Mount Gambier

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:24): I rise today to speak about my home town of Mount Gambier and some of the policies that we have announced for our state's second biggest city. Too often we talk about how regional centres get forgotten, but from a Liberal perspective, certainly, Mount Gambier will not be forgotten as we lead into 2026. This suite of policies includes things that I know the community has been calling for for a great number of years, such as the Vansittart Park redevelopment.

Vansittart Park is a beautiful oval and accompanying gardens that sit right in the centre of Mount Gambier, and the upgrade to Vansittart Park will be crucial for the city. It will ensure that that infrastructure can support major events. There will be a refurbishment of the beautiful grandstand that sits at Vansittart Park, the development of new clubrooms and a function centre for the North Gambier club to use, and an upgrade to facilities that is going to enhance community health, inclusivity and sporting excellence—and, hopefully, we will be able to see some AFL games down there. Maybe we can convince the government and the AFL to consider Gather Round a truly South Australian event and have a few games down our way.

Another policy that I am very passionate about, and something that unfortunately we have seen this government turn their back on, is radiotherapy on the Limestone Coast. Many people in this chamber—indeed, in this parliament—would remember the 16,000-signature petition that was tabled right here from people across the Limestone Coast advocating for this essential service to reduce the financial stress on patients having to travel from Mount Gambier to Adelaide and back again, or over to Warrnambool and back again. We are talking about delivering positive outcomes for having treatment closer to home because, again, we know that your postcode should not determine your health outcomes but, unfortunately, it does. The Liberals will back in radiotherapy for the Limestone Coast and our regions.

We have also announced that we will establish a Sea Rescue operation out of Port Mac. It is vital for improving maritime and inland safety because not only will we have a large vessel for the coast, we will also have a smaller vessel for inland water rescues, such as the beautiful Glenelg River, which we actually do have a little bit of here in South Australia at Donovans and some other lakes around our region.

Of course, everyone knows I bang on about public transport. We are doing something about regional public transport, backing an on-demand public transport trial in Mount Gambier. This has seen huge community and council support and is going to broaden access for Mount Gambier residents to be able to get where they need to go on on-demand public transport with a trial there, and for only 50¢ as well; I want to remind people about that.

Another thing that we have announced—and there is a lot there; I am not sure I am going to get through it all in the five minutes I have—is the Crater Lakes bike park and trail precinct. If anyone has been to Mount Gambier, you look up to the Centenary Tower and see the beautiful Crater Lakes. There is huge potential for tourism right there. I have banged on about this a lot over the years: we need some hero attractions in Mount Gambier to ensure that people stay another day. What this will do is develop modern trails for mountain bicyclists, trail runners and people who just want to enjoy nature. It is going to be a huge tourist attraction. A dedicated trails precinct will position the Limestone Coast as a leading adventure tourism destination. It will boost local business and it will boost local accommodation as well, which is something that I think we can all get around.

Another thing that I have spoken about in this chamber a couple of times is long-term funding for In Home Hospice Care, the amazing organisation of volunteers who assist people at end of life to be able to pass away in their homes—not in some cold hospital, but with their loved ones. It is an amazing organisation, as I said. It enables individuals to have dignity and to spend their end of life with family, and they will get the investment that they need to be able to deliver that service. Unfortunately, they keeping asking the government and the government is not there to give them the money they need, and it is such a small amount: about $150,000 a year, if that, to continue what they are doing.

We have also announced a nature tourism plan for Greater Mount Gambier because Mount Gambier is not just the city: it is Port Mac, it is Allendale, it is those beautiful little township hamlets. We will have a coastal walk development. We will upgrade the Little Blue with toilets and signage. It is going to be great. Mount Gambier, here we go.