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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-23 Daily Xml
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PARKS COMMUNITY CENTRE

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:04): I seek leave to make a second ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: In October last year, I asked Social Inclusion Commissioner Monsignor David Cappo to conduct a review of the Parks Community Centre. Today I am pleased to table that review in the form of a report entitled The Parks Community Centre: A Practical Approach For The Future, and to announce that the state government supports the vision set out in the report.

Following the announcement in September 2010—in the context of a very tough state budget—that we would cease funding for the centre, the community made it clear that they wanted to keep the services at the Parks. We heard this message loud and clear, and we listened. We committed at that time to work with the Port Adelaide Enfield council and the community to find a new and better solution for the future of the Parks.

The Commissioner for Social Inclusion has mapped out such a plan in this comprehensive and practical vision for the Parks. Before I summarise the recommendations contained in the plan and the state government's response to those recommendations, I think it would be helpful to provide some context for the report that has been tabled today.

The original Parks Community Centre was the creation of the Don Dunstan government in the 1970s. It was an early model of integrated social welfare and education services intended to service the local area known as 'The Parks'. At that time, the area was recognised as being amongst the most disadvantaged in Adelaide.

As noted in the plan, the inner most suburbs to the Parks Community Centre are Angle Park, Athol Park, Mansfield Park, Kilkenny, Woodville North, Ferryden Park, and, adjacent to these, are Regency Park, Croydon Park, Renown Park, Dudley Park and Wingfield.

The plan notes that there has been a vast improvement in key social economic indicators in these suburbs since the 2001 census. The plan also notes that a key driver of this improvement has been the Westwood Urban Renewal Project. This was an initiative of this state government that involved a $600 million regeneration joint venture between an international developer and the Department for Families and Communities, in conjunction with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and the City of Charles Sturt.

In response to these changes in the area, the plan appropriately seeks to change the nature of the parks as a welfare centre to a community hub that fits with the whole western region of metropolitan Adelaide. The plan provides a clear and exciting vision for meeting the needs of the local community. The plan recommends the following five key elements to be delivered in partnership by the state government and the Port Adelaide Enfield council.

It recommends the creation of a recreation and sports hub to include a brand new indoor swimming pool, an upgraded fitness centre, squash courts, an expanded basketball/recreational centre, new tennis courts, shared-use clubrooms and significant new sports fields. It proposes a refurbishment and expansion of the existing children's centre to provide expanded day care services for children in the local area, as well as provide programs and support services for parents.

It also recommends a new purpose-built health centre, a new library and community centre and the development of a new residential and retail area on the western side of the site. The plan also envisages a new urban village for the local community, with a new coffee shop, a town square, car parking, pedestrian boulevards and landscaped outdoor areas. The useable open space on the site is planned to increase.

The commissioner has also recommended a portion of the site be used for housing, including affordable housing, which will enhance the community hub atmosphere of the new Parks. The plan recommends that the government fund the new Parks Community Centre and sport and recreational services, with some of the cost being offset by the retail and residential development.

I am delighted to advise that the state government remains committed to the continuing operation of the Parks Community Centre. The Parks Community Centre isn't going to close. The Parks Community Centre will never close. We support the implementation of the plan in consultation with key stakeholders, such as sporting clubs and, importantly, in partnership with the Port Adelaide Enfield council.

The cooperation of the council as a partner with the state government is vital to the success of the plan and critical to implementing this new vision for modern facilities and services. The plan requires the council to agree to commit a parcel of adjoining land between the centre and Greyhound Racing SA for the successful redevelopment.

In addition, the plan proposes that the state government provides the council with 2,000 square metres of the existing park site for the council to rebuild the library and the community centre. The plan also recommends that the council should own and manage the recreation and sports precinct, which includes the new indoor swimming pool and outdoor sports fields, and clubrooms. We consider that there is great potential for the redeveloped site to become a central sporting hub for the local community. The site could become the new headquarters for a major sporting club and will certainly attract much local use.

The state government will be consulting closely with the council about the proposed recommendations. This process began today with the Deputy Premier meeting with the mayor and the chief executive of the Port Adelaide Enfield council. Implementation of the proposed concept plan is subject to the preparation of a detailed precinct plan, which will be worked out with the council.

To fully implement the plan, some government agencies and community groups that currently use the site may need to move to alternative venues, particularly during the construction phase, and, for some, longer term alternatives may need to be developed. Starting today, government representatives are contacting each of these groups and will be working closely with them to identify new accommodation or other arrangements. People can view the detailed proposal on the Social Inclusion website and, over the next month, provide their feedback. In the meantime, all services will continue to be provided as normal on the site.

I am confident that, with goodwill and with the interest of the community, a suitable arrangement can be reached with the council. But, in any event, the government remains committed to the ongoing operations of the Parks.

I congratulate the social inclusion commissioner on his balanced and integrated recommendations for the Parks Community Centre and look forward to turning his vision into a reality, in collaboration with the community of western Adelaide. I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work that has gone into preparing this concept plan. Monsignor Cappo and his dedicated team in the Social Inclusion Unit of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet consulted directly with more than 650 members of the community, in addition to reviewing past consultation outcomes relating to the future of the Parks.

The SPEAKER: Before I call on the Deputy Premier, can I remind media camera operators that you are only to film people on their feet. It has been reported to me that there has been some filming going on of people not on their feet, and I would remind you of that.

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