Bills

Port Pirie Racecourse Site Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 2 December 2015.)

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (11:03): I rise on behalf of the Liberal Party to indicate our support for this very important bill. This bill is intended to amend the Port Pirie Racecourse Site Act 1946, enabling powers for the sublet of land for commercial application. Recently, the Minister for Racing indicated his intention to introduce the bill and that, of course, has been done as a hybrid bill, meaning that a select committee will be formed, and that is being dealt with.

The Port Pirie Harness Racing Club has been approached by developers who would like to secure crown land currently under the care and control of the club. The request is to establish a bulk goods major retail precinct to include the construction of a supermarket. The proposed development could involve an investment of in excess of $60 million and create a minimum of 200 jobs.

This land is subject to the 1946 act, which dictates the use of the land. Essentially, the racing club is hoping to change the act to enable it to lease the land to the developer and use the proceeds to upgrade their facilities. This bill seeks to amend the act to ensure that the minister has the power to lease or sell the land on the terms and conditions that he believes are appropriate.

The said land lies between the central business district of Port Pirie and the Centro shopping centre and is seen by the Port Pirie council as an ideal location for this type of development. Harness Racing South Australia says the amendment will enable the club to generate much-needed revenue for the club to reinvest in local racing at Port Pirie. Given that the Liberal Party consistently supports the racing industry, the harness racing industry and the greyhound racing industry, we are very pleased to support this bill and wish it a speedy passage.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (11:05): It appears there are no further speakers, so I will move to my summing up remarks. I would like to thank the Hon. Terry Stephens for his comments on behalf of the opposition.

At present, the Port Pirie Racecourse Site Act 1946 vests the defined land located in Port Pirie to the racing club on the basis that it can only be used for the objects of the club (i.e. purposes relating to horseracing). This bill provides the means for land vested in the club under the 1946 act to be used for purposes other than those currently permitted by the act.

The bill allows the club to grant another person or body a right to use the land vested in the club for purposes other than those for which the club was established. This is on the proviso that the lease, licence or easement involving the defined land is approved by the minister responsible for the act, being the Minister for Racing, by notice in writing. The minister's approval can be subject to such terms and conditions that the minister considers necessary or appropriate and specified in the approval notice.

The bill includes provisions to the effect that if the defined land is not used by the club for the purposes for which the club was established or if a party to an approved lease, licence or easement does not comply with the terms and conditions of the lease, licence or easement, the minister can, by notice in writing, require the club to take such action to remedy the default as the minister thinks fit and specifies in the notice.

Being a hybrid bill, it was considered by the select committee, as the Hon. Terry Stephens noted, in the other place and the report, tabled by the House of Assembly on 19 November 2015, recommended that the bill be passed by the House of Assembly without amendment as soon as possible and it be sent to the Legislative Council for consideration.

The changes in this bill will mean that the Minister for Racing will have the ability to authorise activities, including commercial activities, on the Port Pirie Racecourse site, that are unrelated to horseracing, with appropriate conditions.

The passing of this bill, as noted by the Hon. Terry Stephens, will enable the possibility of a commercial and regional centre development at Port Pirie in the area of the defined land that is currently not being used for racing and this will provide, if it goes ahead, job support and economic growth development in the regional community and surrounding regions which we believe is vitally important. We commend the bill to the house.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

Bill taken through committee without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (11:08): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.