ANDAMOOKA

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (16:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about the township of Andamooka.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I understand the minister recently visited Andamooka and met with local residents about the future growth of this unique community. Can the minister provide further information on the township of Andamooka?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (16:39): I would like to thank the honourable member for his very important question, and I am sure he has flown over Andamooka on a number of occasions.

Members would be aware that the township of Andamooka is in our state's Far North. It evolved from a group of miners searching for opal. The town now supports the mining industry, tourism, several local businesses, a primary school and other services. I happened to visit Andamooka in December last year and met representatives of the Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners Association, known as APOMA. I heard firsthand how a fast-growing and diversified population is increasing pressure on the volunteers who form APOMA—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable minister has the floor.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: —and deliver local management and services. The proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam mining project has created an expectation that the township may attract new residents seeking accommodation and work outside of Roxby Downs. Andamooka has evolved through changing circumstances, and APOMA has identified the way the local community manages its own affairs and how they must adapt well to it.

I am pleased to advise the chamber that together with the Outback Communities Authority the Andamooka Town Management Committee has been formed to guide future growth of the community. The new committee held its first meeting in January and resolved to build on the impressive contribution and work of APOMA in advancing the interests of the town.

The establishment of a management committee ensures that there is a structure to run local affairs without an over-reliance on volunteers, while maintaining a close relationship with the Outback Communities Authority to address issues such as town maintenance and waste disposal. The management committee is made up of representatives of the Outback Communities Authority and APOMA.

The committee will also be independently chaired by Ms Cecilia Woolford. One of the pressing tasks of the management committee is to draft a proposal for a community contribution scheme, which will provide a much needed source of revenue to support management, infrastructure and service delivery required by the regional township.

Furthermore, the Outback Communities Authority and APOMA, with my support, have agreed to appoint a town manager to oversee public services and essential infrastructure and to provide advice on plans for the future. The job and person specification is currently being drafted, and the position will be advertised shortly. I would like to say on behalf of the members on this side of the chamber that I wish the management committee all the best in their future work.