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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-30 Daily Xml
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Napier Electorate

Mr GEE (Napier) (15:36): There is a number of things I wish to speak about today, including the new Playford Alive Town Park, my local schools and doorknocking. I was pleased to recently open the Playford Alive Town Park at Munno Para. The park was delivered through the Playford Alive Urban Renewal Project by partners Renewal SA and the City of Playford. It is the newest and largest civic park constructed in South Australia in recent times and is adjacent to the new Stretton Centre which will contain a public library, toilets and meetings places. The research centre will be opened soon in conjunction with the University of Adelaide.

The 1.3 hectare town park is the result of an award-winning community consultation process in 2013. The park is in the newer part of Munno Para and is proving very popular with families across the local area. The park, which features a number of different zones, caters for people of all ages. As you enter the park you look across a large grassed amphitheatre with a stage in front which will host events such as the Playford Alive Fun Day which generally attracts over 5,000 local people each year.

As you move to the right, you can sit and relax in the contemplative garden or the whole family can play in the water play area that contains a long canal with lock gates which children can move up and down to regulate water. It also contains taps, stepping stones, bubblers and fountains. There are two playground areas, one for children under four and one for older children. The playgrounds are disability-friendly and contain a spider tower, all-inclusive basket swing, slides of various sizes (one of which is huge), a flying fox and much more.

The park is not only for children but also for young adults who can enjoy the basketball courts and the skate park in the youth zone. The skate park, which is one of the largest in the southern hemisphere, was designed with the assistance of the Elizabeth Riders Committee, a group of young BMX riders, scooter riders and skaters from the local area. The skate park has so far drawn young people from across the metropolitan area. The first round of the YMCA Skate Park League series starts at the park this Saturday 1 August, with riders and skaters performing tricks and competing for a place in the State Grand Final which will be staged at the park in November. Grand final winners will go on to compete at the national grand final. Families can use the shade, barbecue and picnic tables to ensure quality time with each other in a great location, surrounded by native plants, cultural shapes and planter boats. I encourage members to check out the park with their friends and families, one of the great assets in my electorate.

Another one of Napier's greatest assets is our schools, teachers, students and their parents. I enjoy visiting all my schools to meet the people responsible for educating our students and young people. I was recently at the Swallowcliffe Primary School chatting with the principal (Tonia Noble) about the $5 million our government has invested in the school, and spoke with a parent who has started to teach students rugby because he saw them playing on the oval after school and offered his assistance. The number of students attending his rugby training sessions is growing every week.

Students of Mark Oliphant College, at their showcase late last term, produced some brilliant projects, including a very moving play on the bombing of Hiroshima, a wide variety of food from the Depression, designs for picnic benches for the schoolyard (which they then constructed) and a 3D periodic table.

We recently had a massive turnout of several hundred people at the Adelaide North Special School quiz night. I hosted a table with friends and staff. Not only did we thoroughly enjoy the night, but it was a great success, with lots of silent auctions, lots of fun and laughs, and lots of funding to assist this school. We also have a dedicated group of principals and senior leaders who are working hard, along with the teaching staff, to ensure that the students do their best and achieve great outcomes. I see improvements each time I visit. I would like to thank minister Close for joining me at a number of the schools in my electorate.

Finally, I will talk about doorknocking. I believe doorknocking is essential and I doorknock with my community liaison officer most non-parliamentary weeks. One young woman whom I met on my last outing was in tears on her doorstep. She was one day from having to move out of her house as her landlord had decided to sell the property. She had a periodic lease and was subject to a seven-day notice period. My staff were quickly onto the issue and I am relieved to say she was housed later that same day.

While doorknocking in another part of the electorate, constituents raised the state of their local park, the possibility of the provision of some play equipment and some safety issues. I ran a survey of the local community around that area and wrote to the council with the results.

Time expired.

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