Hope Valley Reservoir

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (15:37): This year has certainly been one we will never forget. It has been challenging for so many right across the world, but for much of this year, particularly earlier on in the year when there were restrictions on certain indoor activities, a lot of people explored more than normal the great outdoors. In fact, one very popular local example of that was Anstey Hill Recreation Park, which I do not think I have seen busier.

In my community, and no doubt right across the state, people certainly very much love the outdoors and are always looking for new opportunities to explore the outdoors with their families. As a great example of that, the Marshall Liberal government is adding to local outdoor areas in our communities through the opening of the Hope Valley Reservoir, which will happen on 13 December this year. It will be open to the public for the first time in 150 years.

The opening up of the reservoir was a key election commitment of the Marshall Liberal team for the north-east, and the government is delivering on that commitment. The community will have the opportunity to explore the reservoir reserve, including walking along the dam wall, which will include lookouts made from shipping containers.

There will be spots within the reserve for picnics. There is something in the order of five kilometres of walking or cycling trails that also link up to the O-Bahn Linear Park. Later down the track, we will see a brand-new nature play space, as well as fitness equipment. I know that fitness equipment is something that is quite often raised with me by members of the community, so I know that will be extremely popular.

One of the greatest aspects of this project is the real ownership that the local community has over the end result, and I would very much like to thank the participants of the community reference group that was really tasked with driving the design process of the reserve on behalf of the wider community in close collaboration with the reservoir's task force and SA Water.

This group put in many hours of their own time to come up with a fantastic design. Also, a great deal of negotiation went on in those meetings, and the community reference group represented a number of different views for the use of that site from the community, and so I very much thank those individuals for their time in that process.

I know that the broader community, and I myself as the local member, are extremely excited about the official opening event happening on 13 November, which will be held between 9.30am and 11.30am. For all those who are keen to come along, please make sure that you register your attendance online via the reservoir's web page. Opening celebrations will see a fair-like atmosphere, with music, food and coffee, and crafting items for the children to take away with them. We are certainly encouraging our visitors, if they can, to arrive by foot or bike.

The opening event is through the gates at the north-west corner of the reserve, directly alongside the O-Bahn bikeway. I certainly know that the access via the O-Bahn bikeway is a very popular aspect of this design amongst many of the residents who live along the O-Bahn between Hope Valley Reservoir and Modbury. This entrance is easily accessible also from Lambert Avenue and Waninga Drive, which are also around the north-west of the reservoir reserve.

Pedestrian and cycle access from the south-west of the reservoir is via Gate 7 on Lyons Road, Dernancourt. As part of the first Wheels Across the Wall launch, bike riders will lead visitors across the dam wall. There will be thousands of message ribbons for people to share their message of hope—#hope—and then tie it to the giant 'hope fence' inside the reserve, which is certainly an important message for this year.

Opening up the Hope Valley Reservoir for recreational activities is a very exciting initiative, and I would like to commend the Minister for Environment and Water for really driving this initiative from opposition into government and now into reality. Many said it was too hard and that it would not be possible but, along with his team and those from the department and SA Water, the minister has certainly proven the doubters wrong.

I have been very lucky as the local member to have had a number of visits to this site, and it is certainly a sight to behold—on the reservoir wall, looking across the water to the trees and to the Adelaide Hills in the distance, it is certainly spectacular. I am very excited, and I know my community is excited, and we cannot wait for the first time in 150 years to see the public have access to this wonderful site.