Regional Growth Fund

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how the government is assisting our regions to grow?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:54): Yes, I can. I want to thank the member for MacKillop for his question, particularly around the Marshall Liberal government's commitment, a 10-year commitment for the Regional Growth Fund. It is $150 million going to our regions. I particularly want to thank the member for MacKillop because over the past weekend he was down at Kingston in the South-East to formally announce funding of $335,000 from the strategic pool of the Regional Growth Fund. It is going towards the main street stimulus project that is improving the streetscape.

Kingston is one of the great tourism destinations, a great fishing town in the South-East. That town was looking for some beautification of its main street. It has received funding, matched funding, and they are now getting on with the job of beautifying Kingston, so that's great work.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: Not only does it help Kingston but it helps the state and the tourism destinations of the South-East. Kingston is a coastal town and it's looking to improve visitor numbers. I am pleased to announce that round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund competitive pool opened on Monday this week and applications are in. I urge all regional businesses and community clubs to come forth with their projects. In round 1, 82 projects came to the department with a value of $61 million. That is great news for regional South Australia, which has long seen a development fund come to the regions that picked winners, and it really did drive a wedge between those community businesses.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Giles is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: It created some resentment between those who got it and those who did not get it. Here, we are relying on the three Cs—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: —collaboration, clustering and community. That has been the success of the Regional Growth Fund.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: I would like to mention some of the recipients in the first round:

the member for Stuart saw $387,000 go towards a purpose-built health clinic through the Royal Flying Doctor Service;

I was joined by the member for Finniss when $490,000 went to PipiCo, and that was a great announcement down there;

the member for Heysen and the member for Morialta joined me when $400,000 of funding helped out the apple and pear growers, particularly with pumping capacity and being able to reduce their power costs;

the member for Giles was also pleased to see some funding come his way; and

the member for Flinders also saw funding towards upgrades to community and tourist facilities across the outback, and that is a great initiative supporting outback communities.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: What we saw particularly in Hammond were essential power upgrades at Bowhill Engineering. I want a shout out to Bowhill Engineering for the Darlington upgrades, those overpasses, the green and yellow steel structures.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: That is a small engineering company in a river town. They are doing great work, and I want to commend the work they are doing in a regional community and they thoroughly deserve their upgrade. I was joined by the member for Kavel—$400,000 towards the Lot 100 Consortium. It is a great destination for anyone who visits the Adelaide Hills and wants to have a great experience: distillation, brewing and wine. It's just a beautiful experience up there and it's great to see.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: These are all stellar examples of how collaboration can work in our regional communities. It's about unlocking economic development, unlocking economic potential. I am hoping that round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund will be even more successful than round 1 because the Regional Growth Fund states #RegionsMatter.