Playford Electorate Schools

Mr BROWN (Playford) (15:29): I rise today to speak about two important infrastructure projects located at schools in my electorate; the first is the proposed fence around The Pines School in Parafield Gardens. The Pines School unusually has a council reserve area right next to the school playground. Currently, no fence exists between these two areas and, while this allows members of the general public to make use of the school's facilities outside school hours, it has also unfortunately created an opportunity for hoon drivers to access the area and the Andrew Smith Drive Oval reserve, which sits behind the council reserve.

Indeed, just a few weeks ago, hoons gained access to the oval and were successful in and seriously damaging it. A number of local residents have raised with me their concerns that this sort of behaviour is dangerous and damaging to community infrastructure and the fact that it is happening again reinforces the need for proper fencing to be erected around the school portion of the area. Vehicles often travel at high speed along Hemming and Morgan streets, and there is a significant risk posed to children using the reserve.

Last year, I wrote to the government, requesting that funds be allocated from the general infrastructure budget for the construction of adequate fencing. This request was denied. Earlier this year, I presented to this house a petition signed by almost 300 residents, again calling on the government to properly fund this fence. So far, there has been no response to the petition from the state government. Luckily, however, the Salisbury council has been listening to local residents.

Following a deputation from me, the council has now formally agreed to provide a contribution for a joint project to erect a 1.8-metre security fence, which should provide an adequate level of security. Now that the project has the support of the school's governing council, the local member, both local councillors, the local council as a whole and the local community, all it needs is the minister to agree to make it happen. Salisbury council has shown that it is prepared to be a good neighbour and make funds available.

I urge the minister, on behalf of the residents of Parafield Gardens and the parents of children at the school more generally, to do the right thing and not let this project be caught up in bureaucracy. As The Pines has a limited budget, and given that this proposed fence will protect an asset used by the whole community, it is also appropriate that general infrastructure funds are used and that the funds for the fence are not diverted from those allocated for school maintenance. Indeed, to build it now would be not only an appropriate but a most welcome use of COVID-19 stimulus funds, which we all know have so far proved very difficult for the government to use.

There is another school infrastructure project in my electorate I would like to talk about today—that is, the bridge over Dry Creek that links both campuses of the Mawson Lakes School. Currently, when heavy rain occurs, high water levels and sometimes fast-flowing water present an unacceptable safety risk not only to students of the school but, as the school is open to community access, potentially also to local residents. Sensors and automatic gates have been installed to deal with the most serious of all incidents; however, this often results in the bridge being closed. Many of my constituents are concerned about using the bridge following the rain, even when it is open. Indeed, parents have informed me that many children are kept home from school following heavy rain, as there is concern for their safety at the school.

Following representations from the school, the local ward councillors and myself, the City of Salisbury has for some time now been in discussions with the education department to upgrade the bridge. I do commend the Minister for Education for his willingness to allow some funds allocated by the previous government for infrastructure upgrades at the school to be used to upgrade the bridge, which is indeed a council asset.

However, it should be noted that this bridge is used not only by students of the school, including my own children, but also by many members of my local community of Mawson Lakes. Again, I believe it is appropriate that the shortfall in the construction costs for the project be made from the general infrastructure budget so that the opportunity to upgrade the facilities of the school will not be lost. I am advised that this has so far been steadfastly opposed by the minister and his department.

This bridge upgrade is needed. In fact, to illustrate the point, the bridge is closed today, just as it was yesterday. Students will be forced onto local streets to find another place to cross. The will is there on behalf of the council to get an agreement on this project. I am sure that if the minister is prepared to only meet them halfway it can happen. There has been enough talk. There has been enough argument and enough finger pointing. Let's just get over it and build a bridge.