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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-02-10 Daily Xml
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Northern Adelaide Food Park

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:52): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Minister, can you advise how many businesses have registered their interest in the Northern Adelaide Food Park, and how is collaboration within industry and within government providing new opportunities for South Australian businesses?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (15:52): I thank the member for Little Para for the question and commend him on the work he is doing for the people in his region as northern Adelaide faces transition from manufacturing based largely around General Motors Holden to something that will look different in the future.

I must say that the Food and Wine Report Card released by the Premier and me last month shows that the growth in food and wine in South Australia has gone up $1.1 billion, that is, from $17.1  billion to $18.2 billion, and 144,000 people (or one in five) working South Australians are employed in the agribusiness sector. So, it is a sector that is doing particularly well. It has always served us well, right back to 1836 when the first European settlement happened in South Australia.

What we are doing as a government is working side by side with the industry, and, while we have always been great primary producers, it is that secondary manufacturing that is happening and the value add that is really increasing the bottom line to South Australia's food and wine economy.

When we listen to the food manufacturers, a lot of them are seeing such growth that they are outgrowing their existing premises. Some are facing pressure from neighbours because they need to operate longer, throughout the night in some cases. Some are having disputes with their neighbours over smells and sounds and other things. They thought it would be a good idea if people could come together in one space. We have had more than 40 companies put in their registration of interest so far. They include food manufacturers, cold chain suppliers, food manufacturing specialists and, of course, transport specialists.

The feeling is that to aggregate and bring together into one space those who want to come in there will be very beneficial for the food manufacturing sector in South Australia. That is not to say it will be for everyone, because some already have premises that they have invested large amounts of money into and they are happy to stay where they are, but for those who want to come in, we encourage them to keep going through the process with us for the Northern Adelaide Food Park, which will be based at Parafield Airport. Parafield Airport Ltd is actually doing work at the moment on the masterplan for the site and working with several government departments on what it will look like.

The other thing we are doing is trying to make sure that we show off the great food and wine that we have in South Australia, not just to people overseas or interstate, but indeed the people of South Australia. Next month, we will have the Adelaide Cellar Door Festival, and each year we try to grow the festival. More than 9,000 South Australians come through there over the weekend. It started out as a wine festival, but now food producers are in there as well showing off their wares. I encourage everyone, if they get the chance, to get down there and have a look at this fantastic festival.

For the first time, we are going to have a beer garden where we will show off the craft brewers of South Australia. Isn't that a boom industry? It is one that I am sure all MPs are keen to get out to and do a few site visits, whether it is Tom and Sarah up at the Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery near Renmark or down at Goolwa or down in my electorate—we have three in the seat of Mawson. There is a good one down at Robe now; the member for MacKillop has probably been down there.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: There's one coming to Burra.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, there's one coming to Burra. There is already one in Clare—there are actually two in Clare. So, I encourage the growth of the craft brew industry in South Australia and encourage everyone to get down to the Cellar Door Festival at the Convention Centre.

Time expired.

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