Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (14:22): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Can the minister inform the house about the latest grant to be awarded to the $2 million Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program?

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: It would be good if the deputy leader didn't shout down ministers.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:22): I thank the member for Giles for his question, and I am sure the member for Stuart will be very interested in the answer. I am pleased to announce a $63,000 grant for a new cafe and museum at Farina. Farina is 60 kilometres north of Leigh Creek, and this grant will generate seven jobs in the Far North of our state. This development will help to attract more visitors to the region as well as provide a valuable resource for school field trips.

Farina is growing as a tourist destination, even though many of its facilities, including the post office and rail line, were closed in the 1980s. The township is centrally located to other nearby tourist attractions, including Wilpena Pound and the Flinders Ranges, and is on the major route to the Marree, Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks. In 2010, the Farina Restoration Group was incorporated to develop the town's tourist potential. I have met these people and consider them one of the hardest working of groups, especially in an isolated place such as Farina, to be able to do what they are doing up there.

The first building to be restored was the town's historic underground bakery, which now operates in the winter tourist season. Farina offers a premium food experience, with bread baked in its unique underground bakery. The traditional Scotch wood-fired oven—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: That's right, a Scotch wood-fired oven, which retains heat through the sand and stone structure and produces wonderful bread and pastry products on a daily basis during the eight-week winter tourist season. The next stage of the restoration will be to develop a new bakery training area in the restored underground bakery which will offer work experience for training bakers.

The $2 million Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program is a once-off grants program that opened in November 2015 in recognition of the challenges faced with the downturn of the resource sector and the closure of the Port Augusta power station and the Leigh Creek coalmine. This program supports the delivery of small projects contributing to the economic diversification, resilience and capacity building in the Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback communities, creating sustainable economic benefits to the region and the state.

Overall, 17 applicants have accepted a grant offered under this program, leading to the creation of 71 jobs and generating almost $10 million in investment in the region. This project aligns with the state government's economic priorities of premium food and wine—no wine at Farina, though—produced in our clean environment and exported to the world, and South Australia is a growing destination choice for international and domestic travellers.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop is on two warnings. It is probably not helpful to interject that there is nothing at Farina.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: It's not true, Mr Speaker. There is a lot to offer at Farina, and I will pass that on to the people who go there.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I am not going to comment, but yes.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I congratulate the Farina Restoration Group on the fantastic job they have done in realising the tourism potential of the township and developing its attractions. This is exactly the type of project we want to support to further stimulate economic development in our regions and to strengthen regional communities.