REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about assistance for infrastructure.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Rann Labor government has an extensive record of consulting and engaging in regional communities and, most importantly—

Members interjecting:

An honourable member: I can't hear the question.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Can you hear me? There have been numerous initiatives under this government, such as the $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund and the establishment of the Regional Communities Consultative Council. Support for regional development under this government also includes a more general fund, which is available to support the provision of a wide range of infrastructure projects across the state: the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund. My question to the minister is: how is the government delivering on this commitment to deliver opportunities for development in South Australia's regions through the RDIF?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. As the members have heard me mention on previous occasions in this place, the state government is indeed committed to facilitating infrastructure development throughout the regions of South Australia.

The Regional Development Infrastructure Fund plays an important role towards the achievement of the targets and goals contained in South Australia's Strategic Plan and the Strategic Infrastructure Plan for South Australia. The fund helps to meet these targets, be they economic, social or environmental, by increasing regional job opportunities, increasing investment in the regions and reducing social disadvantage

I am very pleased to advise the council today that I have approved a grant of up to $250,000 from the RDIF to assist Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast to facilitate rectifying inadequate mobile telecommunications coverage in the area. As members would be well aware, in this day and age, mobile telecommunications are critical for the efficient operation of business and also for many people as their primary method to stay in touch with family and friends and work.

With greater advances in technology, there is so much that we are now able to do beyond the simple conversation. Phones now have a huge range of uses from sending text messages and snapshots or using small phones to surf the internet or provide real-time directions using GPS which frequently, I have to say, I have to rely on, given my sense of direction. For people in the regions of South Australia, their mobile phone can be an important tool for work, socialising and also for safety reasons.

The Limestone Coast RDA Regional Roadmap, which was developed after community consultation and includes regional priorities, refers to telecommunications infrastructure needs under its key actions for priority attention. In that document the region's stated aim is to:

Ensure the Limestone Coast is a high priority region for participation in the national broadband rollout and other telecommunications initiatives to achieve similar capacity and quality enjoyed by metropolitan Australia.

This RDIF grant will go towards the construction of a mobile phone tower south of Mount Gambier. A local motel, restaurant and convention complex, The Barn, located at OB Flat, will host the new tower on its property. The Barn (as it is popularly referred to) Conference Centre has indicated the mobile phone tower construction will potentially underpin a $1 million expansion of its facilities, as it will enable visitors and guests at its facility to use their mobile phones and other devices.

This will contribute to another one of the Labor government commitments to create further employment opportunities as it creates the potential for 10 new positions. The project will provide coverage for mobile phone and data users in a radius of 22 kilometres, I have been advised, obviously benefiting local residents, visitors and other users of mobile communications. For example, the new tower will be particularly useful for the transport and logistics sector who use in-vehicle telematics to support a wide range of tasks, including load tracking, fatigue management and speed management and monitoring. I am very pleased with this project and very proud of our government's commitment to support the regions in their development.