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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
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Adjournment Debate

RIVERLAND SPRING EVENTS

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (17:14): I would like to continue my remarks from earlier on today about spring in October in the Riverland and the Mallee. I particularly want to touch on the launch of wi-fi across the Riverland region this coming week, and I am delighted to be a part of that.

I will be launching the first of the wi-fi access in Waikerie on Friday morning. I think it is a great contribution not only to tourism but to making it easy to access information—easy for tourists and easy for passing trade to come into the region and access that information on where to stay, where to eat and where to go. I think it really is a great thing, particularly on the back of the launch of Destination Riverland's new website, and it really is a fantastic website.

Tourism is one of those industries that the Riverland and Mallee have always embraced, but we are now seeing more tools in place, we are now seeing businesses being developed, and we are seeing them being developed with very little government help, so I think that is a great achievement. In saying that, I do look with envy at some of the other regions in South Australia that the government is backing.

The government is putting the spotlight on some of those regions, and I am calling on the Minister for Tourism to give some more consideration to putting a bit more of a spotlight on some of the other regions, particularly the Riverland, and helping with tourism. We are not looking for the big dollar package they are tipping into some of the other regions, but we are looking for a hand up to help.

In saying that, the opening of the Renmark Club is coming up this Friday, which is part of a multimillion dollar renovation. The town of Renmark is abuzz because not only is it one of the best vantage points on the River Murray in the Murray Darling Basin but it is a fantastic facility and it has probably some of the most spectacular views of the river. Right before that, Renmark will be opening up their wi-fi, so that is great to see.

With the opening of the club and the wi-fi, and with what it has achieved and offers with its upgrading and its food packages, the Renmark Club has now been acknowledged as one of the top regional clubs in the state, particularly as a destination wedding venue. It is great to see that the Renmark Club is again wooing people from all parts of Australia who are coming just for a wedding. They are not people who have lived there or who are coming home for a wedding: they are people who have recognised what a beautiful place it is and want to come and be a part of it.

The Renmark Rose Festival will again be packing out the streets and, as I have already said, we have the famous Ruston's Roses. David Ruston is world famous for his arrangements and renowned for his different varieties of roses that have been named after him or put into bud lines in respect of what he has achieved over many years within that industry.

We have many gardens that are open. This year, we have a record 24 gardens open and more than 30 attractions around the town. The place is coming alive in spring, particularly with the blooms of flowers and roses, and the climate is particularly suited to roses and producing some of the best displays of roses anywhere in the nation. The accommodation is booked out, buses will be visiting and, of course, Renmark already has its own rose named after it.

Also being held in the region is the Wine and Food Festival. That always attracts many people from outside the region, which is great news because it brings people into the region to explore some of the new alternative wine varieties. Believe me, Mr Deputy Speaker, you will be hearing more about some of these alternative varieties. There are a lot of Mediterranean varieties that are easy to drink. They are new styles that come out of the Riverland.

They are a style of wine that now complements the region. We are not trying to compete with some of the cooler climate areas with the standard varieties such as shiraz, cabernet, chardonnay and the like. We are growing some unique warm climate varieties that have a unique taste and unique characteristics about them. I note that Ashley Ratcliff is part of that alternative wine group and has just been named horticulturalist of the year, so congratulations to him.

Before I wind up, I will mention some other events. We have the Relay for Life taking place in the region. We also have the Loveday 4x4 Adventure Park Challenge coming up. Anyone who has been on the Sturt Highway after a weekend may have noticed 4x4s coming back covered in mud. Those people have probably been to the Loveday 4x4 Adventure Park and had the time of their life.

There is accommodation on the river with adventure tracks, challenging tracks and driver training. I think the Whateley family do a fantastic job in bringing visitors to the region for the benefit of not only tourism and the region but also people who are car enthusiasts or 4x4 adventurers. They can go and safely explore these tracks and put their vehicle to the test.

There is also the Tri-State Rodders 28th Annual Campout/Car Show taking place in the region. That is another motoring event that will be on display in the Riverland. I know the member for Schubert is a very keen car enthusiast; not that he is a keen Tri-State Rodder, but he is very keen on restoration and the like with his car collection.

Spring in October in the Riverland and Mallee is really alive. With our growing tourism market, I am very encouraged by the number of events that attract tens of thousands of people to the region. Visitors are vitally boosting our economy, and there is no doubt that October is proving to bring in a very important influx of tourists.

As I have said, I watch with envy some of the other regions that the government has shone its spotlight on with funding, endorsement and boosting tourism. I think it is probably the Riverland and the Mallee's turn. I think the government should turn its attention to this region and share a bit of support and maybe some funds to better support the tourism industry.

I think Destination Riverland is doing a magnificent job, as are the businesses and the people of the Riverland, looking at supporting an industry. It is a growing industry, but it is an industry that is vital to our economy. Mr Deputy Speaker, it is spring in October and, if you have a spare moment, do feel free to visit the Riverland and Mallee.

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