Natural Resources Committee: Northern and Yorke Regional Fact Finding Visit

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (20:02): I move

That the report of the committee on the Northern and Yorke regional fact finding visit be noted.

On 22 and 23 March 2017, the Natural Resources Committee visited the Natural Resources Northern and Yorke region as part of its regular schedule of visits to the state's eight natural resources management regions. On the visit with me were fellow committee members, presiding member the Hon. Steph Key, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire, the Hon. Mr Dawkins and Mr Peter Treloar MP. We were accompanied by the member for Goyder, Mr Steven Griffiths.

The committee observed firsthand many interesting projects undertaken with support from the Natural Resources Northern and Yorke staff and Northern and Yorke NRM board, and we appreciated the opportunities to meet with a range of local NRM practitioners. Among those accompanying the committee on this visit and providing comprehensive background information and commentary were NRNY regional director Trevor Naismith, Northern and Yorke NRM board presiding member Eric Somerville and DEWNR operations coordinator, Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary, Mr Ian Falkenberg.

Operations manager, Yorke Peninsula Council, Stephen Goldsworthy; district manager, Yorke Peninsula, Terry Boyce; DEWNR manager, planning and programs, Dr Andy Sharp; DEWNR ranger Van Teubner; DEWNR team leader, Yorke district, Max Barr; Copper Coast Council Mayor Paul Thomas; Copper Coast Council CEO Peter Harder; Yorke Peninsula Council Mayor Ray Agnew; and Yorke Peninsula Council CEO Andrew Cameron also generously gave of their time to meet with us.

The committee visited only the peninsula region on this trip. For the last year, 2016, the committee visited part of the same NRM region closer to Adelaide as part of the Pinery bushfire fact-finding visit. The findings of the previous trip are contained in the 116^th report of the Natural Resources Committee tabled on 5 July 2016. Over the two days of this trip, the committee visited sites along the Yorke Peninsula, including parks and campgrounds and local government offices. Throughout the trip, committee members had the opportunity to speak with many DEWNR regional staff as well as members and staff of local government and various communities.

On the first day, the committee heard about the importance of samphire vegetation communities to the coastal ecology, critical fish nurseries in the mangroves at Clinton Conservation Park and the role played by the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary in providing habitat for migratory and resident shorebirds. At Ardrossan the committee had the opportunity to hear about the Yorke Peninsula’s newly-developed 500-kilometre walking trail and the development of a new artificial reef. Members also viewed the monument to seven sperm whales beached in 2014.

The committee next visited the Maitland council offices to hear an interesting presentation by Ben Wundersitz from Anna Binna farm, about their experiences developing sustainable agriculture and Aboriginal employment in the region. Mr Wundersitz’s presentation was followed closely by a visit to Stansbury and discussions with local oyster grower representatives. Later that day the committee visited Peesey Swamp and, during an overnight stay at Innes National Park, had the opportunity to listen to natural resources N&Y staff explain the potential benefits of re-wilding the Peninsula.

On the second day, while at Innes National Park, the committee visited the Ethel wreck, or what is left of it, West Cape and a number of campgrounds in the park, as well as hearing about the potential for opening up access points to the north via Browns Beach. After leaving Innes National Park the committee visited Daly Heads to hear about weed management and other coastal issues. The committee also visited Point Turton to learn more about and see evidence of coastal erosion. Later that afternoon, the committee returned to Adelaide.

I commend the members of the committee—Presiding Member, the Hon. Steph Key, the Hon. Robert Brokenshire, the Hon. John Dawkins, Mr Jon Gee MP, Mr Peter Treloar MP, and Paul Caica MP—for their contributions. All members have worked cooperatively on this report. Finally, I thank the parliamentary staff for their assistance. I commend the report to the council.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (20:07): Here again I rise to support the Hon. Mr Gazzola’s motion and the way in which he has, I think, covered a wide range of issues and topics that were brought to our attention throughout the length of Yorke Peninsula. As he said, from as far apart as Port Clinton right down to Innes National Park, and a number of places in between.

There was a whole range of things and I think the honourable member has highlighted them. I think the information we received about the importance of the north-western side of Gulf St Vincent to the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary was valuable. The Walk the Yorke project, as the honourable member said, covers some 500 kilometres of walking trails right down one side of Yorke Peninsula, down the bottom and up the top. In fact, I think it even starts at Port Wakefield. I have run into a number of people since then who are walking enthusiasts and who have done sections of it. I think there is one person who has even done the whole walk—not all at once, I do not believe—you would need a bit of time.

The Hon. Mr Gazzola mentioned the sustainable farming practices that Mr Wundersitz gave evidence about. I was particularly fascinated with that because he has taken up farming, leasing a lot of land that is some of the less productive land on Yorke Peninsula, including some on the Point Pearce Aboriginal community. What he has been able to achieve, with his staff and particularly with the members of the Point Pearce community, is particularly impressive.

We noted it on the day, and I certainly learned more about the way in which he and some of his colleagues are involved in the Fat Farmers fitness project, quite an impressive thing. Like us in this job, a lot of the farmers today who are basically permanent croppers, while they probably have more physical activity than we do at times, spend a lot of time sitting on their backside, like we do. That project was particularly impressive as well.

The whole trip was indicative of the reason the Natural Resources Committee regularly gets out into the regions to see the things that are happening and, as I said earlier, there was an extraordinarily wide array of things that were brought to our attention. With that, I commend the report to the council.

Motion carried.