Elder Electorate

Mrs POWER (Elder) (15:54): Many of my constituents know that I am there to assist and serve them—it is my number one priority. When I was elected as the member for Elder in 2018, in the lead-up to that election and since I have spoken lots about wanting to raise the bar of political representation for my local area. It has been my priority, working hard each and every day since then, ensuring that I am listening, approachable and accessible for our local residents and providing assistance and advocating on their behalf about the issues that matter to them.

It means working with local residents to deliver what we need in our local area and for our state. It has been our combined efforts that have indeed delivered great outcomes like saving the Repat. Together, so many South Australians fought against the closure of the Repat by the former Labor government and those across the chamber. I am very proud—so proud—to be a part of the Marshall Liberal government that has not only listened to those South Australians, not only promised to save the Repat, but delivered on that promise, reactivating it into a thriving healthcare precinct.

This achievement belongs to everyone in my electorate and to everybody who fought to save the Repat. It is an achievement by our community for our community. Of course, I have worked really hard to ensure that along every step of the way our community has continued to be involved in the reactivation of the site.

We have recently celebrated the official opening and the completed construction of the town square and the brain rehabilitation sports centre, another amazing milestone, which community members have had the opportunity to come along and check out firsthand. I had this idea of hosting behind-the-scenes tours of the Repat so that residents could continue to be a part of that journey and see what was happening as construction was underway.

Those behind the scenes tours of the Repat have been extremely popular. I have already held three. I have another couple coming up and they have almost sold out—not that I am actually selling tickets. The waiting list has been so full that I hope to host more in the new year with the minister. At the last tour, it was incredible to see the heart and soul of the Repat being returned, for residents to be able to ask questions and watch it come alive. Local residents shared how fantastic it was to see that we are indeed building what matters, not just creating local jobs but creating better lives for people with this significant boost to our health system.

My local community has also had the opportunity to experience another amazing win for the southern region: the opening of Glenthorne National Park, just up the hill from my electorate. Thinking outside the box, I decided I would host another tour, a tour of Glenthorne National Park, with the Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs, as our tour guide. He is indeed passionate about that site and he shared the history of the site and the vision for its future.

We had this incredible morning, walking around the national park, being a part of nature, sharing in a morning tea afterwards. Residents were just so delighted to see up close and personal the progress that has already been made at this site. We are not only saving 1,500 hectares of open space—a big win for our environment—but we are also making it home for a local wildlife care campus. Again, it is really a great win for our local area.

Whilst the Repat and Glenthorne National Park are two big wins for our community and for our state, I have also enjoyed sharing the little wins and the regular meetings and the regular milestones that occur within our community. I have been out and about to lots of local community and sporting groups, attending their AGMs and their meetings and supporting them in the incredible work that they do, all made possible because of so many volunteers giving of their time and making our community the strong, great community that it is. I would like to take this opportunity to pass on my heartfelt thanks to all those in our local area who are working to make it great.