Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Open Space OPEN SPACE The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY Legislative Council OPEN SPACE The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:37): Will the Minister for Urban Development and Planning provide details on how regional South Australia is sharing the benefits of the government's Open Space and Places for People initiatives? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business OPEN SPACE The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:37): Yesterday I am sure the council will recall that following a question asked by the Hon. Carmel Zollo I gave some details about how urban South Australian councils are being supported by this government in their role of identifying grassroots projects which can help beautify this state and provide jobs to local contractors. Many of these projects have been greatly assisted by the Open Space and Places for People grant schemes, but metropolitan councils are not the only ones to benefit from the more than $48 million invested in the— The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting: The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Well, you just used the Sunday Mail for your questions. They are pretty lame ones, too. Metropolitan councils are not the only ones to benefit from the more than $48 million invested in these local projects during the past seven years. Regional councils recently shared grants worth more than $2 million to improve and beautify public space in their corner of the state. These grants from the Planning and Development Fund will assist regional councils to invest in local projects worth a total of more than $3.6 million, ensuring that all South Australians share in the improvements made possible by the Open Space and Places for People initiatives. The millions of dollars in grants will create work for tradespeople and labourers throughout South Australia at a time when regional communities are also facing challenging economic times. The investment in public infrastructure, while beautifying townships, also ensures that South Australian families in regional areas do not miss out on the high quality facilities, such as bikeways, picnic areas and play equipment, enjoyed by suburban communities in metropolitan Adelaide. More than $9.3 million in Open Space and Places for People grants have been directed to regional South Australia and a further $3.48 million to outer metropolitan Adelaide councils since 2002, so I suggest that more than the population share has gone to regional areas, because the government does care about the regional parts of South Australia. The latest grants for regional South Australia from the Open Space and Places for People initiative are: $410,000 to the City of Mount Gambier to capitalise on the redevelopment to create a culturally rich urban space, incorporating water sensitive urban design by creating a biofiltration system within the public landscaping setting that connects an urban wetland. Revitalising the Civic Centre, Plaza and promenade space will also improve accessibility and public safety; $380,253 to the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula to develop a recreation area along the foreshore at Coffin Bay, which will include viewing platforms, a lookout, a children's play space, a toilet block and shelter, seats, picnic tables, barbecues and landscaping; $300,000 to the District Council of the Copper Coast to implement the detailed design plans for the promenade area at the Wallaroo foreshore. The development will encourage walking and cycling around the town and improve the visitor experience of the foreshore. The development adjacent to the ferry terminal will provide seating, viewing platforms and informative signs; $201,500 to the District Council of Robe to develop a new recreation reserve within the town of Robe. The project will comprise a new play space, flying fox, outdoor exercise equipment, walking and cycle tracks, park furniture, electric barbecues, lighting and shelters. This park will link existing trail networks, the main street and the foreshore; $186,500 to Alexandrina Council to redevelop the Horseshoe Bay foreshore that will provide the community with a rejuvenated and functional foreshore promenade. The project seeks to improve access to the beach, create links between key locations within the precinct using path and boardwalks, public art work, improved signs and revegetation and stabilisation of the dunes using native coastal flora; $117,000 to the District Council of Streaky Bay to develop a recreation precinct in Streaky Bay and to include an outdoor play space, trail links to the foreshore and other trail networks, landscaping and park furniture; $150,000 to Kangaroo Island Council as the first instalment. I have indicated that in the next year we will make another $100,000 available to undertake stage 2 of the Kangaroo Island town centre plan, comprising capital works and detailed design developments for streetscapes, coastal shared-use paths and entry statements within major towns; $90,000 to Renmark Paringa council to develop a modern outdoor adventure site, providing fun and challenging activities for children and youth. The playground will be disability friendly (both physical and intellectual disability) and easily accessible for the local community and visitors to the area. Shaded areas will also be included in this development; $64,500 to the District Council of Tumby Bay to implement stage 2 of the master plan developed for the foreshore. The grant will enable the relocation and upgrade of the toilet block, provide and install new shade structures along the foreshore, develop access points to the beach, install a linear walking trail along the foreshore and landscaping; $60,000 to the District Council of Streaky Bay to prepare an open space and township strategy to provide strategic direction and priorities for planning and development for the town of Streaky Bay. This strategy will incorporate open space and trail opportunities, pedestrian and cyclist linkages, coastal foreshore development, streetscape and landscaping, as well as improved traffic management; and $30,000 to the District Council of Mount Barker to undertake detailed design documentation for the Mawson Road streetscape and the adjacent open space and creek areas in Meadows. The design documentation will include tree selection, street furniture, public art and the upgrade of Battunga Park. It keeps rolling out, as follows: $30,000 to the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton to develop the main street and beautify the entry median strip using landscaping, paving and native plants; $20,000 to the District Council of Mallala to undertake design guidelines and desired future character statement for Two Wells. The project will also include designs for a market plaza to create a gateway for future retail, recreation and open space development; and, last but not least $15,000 to the Coorong District Council to undertake an urban design framework for the Meningie commercial precinct, which incorporates a retail strip, angle parking and public open space. The framework will spatially plan steps to revitalise and regenerate the local business precinct and adjacent public spaces to improve pedestrian safety and traffic management. I look forward to considering the next round of grants recommended by the Public Space Advisory Committee and ensuring that regional South Australia, like our metropolitan areas, has the opportunity to share in some of these great projects that have provided such tangible benefits to its local communities in terms of jobs and the facilities they provide.