Colton Electorate Infrastructure Projects

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:48): There is no doubt that as a community, a state and a country, we are going through unprecedented times with COVID-19 affecting our lives. This is why our government is delivering a record $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure over four years that will create thousands of jobs for South Australians and see improvements to our roads, schools, hospitals and housing. It is also fundamental to our economic and social recovery and rebuilding efforts, post the recent bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, to boost our economic productivity.

Infrastructure projects improve the lives of everyday South Australians. They support communities, families, businesses and industries. South Australia will notice big changes, whether it be to intersections or road upgrades, building or improving our state's hospitals and schools. I take this opportunity to outline some of the benefits of some of the projects in my local area of Colton, both social and hard infrastructure.

The first is the securing the future of our metropolitan coastline project, a $40 million-plus commitment that this government has made. We are now into our second year of increased sand replenishment on West Beach prior to the large-scale replenishment and the pipeline to be constructed from Semaphore to West Beach. I also note the significant work of the Charles Sturt council with regard to the rock wall that is nearing completion at the front of the West Beach surf club.

The redevelopment of Henley High School is a $12 million commitment for dedicated and specialised teaching areas that have long been missing from Henley High School. I visited the school just recently with the Minister for Education, Minister Gardner, and we had the opportunity to thank Principal Eddie Fabijan and the governing council for their work and input into the design. I also note the other school upgrades in the local area, or just outside the electorate, at Grange Primary School and at Underdale. These are obviously also significant pieces of infrastructure that will support our community moving forward.

We have had safety bollards installed at Henley Square, and I thank Charles Sturt council for their cooperation on that project, making the square safer for all who use it, especially young children who play in the fountain. Planter boxes have now been positioned between bollards, making it that little bit more difficult for children to see and move towards the road but still maintaining pedestrian access for wheelchairs and also for prams.

Since the election, we have also had the operating hours at the local Henley Beach Police Station restored, we have had 24/7 cardiac services returned to The QEH, after they were removed through the process of Transforming Health and ripped out of the heart of The QEH, and we have had a traffic calming project delivered at Kibby Avenue at Glenelg North. Of course, we have also had the celebration of the anniversary of the Vickers Vimy flight and, with the federal government and Adelaide Airport, the relocation of that aircraft into a more prominent location at the Adelaide Airport terminal. I will leave somebody else to perhaps go into the detail of that flight by Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith from England to Australia 100 years ago.

On 2 September, a few short weeks ago, the Henley Sharks family-friendly change rooms were lifted into place at Henley Memorial Oval. Some very big cranes were needed to bring in those change rooms. It was a really exciting project for that local hub of sports in the Henley area. Between the Henley Netball Club, the Henley Football Club, the West Torrens Cricket Club and also the Western Little Athletics Club, it will be a fantastic asset for that local area to use. We hope that, with the supporting infrastructure being completed in the coming weeks, it will be ready in time for the start of the cricket season and for the West Torrens Cricket Club, both the Eagles and the she eagles, to get out and to use that infrastructure.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that is creating more jobs and improving lives for South Australians. Together, we are building what matters. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Lockleys Football Club on their premierships this year, winning the division 5 A, B and C grade grand finals just a few short weeks ago. I also congratulate the Henley Football Club on their premierships in the division 2 B and C grades, and their respective coaches, particularly Jarrad Parker at Henley, who is finishing up his reign at the club—a fantastic effort over his years there.

These are exciting times in the west, particularly as we start to head into the summer season, with both the Henley Surf Lifesaving Club and the West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club having started patrols last weekend. We thank all those lifesavers for their work over this coming summer.

Time expired.