Stuart Electorate

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (16:09): I would like to talk about my recent trip to the northern section of my electorate. I covered in just under six days and travelled just under 3,000 kilometres during that period of time to have a firsthand experience, not for the first time but for the third or fourth time since I have been the member for Stuart. During the trip I had the great pleasure to inspect the new airstrip at Parachilna, which will be a great asset to not only the community but also the tourism opportunities there. For those who have not visited the Prairie Hotel at Parachilna, ensure that you do, because during your visit up that way there is an exciting eating experience and it is something that everybody should enjoy at some time in their life.

Also, I had the opportunity to have a listening post at Beltana where I had an inspection of the historic Beltana Hotel, which is being renovated and will be open to the general public in a very short period of time. Again, this township has a very rich history; however, being off the main highway it is a bit of a challenge, but I encourage people and recommend anybody to visit that area to get some of the history of that township.

I also had the opportunity to visit the township of Farina—there is no-one there, but it is still a township—where I discussed the great restoration being carried out by the Farina Restoration Project Group, who are all volunteers, including the restoration of an original GM locomotive which was used in the early days of the Ghan railway.

I also had a listening post at Marree, where several people attended, and during that time at Marree I had the great pleasure and the opportunity to inspect the new barge facility being carried out at the Cooper Creek crossing to allow traffic to cross whilst the vehicular section is impassable due to the flooding. It was an opportunity to see that firsthand. The way they are building the facility, it is going to last many years. It will certainly see all of us in this chamber out. It will last for 50 to 100 years.

The number of tourists visiting the township is extraordinary, with the hotel serving nearly 200 meals per night; they have to do it in three different shifts. This community is ideal for those wanting to visit Lake Eyre, which is basically being filled again due to the rains in Queensland. This is a sight to behold and I encourage people to go up there to not only enjoy the opportunity but actually see some of the history, such as the cameleers in Marree.

From there I travelled to William Creek where again I had a listening post, with many locals attending, and during this period of time I had the opportunity to inspect the recently established $2 million Royal Flying Doctor Service medical clinic, which was opened probably eight or 12 months ago. This service is utilised by those in need of receiving medical treatment or advice. You go in there and you push a button that connects you straightaway to a medical professional at the royal flying doctor base in Port Augusta.

I also inspected the existing airstrip, which is not only used by the tourist operator Trevor Wright but also by the RFDS and tourists, and there are also other tourism opportunities. It is very interesting to mention that Trevor and the group have been very successful in obtaining a federal and state government grant, from my information, up to about $4 million to upgrade the airstrip and seal the ground where patients are transported when needing to be moved to the aircraft. They have to go over unsealed ground at this stage, so that will be all sealed. William Creek is a location in the middle of nowhere but, again, the hotel is serving in excess of 150 meals per night, and currently Trevor has approximately 15 pilots at the site.

During the visits to these locations and speaking to the local community, it has been mentioned that their current contractor, who was engaged by the previous government and is responsible for all the maintenance of those unsealed roads in that area, has reduced its maintenance gangs from five to two, which is causing great concern for the ever-deteriorating roads up there.

It is very difficult to travel on the roads up there, but whilst I was travelling on the William Creek Road from William Creek to Coober Pedy, the road was so bad that I was travelling very slowly at 15 km/h. I also had an opportunity to go to Coober Pedy and talk to the general public. That is my third visit there, even though it is not in my area at the moment, and I certainly got an update from the community and the businesses there about the issues going forward from Coober Pedy.

There are so many tourism opportunities and traffic in this northern section of my electorate that I really encourage people to have a look up there. It is absolutely an eye-opener and the community are very appreciative of the amount of support the government is offering, specifically with Cooper Creek and the opportunity there. It has been very frustrating, but I do thank Minister Bourke in the other place for going up there to Mungerannie Hotel and personally talking to all the pastoralists and getting the opportunity for what we are going to have in the next two months.