RIVERLAND TOURISM

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about tourism ventures in the Riverland.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: As the weather warms up, one area that has a great reputation as a relaxing place to holiday is the Riverland. My question is: how has the government assisted tourism ventures in the Riverland?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. The Riverland Regional Prospectus, which was completed some time ago, is an overarching vision document for the future of the Riverland. It is a document that recognises the role of primary production in the region but also seeks to diversify what the region has to offer. The document outlines five pillars of opportunity for the region, one of which includes tourism.

Members might be aware that I recently travelled to the Riverland and during that trip I announced that the government has committed $340,000 from the Sustainable Futures Fund towards the creation of 4-star and 5-star accommodation at the Pike River Villas. I was able to visit there and look at the villas already in place and look at where they propose to develop further accommodation. It was most impressive. They have done a tremendous job and should be congratulated for their very innovative work.

Further to our commitment to developing the tourism part of the Riverland directions outlook prospectus, I am very pleased to announced today that I have committed just under $1 million, $865,484—I am not too sure what the $4 was for, but there you go—from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund, toward upgrading the Loxton Community Hotel's tourism accommodation and conference centre.

The Loxton Community Hotel has a been a community-based business since 1946 and is owned by approximately 1,000 shareholders with $2 shares. As a community-owned facility, I understand that all dividend or surplus profits are invested within the local area. I understand that the hotel prides itself on being a good community citizen and is a sponsor of major events in the region, including the Loxton Christmas lights, a bowling carnival, the Nippy's gift race, as well as the Loxton triathlon, which I understand attracts competitors from around Australia.

I understand that the hotel employs approximately 80 people and provides work experience in front of house, the kitchen and dining room, to young people interested in a career in hospitality, with training covering subjects which form part of SACE. I am advised that the hotel plans to continue this community involvement by employing locally, trading locally, purchasing locally and also spending locally. The complex currently consists of a three bar, hotel, restaurant, bistro, conference/function centre, 21 self-contained rooms in the main building and 30 self-contained motel style units in the garden/pool area. The funding committed from the Riverland Futures Fund is directed to both internal and external upgrades of the hotel's motel units, hotel rooms and conference/function centre facilities and amenities.

The Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund is a $20 million rolling fund available over four years to facilitate the region's recovery by encouraging further investment in existing businesses and also assisting the region to diversify its economic base, attract new business and new investment.

Proponents complete an application form and are required to provide detailed financials, company business plans and project-specific information. All applications are lodged directly to my department for assessment against local strategic priorities, economic impact and also financial viability. My department undertakes comprehensive financial due diligence and assesses projects against prescribed guidelines and assessment criteria.

I understand that the RDA Murraylands and Riverland considers that the hotel is a significant contributor to the local economy. Indeed, the hotel provides a venue for social events, conferences and functions for local service clubs such as Rotary, Lions, the Chamber of Commerce, Apex, Zonta and Probus.

The revitalised conference centre will help the Loxton Community Hotel fill a gap in the region's existing small to medium hospitality and conference market and it is expected that the completion of this approximately $1.7 million project will help attract a wider range of conference customers to the hotel. In addition to the conference facilities, the project will involve the upgrading of motel units. The upgraded units will form part of a combination of high-quality accommodation at varying price levels in a key Riverland town. The upgrade is planned to begin in early 2012 and is set to be completed by mid-2013. I congratulate the proponents on their innovative proposal.