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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-06-07 Daily Xml
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Pinery Bushfires

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. How are communities affected by the Pinery bushfire being supported to re-green areas that were destroyed?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:06): I thank the member for Light for his consistent support of his community in regard to this recovery that we are processing. In November 2015, the Pinery fire escalated rapidly across four local council areas in the Mid North of the state, causing major damage to over 83,000 hectares in the areas of Owen, Hamley Bridge, Wasleys, Kapunda, Freeling, Tarlee and Greenock.

The recovery operations are continuing, and we are making progress in areas where we can continue to make a difference to the affected communities. We know this is an ongoing challenge, and our efforts have shifted from immediate recovery to medium and long-term activities which are essential to the affected individuals, families, businesses and communities.

On Sunday 5 June, a special family event, called Re-greening the Fire Scar, was held at the Barossa Bushgardens, where thousands of native plants grown by community groups were given out to affected landholders. The intention is that the native plants will be used to re-establish the shelterbelts, paddock trees and home gardens that were lost in the Pinery fire. While the major focus of the day was handing out more than 20,000 native seedlings to more than 180 landholders, there were also plenty of activities for the whole family. As well as a range of native plants for sale, there were workshops on—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is on two warnings.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I tell you what I was—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is also on two warnings, and the member for Wright is now on one warning.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Mr Speaker, I am really disappointed to have this interruption, given that the member for Schubert is the local member and was not there on the day. There was an excellent range of seedlings—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: You are a disgrace to your people. You are a disgrace.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Agriculture is warned.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: —native plants for sale, workshops on designing shelterbelts and using direct seeding equipment. Displays at the event were provided by the Country Fire Service, the fire recovery centre, Trees For Life, State Flora and Conservation Volunteers Australia, and a barbecue was provided free by Rotary. Let me tell you that it was cold out there. It was wet and grey and cold, but that did not stop people coming out. It did not stop volunteers coming out who had worked on this for some time.

Let me thank the people involved. It was coordinated by the Vegetation Recovery Group and supported by Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges along with Natural Resources Northern and Yorke; the Barossa, Light, Mallala and Wakefield councils; Trees For Life; Greening Australia; State Flora; Barossa Bushgardens; TAFE SA; Kersbrook Landcare Nursery; and the Gawler Environment and Heritage Association.

The SPEAKER: This is on the NRM website, minister.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: Can I pay special attention to the free native plants that have been provided by community groups—Kersbrook Landcare Nursery, the Gawler Environment and Heritage Association, the Australian Plants Society, and the Quorn landcare group. Tree guards and stakes are also provided at no cost. Can I just be very clear: this was a devastating fire. Recovery is a marathon and not a sprint. I will continue to bring to this house what we are doing to support people.

The SPEAKER: Alas, the minister's time has expired. I praise the member for Schubert to the congregation at Gruenberg Lutheran Church on Sunday morning for the service he provides.

Mr Knoll: 90 per cent Liberal.

The SPEAKER: I wouldn't make any inference about their politics. Deputy Premier.

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