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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-08 Daily Xml
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Surfing Reserve

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:07): I rise to speak in relation to a proposed mid-coast regional surfing reserve along the beautiful South Australian coastline from Christies Beach to Moana which spans both the electorates of Reynell and Kaurna and which people may have seen reported in the media two or three days ago. Just prior to our recent election, the now member for Kaurna and I had the great pleasure of meeting with the surfing community in this area as they began to discuss their proposal. The community has now formed a mid-coast surfing reserve committee, and their discussions to secure surfing reserve status continues. The member for Kaurna and I have both indicated our willingness to support their work.

A surfing reserve is a dedicated area that is protected for use by the general public and surfing community and recognises sites of cultural, sporting and historic significance in Australian surf culture. Importantly, the recognition raises awareness about how crucial it is to protect our precious coastal environment. To date, 24 sites along Australia's 37,000 kilometre coastline have been identified for dedication by the National Surfing Reserves Organisation in partnership with Crown Lands.

Crown Lands has moved to legally reserve declared sites as Crown reserves for the public purpose of surfing recreation. This offers legal protection to a national surfing reserve and highlights the significance of the Crown estate in the surfing culture and Australian lifestyle. The National Surfing Reserves recognises these sites and ensures that they remain protected for generations to come. This model is a first in recognising the iconic status surfing has achieved throughout the world.

There are currently two other reserves in South Australia: one on the Eyre Peninsula and one on the Yorke Peninsula. If the Mid Coast committee is successful in its bid, it will be the first surfing reserve in metropolitan Adelaide. By having it so named, it will mean important avenues for protecting our coastline, signposting significant surfing breaks, providing safety information, marking historic surfing sites, attracting more tourists to the area, advising on surfing etiquette and improving facilities like pathways.

The Mid Coast was one of the places which made me fall in love with our ocean. It is a place I enjoyed as a child, and my family and I continue to enjoy it. The member for Kaurna and I are blessed to have it on our doorsteps, and what we may lack in surfing prowess could be made up for in a strong and shared desire to work with others to protect this coastline and its magnificent surfing breaks for generations to come.

In meeting the committee, we have had the privilege of hearing from some outstanding members of our southern community: long-term surfer and chairwoman, Sue Bennett, who has taught for decades at Wirreanda High School and successfully started their high school surfing program; life member of Christies Beach Surf Life Saving Club, life saver of more than 50 years and former president of Surf Life Saving South Australia, Bill Jamieson OAM; Dick Olenski, who has surfed the Mid Coast since the 1960s; Elaine Farmer OAM, the General Manager of Surf Life Saving South Australia; personnel from South Australia; numerous community members, young and old; and representatives from all of the surf lifesaving clubs in the area, all of whom share our love of the Mid Coast.

It is an extraordinary mix of people from across the southern community who are united in their desire to protect their environment, surfing culture and the fabric of the surfing community. The group is committed to working with all stakeholders in the area—local government, residents, anglers, state government, Surf Life Saving South Australia, Reefwatch and surfing groups, including those who come to surf the spectacular southern breaks from outside the area.

It is currently finalising its vision and goals and, to ensure it appropriately consults with and educates the community, it is shaping a proposal for initial funding to do this. It is a proposal the member for Kaurna and I will continue to support. Residents from electorates all over Adelaide flock to the beaches from Christies Beach to Moana for recreation, and it will be important for us to ensure those beaches are protected into the future. The Mid Coast Surfing Reserve is, indeed, a 'swell' idea, and I look forward to talking about it again in this house.

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