Reserves and Playgrounds

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Planning. How is the government delivering on its election promise—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer has joined the member for Unley and the member for Adelaide on the precipice. The member for Elder.

Ms DIGANCE: How is the government delivering on its election promise to invest in playgrounds and reserves in our community?

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, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (15:07): Can I say thank you very much to the member for Elder for this important question.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: If the Treasurer utters a word outside standing orders in the last six minutes, he shall depart by the same path as the member for Newland and the deputy leader.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It's the Jedi mind tricks from the member for Kavel that worry me more, but anyway.

Ms Vlahos: Silent menace!

The SPEAKER: The member for Taylor is warned.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Prior to the 2014 election, the government committed to the continued development of reserves and playgrounds across Adelaide through a $16 million commitment over four years. I am pleased to announce the government has delivered on the first stage of this promise by approving $4 million in grants this year.

Ms Vlahos: Hear, hear! Great project.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It is a great project, and it will be delivered through the Planning and Development Fund, which is a great fund, and it is one that needs to be applied to these very important projects. More than 20 playgrounds—more than 20, Mr Speaker—parks and reserves across Adelaide will be either constructed or significantly upgraded, providing increased access to open spaces for the community throughout our suburbs. Some of these playgrounds include:

an inclusive play space in Oaklands Park that provides opportunities for people with hearing and vision impairments, mobility impairments and spectrum disorders to play side by side with others;

the implementation of a linear park along the Smith Creek corridor in the City of Playford, which will provide a cycling and walking trail connecting several suburbs—

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker. It seems that all of these projects that the minister is now going through are provided in his release dated 13 February 2014.

The SPEAKER: Can the Deputy Premier assure the house, bearing in mind parliamentary privilege—

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Indeed.

The SPEAKER: —that none of this is contained in a readily accessible statement?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Mr Speaker, I am confident—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Mr Speaker, can I say—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am trying to answer the Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Please. Mr Speaker, I am confident that, at some point in time, in the not too distant past, I may have foreshadowed that these marvellous projects might be going ahead. But, now, I have different news.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I have different news now, Mr Speaker. I have the news that they have gone ahead, and I am trying to tell members the information about which ones have gone ahead.

The SPEAKER: Well, that makes all the difference.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I think it does, Mr Speaker. That was 'I anticipate doing—' What was the date, member for Schubert?

Mr Knoll: 13 Feb 2014.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, that is a long time ago.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: If I might just finish, I think I might have some surprises here for the member for Schubert. The implementation of a linear park along Smith Creek—did we talk about that?

Ms Vlahos: Yes.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Okay. What about a significant upgrade to the Roy Marten Regional Park in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Ah; no, you've missed that one—including the construction of the small and large dog breed parks, a fitness path, and junior and senior play spaces. Importantly, applications for the 2015-16 grants open early next year, and I look forward to working with councils by approving other projects. These projects will become vital community assets—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: They will. I have visited some of these assets, and they are vital, and they are in the community.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier's time has expired. The member for Giles.