FISHERMAN BAY SHACKS

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:17): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, a question regarding shacks at Fisherman Bay.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: I was recently contacted by a number of constituents who hold life tenure leases for crown shack sites at Fisherman Bay, located at Port Broughton. These constituents are concerned because the rent for the shack sites has recently skyrocketed—in some cases by 400 per cent. In many circumstances, these shacks have been there for over 50 years and have been a base for annual family holidays. Shack owners along the Coorong also faced a similar situation in 2009 when rent for shack sites dramatically increased, based, in my opinion, on a flawed and incomplete valuation report.

In both circumstances, shack owners were advised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that they were able to apply to the department for a reconsideration of their rent. However, shack owners were not made aware of their rights to apply for a ministerial review of the rent or a further review by the Valuer-General as outlined under sections 65 and 66 of the Crown Land Management Act 2009. My questions are:

1. Given that section 65 and 66 reviews were discussed during the conversation about shack rents along the Coorong, why was no mention made of these review rights to Fisherman Bay shack owners recently?

2. Does the minister intend to inform shack owners of their rights in the future?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his very important question about shacks at Fisherman Bay and, particularly, rental prices for shacks on crown land. I undertake to take that question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation in another place and bring back a response.