KANGAROO ISLAND

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: I understand the minister recently attended a community cabinet on Kangaroo Island on 24 and 25 July. Kangaroo Island is an outstanding asset to this state and has developed a well-earned reputation for its quality local produce and as a unique tourist destination. Will the minister update the chamber on the outcome of this important meeting?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:57): In late July I was fortunate to attend the government's 55^th community cabinet meeting on Kangaroo Island. With its unique natural heritage and pristine environment, Kangaroo Island is an outstanding asset to South Australia and an internationally recognised premium tourist destination. I was pleased to be able to attend the morning tea in the township of Parndana to recognise and acknowledge the work of local volunteers across a range of fields. I was also fortunate to meet with Kangaroo Island mayor, Ms Jayne Bates, and acting chief executive officer, Mr Andrew Boardman, to discuss some of the local issues and specific challenges they face on the island.

With the growing tourism sector creating significant economic benefits, they also give rise to new and diverse challenges in the region. There is nothing like meeting people face to face to gain a personal understanding of the issues that our councils face across the state. I saw firsthand the island's unique resource recovery centre, where all waste received by Kangaroo Island Council is processed for recycling or disposal. The centre is the hub of waste management on Kangaroo Island. Waste and other materials arriving at the site are sorted into various categories and either prepared for recycling, stockpiled, transported to the mainland or sent to landfill. The centre fulfils its environmental obligations, while also providing a drop and swap recycling facility for household items.

I was also shown firsthand examples of a rural property addressing system that was recently implemented as a joint state/local government initiative. The aim is to provide all occupied rural properties in South Australia with a nationally consistent numbered address. As members would be aware, many properties in our rural and regional areas are located on unmarked roads, which means a property owner must rely on local knowledge and reference points when contacting emergency services personnel. Descriptions of property location can be confusing and lead to time loss and frustration. It is intended that rural property addressing will end the confusion and the ambiguity.

In a staged rollout until 2011 around 55,000 occupied properties in rural South Australia are to be issued with an address and information on roadside signage. Districts with higher emergency service risks and preparedness to proceed were targeted for early rollout.

Members would be aware that in November this year Vivonne Bay will play host to the KI Surf Musical Festival. Last year the commonwealth government invested more than $2.6 million to upgrade vital infrastructure at Kangaroo Island camping reserves. New facilities such as toilets, powered caravan sites and barbeque areas have recently been installed at Vivonne Bay camping site. The festival, which is the first of its kind on the island, is expected to attract around 3,000 people.

While the council and organisers certainly face a busy time coordinating and preparing for the festival, the benefits of this event to the local economy, as well as the increased profile of Kangaroo Island as a tourist destination to intrastate and interstate travellers, will certainly make the hard work worthwhile.