Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:44): In a win for community common sense, ElectraNet and NTx have been pushed back to the drawing board, as they now concede they will investigate a preferred corridor that we are calling the fifth corridor, fifth option, but the job is only half done. As a result of local coordinated advocacy joining my farmers to push back against a bad idea, it is pleasing to see that ElectraNet are at the negotiating table to consider some better options. Sadly, they will not rule out the four original corridors that are already under assessment.

Along with that concession, if you like, it is clear that they also, with a six-month extension, will not be in a position to declare that route until the middle of next year. Farmers who are in the crosshairs report weed contamination and interference to GPS and internet, and so we have a long way to go. We know that there is a suggestion that the route still needs to be pushed another six to 15 kilometres further east than they are even considering now. I would ask all of those in my community to spare a thought for those farmers who are under consideration for these NTx transmission lines into the future.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:46): 'Prolific' today, I think, Acting Speaker, would be the word. I just wanted to rise briefly to give a shout-out to the leadership students at Aldinga Payinthi College in the electorate of Mawson. It is a great school. It only opened in 2022. It used to be farmland before Jay Weatherill as Premier and Susan Close as education minister listened to my pleas to build a school on that side of South Road. Kids from Aldinga used to have to go across to Willunga High to go to school.

I have seen this school evolve. The former education minister, the member for Morialta, is in the chamber. I would also like to thank him for the work that he did in that four years that he was education minister. He basically did the whole build, so that it was ready to go in 2022, just in time for another one of his achievements, that transition from grade 7 out of primary school into high school.

The student leaders are amazing. They were telling me about what they are doing for charities, including one called Share the Dignity, where they are putting together for young mothers bags of goodies for newborn babies and for their mums, whether that is dummies or wipes or lots of different things that young mums will need to bring to the very first days of their newborn babies. I want to congratulate all the leadership group. I am very inspired by their great work.

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:48): A few months ago, I received an email from a year 7 student at Faith Lutheran College. Her name was Sienna. She wrote to me saying:

I was walking home from school with a friend and as we crossed the road we were hit by a car. We were crossing at the pedestrian crossing in front of the Rex Centre. We both looked left and right and saw no cars so we began crossing.

She went on to say:

This crossing is very dangerous as it's busy with traffic, cars parked along the road make it hard to see and it is a 50km zone.

You can appreciate that this sent an absolute shiver down my spine, and it is not the first time that students and families have raised with me road safety concerns about this entire precinct in Tanunda. It is something that I take really seriously as the local member in trying to work hand in glove with local councils to get outcomes to improve these types of things.

For months, I have been raising this with The Barossa Council. I spoke to the CEO, Martin McCarthy, before I met on site last week with concerned students, parents and teachers, and I was really pleased to learn from the council that they are now actively considering options to improve road safety in this area.

I cannot emphasise enough that it is so important that we have swift action here. It is raised with me constantly by local families and people who are living right across the area. I really hope that we can see action soon, so that we can make it much safer for people like Sienna and Lotti, who are year 7 students at Faith.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:49): Today I would like to formally acknowledge the passing of Robert Ernest Ahrens OAM, otherwise known as Bob. He was the dearly loved and loving husband of Marj for 61 years and the loving and cherished father of Janine and Stefan. He was a dedicated Rotarian: an honorary member, past president and multiple Paul Harris Fellow, generous of his time, resources and support for Rotary through a number of their projects.

He was a South Australian business legend and a remarkable community leader. He was a former director of the Ahrens Group which originated in Shea-Oak Log and then moved to Kingsford, and they now have sites right across Australia and internationally. He was the third in the fifth generation who have operated the family business and he received an OAM in 2002 for his enormous contribution, with his wife, Marj, to the community.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Bob. He was quietly spoken with a very civil and pleasant demeanour at all time: a true gentleman. From a blacksmith business, Bob built the Ahrens Group into a manufacturing business and, since 1995, his son Stefan has run the business which has gone national and international. Bob will be greatly missed by the community and I extend my condolences to his family. Vale Bob Ahrens.