Port Augusta Cabinet

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house on the most recent country cabinet, in particular, the transport and infrastructure issues raised by local communities?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:25): Can I thank the member for Giles for his question—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —and obviously his keen interest in this area. As the house is aware, the most recent country cabinet was held in Port Augusta and Leigh Creek, providing a valuable opportunity for ministers to speak directly to residents about the issues affecting their communities. In my portfolios of transport and infrastructure, I had the opportunity to speak to local residents and representatives about issues such as the state of local roads and services and opportunities for development into the future. As I am sure other ministers experienced, each location we visited provided various issues but also displayed strong local communities full of ideas on how their region could also be improved.

Working closely with the Minister for Regional Development, the member for Frome, we began the trip by sitting down for a discussion with Mayor John Rohde of Port Pirie, Mayor Sam Johnson of Port Augusta and the chief executive officer of the Upper Spencer Gulf Common Purpose Group, Anita Crisp. Key issues raised by these local government representatives included possible improvements to the main highways in and out of regional centres and further work on our key heavy vehicle routes in the Upper Spencer Gulf. I will continue to work with these local governments to build on the progress the state government has made, particularly in the agricultural transport sector with the completion of the government's 90-day project.

I was proud to stand up with the South Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association president David Smith in Port Augusta, together with ministers Bignell and Brock, to announce the $36 million in benefits that have flowed through thanks to the government's reforms resulting from this report. Members would recall that I have recently discussed some of those initiatives in this chamber.

In Quorn, I had the chance to meet with the operators of the Pichi Richi heritage rail line, a hardworking volunteer group committed to the tourists and locals that visit this wonderful part of South Australia's railway heritage. I was able to discuss with them improvements in rail safety and what further work can be done to protect commuters and also local pedestrians while still providing this heritage tourist attraction for visitors.

In Parachilna, I was able to meet with Jane and Ross Fargher, owners of the Prairie Hotel, about the possibility of allowing light aircraft access to DPTI land that could be used as a landing strip. They advised of the substantial benefits they would expect for tourism and the local economy if they could achieve this, and I have asked my department to investigate the options to allow this to proceed.

In Leigh Creek, tourism and business leaders gathered to provide key ministers with their ideas on how a future community would look in this outback centre. Tourist coach services, freight transport and the Outback Loop were all raised as further areas for investigation and development. I would like to thank those community leaders and representatives for giving me and the other ministers their time.

In Leigh Creek, pastoralists stressed to me and the Premier the importance and benefits of upgrading and sealing—a project which I am glad the opposition has come finally to join with the government and advocate for, and that is the sealing of the Strzelecki Track, not only for locals but also for the national tourism and freight industries. As the house would be aware—

Mr Griffiths interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Well, move a motion. As the house would be aware, the state government has submitted a list of projects to Infrastructure Australia previously, including the upgrading and sealing of the Strzelecki Track. I am pleased to see that the upgrade and the sealing of this track were included in Infrastructure Australia's most recent priority list as a priority initiative for funding.

The importance of this section of road to local residents and businesses was stressed to me, especially on meeting Kym Fort and Ben Fullagar, director and manager of the Innamincka Hotel. Both Kym and Ben outlined the benefits that an upgraded Strzelecki Track would have not only for businesses but also for local tourism. They offered their help and assistance, and they were particularly thankful for the initiative between the state and commonwealth governments to seal roads a kilometre in and out of Innamincka, reducing the dust burden on that community.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Stuart is called to order and the member for Chaffey is very close to leaving for interrupting that answer from the minister, which uncharacteristically contained 100 per cent in order information. Leader.