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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-03 Daily Xml
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CYCLING

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (16:29): It will come as no surprise that today I wish to speak about cycling. From the staging of the most successful Tour Down Under to the building of criterium tracks and bike paths, Adelaide can be considered the undisputed Australian capital of cycling. We are home to over 200,000 recreational and sporting cyclists. We have the highest percentage of people cycling to work of any capital city. A record number of amateurs—over 7,000—took part in the Mutual Community Challenge this year, and more than 750,000 South Australians turned out to make the 2009 Tour Down Under the most-attended sporting event in Australian history.

Whilst in the past I might have drawn some strange looks for being known as the pollie who rides her bike everywhere come rain, hail or shine, I am pleased to see that many more people are following my example. I am delighted that South Australia has been so gripped with cycling fever, and I am proud to be part of a government which continues to invest in making sure that that fever never breaks.

The 2009 Tour Down Under has been a stunning success and an enormous triumph for South Australia. We have had record crowds, record visitor numbers from interstate and overseas and record dollars pumped into the local economy, which all adds up to a tour that was bigger and better than ever. It was fantastic to be at the Norwood Town Hall at the start of Stage 1 of the tour to witness Lance Armstrong's comeback.

There is little doubt that Lance contributed a great deal to the excitement and interest in this year's tour, and I am sure we all applaud his courage and commitment through his LIVESTRONG foundation to fight cancer globally. Although I am sure it was the dream of many and the stuff of legend that Lance would go on to win his first comeback race, it was not to be. However, it was a worthy win for Allan Davis from Queensland, who was the only person to have participated in every tour. We look forward to seeing all the cyclists and teams back again next year.

Although media publicity and excitement are important for a specific event, it is even more important to ensure that interest and enthusiasm are maintained all year round and this is where the Rann government has stepped up to the mark. Since we came to office in 2002, we have spent $95 million (or $13.5 million a year) on cycling related projects, not including the Tour Down Under. This year the government announced initial funding of $1 million towards a 32-kilometre shared use path through the Adelaide Hills, from Oakbank to Mount Pleasant, and officially opened the 37-kilometre Coast to Vines Trail, between Marino Rocks and Willunga, to which it contributed $1.2 million.

During our time in office, we have overseen a 50 per cent increase in bike lanes and paths in and around Adelaide, from 480 kilometres of tracks and lanes in 2002 to 720 in 2009, and we are committed to another 145 kilometres opening over the next two years. One project I was very pleased to see completed was the construction of stage 1 of the cycling criterium circuit in Victoria Park. This was a promise we made to the cycling community, and it is a promise that we have kept. The project involved constructing a 130-metre section of the circuit, connecting the existing east and west side of the motor sport track and providing a complete loop measuring 1,200 metres. The criterium was a great outcome for mums and dads wanting to teach their children to ride in a safe environment, as well as providing valuable and safe infrastructure for many cycling clubs throughout the state, which no longer will have to compete with heavy trucks on the roads when they are participating in the criteriums.

It has certainly been a great time for cycling in South Australia, with the Oceania Championships at the SuperDrome last November to the Tour Down Under last month. It is fantastic to see so many events coming to our state—and that is not all. This week we have the Australian Track Championships; in March, we have the Australian Junior Track Championships; and, in February next year, the Senior National Track Cycling Championships. They are all great events and all held at our magnificent SuperDrome. I encourage everyone to go and cheer on all those fantastic cyclists from across Australia.

As members are aware, I am passionate about cycling. Its benefits are many—from helping to maintain a healthy active lifestyle to the many positive outcomes it provides for the environment. I am thrilled that so many people are getting on their bikes and becoming part of the cycling revolution. I congratulate all who were involved in making the 2009 Tour Down Under the most attended sporting event in Australian history, when more than 750,000 South Australians participated.

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