Shack Leases

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Human Services representing the Minister for Environment and Water. Can the minister provide a brief summary of the implementation of the government's shack policy, which includes approximately 300 shacks on Crown land adjacent to the River Murray and Glenelg River and coastal locations in South Australia and 150 shacks in national parks?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his question and once again would like to acknowledge that he has been a staunch supporter of shacks in South Australia throughout his time in this place, along with probably every other political party apart from the Labor Party, who have poured scorn and disparaged shacks, which have been such a large part of South Australia's heritage particularly in regional areas, for many decades.

I am pleased that we have made quite some progress in relation to shacks, both those located on Crown land and shacks located in national parks. To that end, I would like to also acknowledge that there have been leaders in those local regions who I well remember from our fights against the Labor Party, against them trying to turf people out of the places that they had enjoyed for recreation, particularly in summertime, for many decades, including Brett Orr from the Glenelg River, Keith Turner from Milang and Geoff Gallasch from the Coorong. They have also been working with other key stakeholders, including local councils, government agencies and traditional owners, as part of the delivery of our commitment which we took to the last election.

During 2020, applications opened for lessees to apply for longer tenure at their shack sites. Applications closed for lessees located on Crown land on 30 June this year. There were 182 lessees applying for longer tenure from a total of 221 lessees located on Crown land, so that is more than 80 per cent. Applications are still open for lessees in national parks to apply for longer tenure. These will close on 31 December.

Forty-two applications have been received so far from a total of 86, which is approximately half. DEWNR have been processing the applications as they are received, so 45 offers of long-term tenure have already been made, including for shacks that are located at Milang and on the Glenelg River. So far, 30 lessees have returned their signed lease agreements.

I think it is important to point out that there are unique circumstances for each of those shack sites which require bespoke outcomes for each of those, so the government has been pleased to work collaboratively with stakeholders throughout this. I think it is also important to point out that lessees who are located in national parks, including Coorong National Park, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, Little Dip Conservation Park and Kellidie Bay Conservation Park, should consider getting their applications in for longer tenure as soon as possible, so that they can be assessed through that process.