EYRE PENINSULA

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Regional Development, and Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about Eyre Peninsula.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: Eyre Peninsula is home to many communities that play an important role in South Australia's economy and future growth. Port Lincoln agriculture, fishing and tourist industries are of great economic importance to the area and to South Australia. Can the minister advise the chamber about her recent visit to Port Lincoln?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:31): What about the status of women? I had a status of women visit as well while I was there.

The PRESIDENT: I did not think he asked the Minister for the Status of Women, but if it is relevant to the answer, minister, I am sure you will provide that information to the chamber.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President, and I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I had the great pleasure to travel to the Port Lincoln area on 14 and 15 March to visit some of the local councils, meet with elected members and tour and meet with a number of businesses in the area. At the beginning of my trip, I visited the Kinkawooka Mussels operation, a family owned and operated business run by a father-and-son team, Bob and Andrew Puglisi. Kinkawooka Mussels was established in 1976 and, along with mussels, has been growing and harvesting premium shellfish products to the highest standards of environmental quality since.

I am advised that, at the 2011 Delicious Produce Awards, Kinkawooka Mussels took out the overall award for producer of the year, which is impressive. During my visit with Bob and Andrew, they were kind enough to give me a tour through their mussel-packing operations, and it was a very interesting tour. From the initial cleaning stages, I watched as mussels were sorted and then placed in a vacuum-sealed pack containing their own natural juices and Boston Bay sea water. I understood that this unique packing technique gives the mussels a shelf life of 10 days and keeps the mussels in premium condition.

The tour was followed by a drive to Cummins, where I met with staff and elected members, including the mayor, Julie Low, and CEO Rod Pearson of the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula. I am advised that the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula has a resident population of approximately 4,900 people and covers roughly 4,771 square kilometres—almost a person per square kilometre. I was pleased to be able to discuss local issues over lunch at the local Cummins pub and I appreciated being able to view their new council chambers. It is a very lovely building and very much reflects the natural beauty of the surrounds. They have done a wonderful job there.

For my next visit I went to the City of Port Lincoln council offices, where I met with Bruce Green and the CEO, Geoff Dodd. I was able to hear about some of the development projects that the council is involved in and I also got a real sense of the council's direction and focus for the future. I was very pleased to hear about their work upgrading the existing Parnkalla Trail, which they hope to extend further. It is a wonderful trail. When I stay there I often run along that trail, and rather than having to run along the road they are going to take the trail back down along the beach so that it can continue along there; so it will be absolutely fabulous and I look forward to that.

One of my last meetings was with the South Australian Oyster Growers Association (SAOGA). SAOGA was established in 1989 and represents and supports SA oyster growers at a national, state and regional level. I am advised that approximately 98 per cent of all oyster licence holders in South Australia are members of SAOGA. The South Australian oyster industry in 2010-11 was valued at approximately $35 million and produced approximately 6,150 tonnes of oysters. I met with the president, Jill Coates, who is also a member of the Aquaculture Advisory Committee, and vice president Jed Rutledge, who, I was very interested to know, has been awarded the Australian Rural Leadership Scholarship. I was very interested to hear about it. It is wonderful to see such young talent being cultivated and mentored in the region. It is really wonderful.

Very briefly, I was able to enjoy visiting with a representative from Regional Development Australia, a delegate from Port Lincoln Women in Business, and also a local farmer. These were just a few of the very many organisations, businesses and people that I had the opportunity to spend time with whilst in Port Lincoln. Port Lincoln is a vibrant community and plays a very important role in our state's future. It was a most enjoyable visit, and I was delighted to see the level of prosperity and innovation going on in that area.