Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:53): It is an exciting time at Swan Reach. The Swan Reach telescope was opened on 13 November, exploring the gateway to the galaxy. It is an exciting time because Swan Reach is now the home to the largest private telescope and observatory in Australia. It is a small town with a population of around 300 people, but it has a big backyard. The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve is one of the darkest places on the planet. And, how dark? Its score is 21.8, and the maximum darkness that is achieved is 22. It is a remarkable outcome.

The telescope is a US-built 28-inch aperture PlaneWave CDK700. The observatory standard telescope is of professional standard, fully automated, and it weighs over 500 kilograms. It is basically a Ferrari or a Porsche of the telescope world. There are incredible tourism and education opportunities that the observatory has as a science lecture area for teachers and students. It promotes citizen science and it does not matter whether you are an amateur or an expert.

It has taken two years of planning, and I want to commend the Swan Reach Progress Association for their vision. In particular, I want to thank the chair, John George OAM, and his wife, Margaret, for their dedication to this project. It really shows you what a small regional community is able to achieve, particularly under great leadership.

So, as I say, come and stay. Come and explore the gateway to the galaxy. Swan Reach has the largest telescope in Australia. Come and have a look and come and try.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Odenwalder): I will. Member for Stuart.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (15:55): Today, I would like to clarify a statement that I made on 18 September this year in a grieve on the Pirie Voices project. I can now clarify that the Port Pirie Regional Council voted on 18 December last year to fund this project for $45,000. After discussion at the council, a motion was then moved to provide $45,000 towards the project. It is interesting that this was at the last meeting of the council just recently. Councillor Kendall Jackson congratulated me on bringing it up, but also expressed some concern that I did not mention that the Port Pirie Regional Council facilitated and paid for that, and I want to clarify that. The Port Pirie Regional Council clarified it and also paid for the project, and the project then went ahead.

On 18 December, the motion was moved. There was discussion and then there was a vote and the vote was lost. Councillor Jackson called for a division. At the original meeting, on 18 December, she voted against it and voted against a call for a division; however, that was lost. But I want to say that this project is a fantastic project and it is great that Councillor Jackson has this as a top priority at the moment. It is going very well, and I am looking forward to further community involvement.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (15:56): The toxic algal bloom is continuing to devastate our coastal community. A Senate inquiry released their final report, which has delivered a damning verdict on the state Labor government's handling of the algal bloom disaster. Like many locals, I am fed up with the Labor Party's excuses.

The state Labor government has handled this crisis poorly. They were too slow to act when reports of the algal bloom first arose in March, they botched public messaging to at-risk members of our community, and they slow-walked relief. The Premier also gave our community contradictory advice on the severity of the algal bloom saying, 'It's not toxic.' Yet, respected experts have said that the algal bloom is undisputably toxic, and even the state government's own website said that it was toxic.

What we have seen unfold along our beaches in Morphett has been heartbreaking and shows how important targeted investment is to protect our iconic coastline. The Liberal Party will invest $30 million into additional shellfish reefs. This will build upon the successful $1.2 million shellfish reef off the coast of Glenelg North that I helped secure funding for in 2020. While Labor looks for short-term solutions to protect their reputation and buy their way out of mismanaging the algal bloom crisis, the Liberal Party is focused on saving our seas for generations to come. Only a Liberal Party has the long-term vision for saving our seas and waterways.

Mr DIGHTON (Black) (15:58): I want to talk about the Walk Beside Suicide Prevention Network, Marion, South Australia. I recently attended a Reynella neighbourhood centre to take part in what is called the Blue Tree Project. The Blue Tree Project is about painting trees in a vibrant blue colour to be the symbol of mental health awareness, to help spark conversations about mental health, to be open and to lead to the positive transforming of attitudes around mental health.

The Blue Tree Project is just one of the different things that the Walk Beside Suicide Prevention Network, Marion, South Australia do. They also provide education, they do a number of networking events and they provide care packs for the primary carers of those with mental health conditions. The coordinator, Beverly Emerson, a Hallett Cove local, is a force of nature—incredibly active—and I pay tribute to her and to the rest of the Walk Beside Suicide Prevention Network team.

I also just want to give a shout-out to the Hallett Cove and Districts Lions. They have been doing their annual Santa sleigh around Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park and Trott Park. It is fantastic to bring Christmas spirit to our community. I am taking part on Tuesday but what a wonderful organisation that does terrific things to build a stronger community.