Question Time

Thriving Regions Fund

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:51): My question is for the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the Thriving Regions Fund Enabling Infrastructure Program. Will the minister update the chamber on the successful thriving regions enabling infrastructure application for additional short-term worker accommodation and services in Lock?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his question. It is particularly pertinent given that the provision of accommodation is, of course, most important for filling South Australian jobs, of which we want to see far more—both of the accommodation and of the jobs.

I am thrilled to announce that the District Council of Elliston has been granted $665,000 to build short-term worker accommodation at Lock through the state government's Enabling Infrastructure Program. The $665,000 is a significant contribution toward the project's overall cost of almost $1 million.

The Enabling Infrastructure Program is a component of the $15 million Thriving Regions Fund, aimed at providing support for the community and economic-enabling infrastructure projects. The Lock project will provide much-needed accommodation to support the needs of short-term workers who are hired for the T-Ports grain processing facility and Viterra during the harvest period. The project will combat long-distance travel for some workers to access their workplace with the project building two cabins: one two-bedroom cabin and one four-bedroom studio cabin.

Lock and the surrounding district are dependent on the income generated during the grain harvest, and having workers accommodated locally will boost local businesses such as the hotel, deli and supermarket, and increase the economic wellbeing of the community. Increased short-term housing will lead to additional people in town, supporting the entire district, not just the town itself. When the accommodation is not in use by short-term workers, tourists will be able to enjoy the accommodation, leading to a different type of visitor to town.

The Labor government has been diligent in understanding the needs of regional communities and has framed the Thriving Regions Fund Enabling Infrastructure Program to best focus on key regional initiatives. This project is a perfect example of what the Enabling Infrastructure Program sets out to achieve by supporting the development of infrastructure for the wider benefit of our regional communities.

Each application submitted through the Enabling Infrastructure Program has to demonstrate delivery against the majority of the following program objectives:

value-added investment in priority community infrastructure that improves quality of life and/or attracts and retains people in our regions; and/or

enabling infrastructure to attract and retain businesses (goods and services) in region and support a strong regional economy; and

collaboration with other projects, programs or initiatives; and

has broad regional community benefit; and

has considered latent and future demand.

The Lock project will commence within six months, and I look forward to it demonstrating its success within the local community for many years to come.