house about government support for major investment in the Riverland, and particularly the recent announcement of a new Riverland spirit distillery?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his question. As members would be aware, the government recently held its first community cabinet meeting in the Riverland. This was an excellent opportunity for members of the government, including senior public servants, to better focus their work on how the government can support regional investment and jobs.

In addition to speaking to the local community about what they want to see in their region, we also were able to speak to local businesses to find ways that government can help and what industry wants. It was through this that I was able to tour through the proposed Bickford's redevelopment of the Renmano Winery site with its owner, Angelo Kotses, managing director of Bickford's. My department is now working with Bickford's, helping to case manage their investment throughout South Australia, including this key investment in the Riverland. This work is in line with the state government's recent announcement of Jim Hallion as Coordinator-General, tasked with breaking down roadblocks to investment across our state.

The new development in the Riverland has been supported by the state government through $2.36 million in Riverland Sustainable Futures funding. The investment in the new facility promises to produce an outstanding facility for Bickford's and the Riverland, supporting jobs and creating a tourist drawcard. Plans for the site include re-establishing the original still house, reinstalling the original black bottle pot stills and building a visitor's centre and cellar door attraction for tourists.

Along with the Minister for Investment and Trade and the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, I recently held an investment roundtable that included Mr Kotses as well. This meeting with key investors further underlines our commitment to unlocking investment across the state to support jobs, and I hope that many more projects like the Bickford's investment in the Riverland can be supported.