MARINE PARKS

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about marine research.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: With planning and consultation well under way for South Australia's 19 marine parks—and I note the minister's active and positive role in the consultation process—it is important that the Department for Environment and Heritage have access to the very latest and best information on the marine environments we are striving to protect. Will the minister inform the council of the latest research into our marine environment?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:12): I am pleased to inform the council that planning for the state's 19 new marine parks is progressing well; and I know the honourable member has taken a great deal interest in the development of these very important parks. Of course, close community and industry consultation is extremely important to this process. As well as staff from the Department for Environment and Heritage, I have spent considerable time engaging our coastal communities. Just as important is hard scientific data gathered from possible marine park locations.

Therefore, it is exciting that scientists from DEH have been given the chance this week to use a $2.1 million submersible robot to reveal the mysteries of the ocean around the Sir Joseph Banks Group. The team will use the data collected by the robot to map and characterise the sea floor in the area. This information will help to form and contribute to the design of South Australia's 19 marine parks, one of which is likely to be located in this region.

As I speak the team is out in the water on the 104-foot SARDI vessel Ngerin which, I am told, means 'good fishing' in Kaurna. Already the team has completed four intensive surveys, covering distinct areas around 500 by 200 metres—which is quite an intensive process. The team is enjoying the experience, and I am sure it will yield some very important results about these hidden environments once the team is back on dry land and able to analyse and scrutinise the data.

The technology being utilised is quite remarkable. The 200-kilogram submersible robot is capable of automatically avoiding obstacles and travelling to depths of up to 700 metres. It is equipped with a range of monitoring equipment, including sonar audio and video, temperature gauges and depth sensor, and is able to complete high resolution survey work. The advantage of using the robot is that it will generate very detailed information from areas where it is difficult to dive and over larger areas than divers could cover. It is a great opportunity to use very sophisticated equipment to which we do not normally have access.

This current research commission is one of two South Australian projects to win the annual contest run by the nationwide marine pool of resources known as the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) and gives the scientists the extraordinary opportunity to use an autonomous underwater vehicle. SARDI has also won the opportunity to investigate areas of the Great Australian Bight, which I am sure will reveal some remarkable data about this global icon. I wish the crew well, and I look forward to utilising the data it collects in completing the plans for our 19 marine parks.