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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-25 Daily Xml
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Address in Reply

ADDRESS IN REPLY

Adjourned debate on motion for adoption (resumed on motion).

Mr BROCK (Frome) (15:49): I will continue my remarks. With the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide having been formulated and being reviewed, this parliament must not forget the other parts of the states that are not closely connected to the Greater Adelaide area. The state's population is projected to reach 1.64 million by 2014 and 2 million by 2029. This growth cannot be sustained within the Greater Adelaide region. As a state, we must ensure that the outer regional areas are encouraged to grow, for these are the areas that will produce the requirement for this growth in our state's population. These are the areas from where the resource industry will sustain its viability, agriculture and also our food production.

Adelaide's water requirements are being accommodated by the provision of the new desalination plant at Port Stanvac, as well as from the city's nearby water catchments. However, the rest of the state is reliant upon the River Murray, and we even have areas of the state that have no access to the River Murray. As a state, we must look at alternative avenues of supply to assure not only human reliance upon this but also assure the requirements of growing industries, the resource sector in particular. The health of the River Murray is deteriorating. We can continue to reduce offtake from the River Murray to maintain its health as best we can, but we must remember that we are at the tail end of the Murray Darling Basin.

While we may reduce the offtake and usage of water from the River Murray, we are also decimating the food bowl, a very proud food bowl in years gone by. Members down that way will have seen it; it is deteriorating very quickly, and we are now importing most of our food products from overseas. In that regard, I have recently had conversations with a firm called Windesal in relation to the opportunity of building a wind turbine desalination plant for Port Pirie. This project will not damage the environment of the gulf because all the brine and waste will be contained on the ground and processed into soda ash, as well as biofuels. It will be operated by two or three turbines, and is different to the project proposed for Whyalla with no brine or any other impurities going back into the Gulf. I have spoken to the Minister for Water Security as well as the Premier regarding this opportunity.

In his speech to parliament the Governor also mentioned the issue of the continuing and growing number of road fatalities and long-term injuries. We must continue to promote road safety, and look at issues with regard to alcohol interlock systems fitted to vehicles. Whilst we may implement these measures, we must also ensure that our road systems, particularly those in regional South Australia, are maintained and improved. Some of those roads have been there for many years and are in very bad condition; in most cases not a lot of maintenance has been carried out. I have to say that this is not a recent occurrence; it has been the case over many years, and both sides of politics need to share the blame.

I believe that we should establish school training for driver education not only for our secondary schools but also in the latter part of the primary system. I can speak from experience: if you lose someone in a road accident it has long-term effects not only on yourself but also on your family and your friends. It is in this area that I notice the government will recruit an extra 300 police officers for South Australia, and I certainly hope that this number increases the net number of officers serving our communities. It is okay to say that we are recruiting an extra number of police officers, but we must also understand the number of resignations and retirements. In addition, we must ensure that we are aware of where these extra police officers are to be stationed: will it be operational duties, administrative duties, or as traffic escorts for the growing number of large items of mining equipment and houses that are being transported through Adelaide to regional areas of South Australia?

This state has the greatest opportunity for growth in its history. It is a window of opportunity, and we must not let it slip.

Motion carried.

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