CLELAND WILDLIFE PARK

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about Cleland Wildlife Park.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Cleland Wildlife Park is a much loved tourist attraction as well as a valuable tool for young students and others to learn about and appreciate our natural wildlife, earning many accolades over the years. Will the minister inform the council of any further recognition gained by Cleland Wildlife Park recently?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:17): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am very pleased to inform the council that Cleland Wildlife Park has been nominated for the nation's most outstanding tourist attraction category at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be held in Canberra on Friday night. If Cleland Wildlife Park takes home this award, it would be richly deserved.

Cleland Wildlife Park has continued to enhance its exhibits since it opened in April 1967, and it has become well known across Australia as an iconic nature-based tourism experience. The park offers a stunning bushland setting and provides locals and tourists alike with a unique opportunity to interact with many examples of Australia's most admired fauna, including kangaroos and koalas. Since April last year we have been celebrating the park's 40th anniversary, capped off by November's SA Tourism Awards win (hopefully) for most outstanding tourist attraction.

The award is a credit to the dedicated Department for Environment and Heritage staff who manage the site and, of course, the many volunteers who provide invaluable support. The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards are the pinnacle for the tourism industry in Australia. The finalists are drawn from the state and territory tourism award winners across 25 categories. Located in the Adelaide Hills just 20 minutes from the city centre, the park attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.

Cleland Wildlife Park offers responsible, educational and truly rewarding visitor experiences, featuring more than 130 different species of Australian wildlife in an open range environment. The Koalas Close-Ups exhibit is one of only two places in South Australia where visitors can enjoy handling koalas. Visitors can have their koala encounter photographed and take it home as a souvenir within a few minutes of the picture being taken. More information about Cleland Wildlife Park is available on its website and through inquiries to the park itself.