South Para Reservoir Public Access

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions regarding public access to the South Para Reservoir.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Like many people from the northern metropolitan Gawler, Barossa and Adelaide Plains communities, I remember family visits in my younger days to the spectacular spillway site and picnic areas at the South Para Reservoir. Indeed, there once were traffic lights operating to regulate the flow of traffic in the public areas of the reservoir reserve. In recent years, SA Water has closed the reservoir to public access. As a result, the areas previously visited by people from all over South Australia and beyond have become overgrown with weeds.

Next year will be the 60^th anniversary of the opening of the reservoir in 1958, after a 10-year construction period. Family members of construction workers from that period have contacted me regarding the potential for cleaning up and restoring the sites of the former accommodation areas for married and single employees adjacent to the construction area. My questions are:

1. What plans, if any, does SA Water have to mark the 60^th anniversary of the reservoir, at that time the largest water storage facility in South Australia?

2. If so, do the plans incorporate relevant recognition of the many migrants who performed much of the construction work?

3. Is consideration being given by SA Water to reopening the relevant sections of the South Para Reservoir Reserve to acknowledge the cultural and historical elements of the construction phase?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. Again, I need to hold up the Hon. John Dawkins as a paramount example to the opposition about how to ask questions in this place. I have to say, the front bench usually comes up with questions that we prepared answers for about six months ago (or, in the Hon. Mr Ridgway's situation, seven to 15 years ago) and we have them waiting and waiting. The Hon. Mr Dawkins comes into this place—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Here we go again, Mr Ridgway leading with his chin, when his own Prime Minister has made a habit and a pattern of exploring scientific expert advice, and he comes in here complaining about an article from 2003. His own Prime Minister (from the Liberal Party at a national level) is the chap who is a leading example for the Liberals about ignoring expert advice, and the Hon. Mr Ridgway raises the issue again. He has no understanding of his own lack of ability in this area.

But, the Hon. John Dawkins behind him shows how you should ask questions. They are considered questions, they are thoughtful questions, they contain in them incredibly useful hints for government. And I have to say, I don't have an answer for him. That has not happened in this place from the front bench. Besides commending the Hon. John Dawkins for his incredibly prescient questions, his thoughtful questions and the useful comments he has made in asking those questions, I will take that on notice and ask SA Water to give me some comments that I can bring back for the honourable member in this chamber.