Marine Infrastructure

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:42): I was starting to think you couldn't see me, sir. My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is investing in regional communities by upgrading and improving marine infrastructure facilities?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:43): I thank the member for Colton for his question. He is very interested in the fact we are building what matters for South Australia.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned for a second time.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Very shortly, the Treasurer will sail in here and of course announce more spending on infrastructure across South Australia, which is incredibly important to everyone in this house. It is infrastructure that South Australia needs and it is infrastructure that will create jobs for South Australians and we look forward to that.

Very recently, we announced our $40 million upgrade of jetties, boat ramps, bridges and structures across South Australia, which is a really, really important policy that we are rolling out—$40 million to build what matters for South Australia. Of that, $20 million will go over three years into upgrading bridges and $20 million will go over three years to upgrading jetties and boat ramps in particular, neglected by those opposite for far too long. This initiative will create 80 jobs in the process, which is more jobs for South Australia and which is exactly what we need. In particular, it is more jobs across the regions.

When we made this announcement, it went swimmingly. People were 'ferry' excited. I can tell you that they haven't seen this sort of investment in South Australia's marine infrastructure for a long, long time, so people are very happy. In fact, one gentleman came up to me and he said, 'I like the cut of your jib.' I said, 'Thank you, sir. This is a great policy to be delivering.' At the moment, we have a record $12.9 billion pipeline of infrastructure works here in South Australia and the Treasurer, I think, is going to come in here very shortly and blow that out of the water.

An honourable member: What?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I know—more puns. It's a little bit too much. I'm getting in too deep, so I will stop. But jetties and boat ramps have supported commercial and recreational activities in South Australia since the 1850s and they continue to be of social, economic and historical significance in local communities today, especially in the regions. Not so long back, I was on the West Coast with the member for Flinders, having a look at some of the jetties in his local community, and we know how important they are, especially in the summertime when people head out on their holidays.

The benefits they get out of those and the money they bring to the local community are truly appreciated. Whether it's people going and buying a rod for the first time and trialling it with their kids, or getting their bait when they do go out and use the boat ramp and go fishing, it's really important to the community, so that is vitally, vitally important for South Australia.

We know again, as I stressed, those opposite ignored these facilities for many, many years, and that's why they are run-down. Some of the boat ramps and jetties that we are starting on over the next 18 months, if I can list them off: Anxious Bay boat ramp on Eyre Peninsula, Cape Jervis jetty, Streaky Bay shelter, the Coffin Bay jetty, and of course the O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp, which was ignored for so long by those opposite, but we are fixing it, we are improving it, we are getting it working. The West Beach—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Reynell!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —boat ramp as well, that will take a little bit longer, probably in the two-year vicinity, because a bit more planning work needs to be done there. Those on the other side did no planning for this, but we are getting on and fixing it. We've got over 250,000 recreational fishers here in South Australia and more than 100,000 people with boat licences, and these upgrades will directly benefit them.

Any South Australian who wants to take their mate out on the water, go out with their family, do a spot of fishing either in their boat or on their jetty, will be well aware that we are building what matters for them. Bridges which will be upgraded over the next 18 months include the Barrier Highway at Burra (I was up there on the weekend), Mawson Road at Meadows, and the Hindmarsh Tiers Road over Hindmarsh River—three of the bridges, again, ignored by those opposite.

The Marshall Liberal government is working hard, along with the local government sector, to deliver an SA jetty strategy plan as well. We are working to further do more work in this space because we know the money we've put in here already will deliver great outcomes for the community and we'll continue to do more. That's why we are building what matters.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Waite, I warn the member for Reynell.