Adelaide Hills

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:22): My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the minister give the council an update on his recent Adelaide Hills visit?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in that spectacular region known as the Adelaide Hills. The Adelaide Hills is home to some of South Australia's best businesses and tourism operators. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit for the first time the expanded Beerenberg family farm, Sidewood Estate and the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre.

Tourism flourishes in the Adelaide Hills, and the tourism operators continue to adapt to the ever-changing needs and interests of both interstate and international tourists. Members would all know that Beerenberg, especially, has been an institution in Hahndorf, but in the last few years they have expanded and built a big factory at the back of their existing facilities.

Of course, they now sell their products in international resorts and to international airlines in 24 countries around the world. It is a wonderful facility of some 6,500 square metres and they are able to shift some 15 tonnes of products in a single shift. Beerenberg are looking forward to our expansions into the US market and our trade office opening in Houston.

I also had the pleasure of visiting Sidewood Estate's development at the entrance of Hahndorf. The development will be home to a 150-seat restaurant, a cellar door and a retail shop, another stunning example of the Adelaide Hills tourism operators diversifying the offerings that further enhance a fantastic region.

The Adelaide Hills Convention Centre is a wonderful credit to the owners, Brian and Lynn Schirripa, who bought the property when it was run down, after they sold their mushroom farm at Monarto, and have developed it into a spectacular facility that has now won three best business events awards at the South Australian Tourism Awards and is in the Hall of Fame.

It has won two of those awards nationally and now is in line, if it wins it in February next year, to go into the national Hall of Fame as the best business event facility in Australia. I think we should be very proud of those three businesses that continue to offer a wonderful diverse and quality product in the Adelaide Hills.