Waite Electorate

Mr DULUK (Waite) (15:33): I would just like to ask you, sir, hypothetically: if the member for Kaurna grieves and no-one listens, is it still a grieve? But I digress, Mr Speaker. I rise today to welcome the decision of the people of South Australia, which was endorsed on 17 March. That decision will see a change in my electorate. It will see my electorate cared for and loved by the government as opposed to being neglected for the past 16 years and, importantly, for the past four years as well. That is because the Marshall Liberal government has made a series of commitments to my electorate that I am so glad I will be able to implement for my community.

The Mitcham Hills road corridor and road infrastructure investment through Belair, Blackwood and Coromandel Valley have been neglected for years. In particular, for many years there has been a focus in my community on the Blackwood roundabout, and I am proud to say that finally—and I think the Minister for Infrastructure will be pleased to deliver this because it means I will stop talking about the Blackwood roundabout—we are going to be able to deliver this project for my community. I am also happy to say that we will deliver on our $20 million road commitment to fix the Mitcham Hills road corridor. I will work with all my colleagues, the government and the community to deliver improved road safety and traffic flow through the Mitcham Hills.

Another election promise that I will be working for with my community is the Globe Link feasibility study. The Globe Link feasibility study will look into the generational upgrade of our freight infrastructure and the transformative way it can improve freight efficiency throughout South Australia, resulting in economic growth, which is so important, as well as job growth, which is so vital for this state at this point in time. One aspect of Globe Link that will be of enormous benefit to my electorate, not only up in the Hills but down on the plains as well, will be the removal of rail freight through the corridor as well as taking the long-run, heavy trucks off Portrush Road and Cross Road.

My electorate is no different from so many electorates in that it is very much a community-focused electorate and support is a key link that binds the people of my community together. On the weekend, and on weeknights, you will see many families, and young and old alike, attend Saturday and Sunday sport. It brings together a spirit of volunteering and a sense of community.

This Liberal government is committed to ensuring that our children actively participate in a variety of sports. That is why in my electorate of Waite we have committed to investing at least $85,000 in the Blackwood Bowling Club to provide a new synthetic green, $80,000 to the Coromandel Valley Ramblers Cricket Club to assist in the establishment of new facilities and clubrooms at Hawthorndene Oval, and a $100,000 upgrade to the training area and change rooms at Kingswood Oval for the benefit of the Unley Gunners Cricket Club and the Unley Jets Football Club.

Of course, one project I am very excited to talk about—a project that, together with the member for Elder and the member for Davenport as well as the minister, we will be able to develop —is the multimillion dollar rejuvenation of the Women's Memorial Playing Fields at St Marys. I am really looking forward to working with the Sturt Lacrosse Club, the Cumberland United Women's Football Club and other interested stakeholders in developing this fantastic community asset, which has been neglected and rundown for many years.

We have also committed to new change rooms at Hewett Sports Ground, and that will assist with the funding of outdated change rooms that were built in 1959. I am so proud and must congratulate the Blackwood Tennis Club, Coromandel Cricket Club and Woods Panthers Netball Club for their strong advocacy and involvement in seeing this project delivered. I understand that soil will be turned later this year.

There is a difference between the old Labor government and this new Liberal government. We are committed to investing in sports infrastructure and facilities at a grassroots level in South Australia for the next generations of South Australians. In my electorate, I am committed to assisting these local clubs, members and volunteers to achieve their full potential.

Another commitment we took to the election is the upgrade of the 9.2-kilometre Wirraparinga Loop Trail in the Brownhill Creek Recreation Park. We have committed $100,000 in funding over five years to upgrade and maintain the walking track that is used by thousands of locals and tourists each year. That upgrade will likely be used by many more. We have made this commitment as we want to encourage people to exercise and enjoy the conservation parks in South Australia, and I look forward to working with my colleague the Minister for Environment and Water and the Brownhill Creek Association to ensure this commitment is achieved for my community.

I will be working very hard over the coming months and years to ensure that these commitments are met for my constituents of Waite and to provide a safe and more efficient railway and road network, encourage and foster grassroots sport and utilise our fantastic environment and recreation parks.