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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-03-23 Daily Xml
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Motions

Para Wirra Recreation Park

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (15:46): I move:

That this house requests His Excellency the Governor to make a proclamation under section 33(3) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to abolish the Para Wirra Recreation Park.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:46): I rise to indicate my support for this motion. Para Wirra is a wonderful park that combines natural bushland with great recreational facilities, including a sports oval and many bushwalking trails to suit all levels. It is one of the 50 national parks and reserves within 50 kilometres of the Adelaide CBD, covering a total combined area of over 13,000 hectares of land. The proposed reclassification of Para Wirra Recreation Park to a conservation park will give better recognition to the park's significant natural and historic importance.

The South Australian government is committed to the ongoing provision and development of recreational opportunities in parks. This is reflected in our nature-based tourism action plan, which recognises the importance of tourist and regional growth investment opportunities. But, in order to grow this important industry that already accounts for $1.1 billion in expenditure in South Australia each year, we must ensure that our open spaces are protected and remain attractive to visitors.

The state government has an outstanding record on increasing our network of parks and reserves. In total, South Australia has over 300 parks showcasing a diverse range of natural attractions, including Seal Bay, Flinders Ranges, Cleland, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail, and Naracoorte Caves. And, we have systematically added to this network of parks and reserves.

Over the past 13 years, this government has proclaimed 69 new parks and added land to 76 existing parks. In addition, when Labor came into government in South Australia in 2002, just 70,000 hectares of South Australia had wilderness protection status. We have increased this to 1,843,448 hectares. South Australia now has the largest percentage of both public and private protected land of any Australian mainland jurisdiction—approximately 27,675,000 hectares; that is equivalent to the size of the state of Victoria.

We have also worked hard to ensure that our parks and reserves offer visitors a great experience. This has been at the heart of the state government's $10.4 million investment to improve metropolitan Adelaide's parks and reserves, including the Para Wirra Recreation Park. The proposed upgrades to Para Wirra have been designed to be sustainable and sensitive to the natural surroundings, and include:

a nature play space to engage children in the natural beauty of the park;

improved picnic and shelter facilities;

and education and information hub;

new camp sites to provide opportunities for northern metropolitan residents to enjoy bush camping in an easily accessible location;

improvements to the parks' entrance, car parking and information;

walking and cycling trail upgrades;

toilet upgrades and drinking water facilities;

a scenic lookout; and

an additional ranger to assist with delivering improved park information, park events, educational activities and seasonal programs on park.

I understand that the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has engaged a private company to develop concept plans, if the park operates. Early drafts of the concept designs are due in September, and we expect works to be scheduled after the detailed design stage is finalised towards the end of 2016.

Tourism in South Australia is already worth $5.3 billion a year and employs 32,000 people, approximately. These measures will help achieve our target of boosting the industry to $8 billion a year and increase employment to 41,000 jobs by 2020. If we are serious about attracting visitors from interstate and around the world to explore our fantastic network of parks and reserves, then we have an obligation to protect our parks for today's and future generations. I therefore strongly recommend the motion to members.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:50): I rise to support this motion:

That this house requests His Excellency the Governor to make a proclamation under section 33(3) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to abolish the Para Wirra Recreation Park.

The proposed reclassification will allow the park to receive better recognition for the significant natural and historic values it protects. The intention is that the park be reclassified from 'recreation' to 'conservation' to allow for the change in category. The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 requires that a recreation park be first abolished, and that the subject land then be proclaimed as a conservation park. The abolition of the recreation park may only occur by resolution passed by both houses of parliament, and I note that this went through the other place yesterday.

The Para Wirra Recreation Park/Conservation Park consists of some 1,500 hectares, or slightly more, about 40 kilometres north-east of Adelaide. It is in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges at what now really is the northern end of metropolitan Adelaide. When it was first established in 1962, of course it was nowhere near suburban Adelaide, but with encroachment, it has become quite a unique parcel of beautiful bushland setting.

The park has within its boundaries a sports oval and many walking trails, which I understand are particularly popular on weekends such as the upcoming Easter weekend, when the weather is going to be good. I do hope that with the change in category that the oval and these walking trails will still be available to the general public and even, perhaps, become more enhanced.

The predominance of flora within the park is, of course, eucalyptus. There is longleaf box, pink gums, South Australian blue gums and a scattering of native pines, yaccas, and heaths. I also understand that there are over 100 species of native birds contained within these 1,500 hectares—quite a valuable piece of bushland. There are emus—which, of course, are highly visible—parrots, galahs and lorikeets. With regard to animals, there are western grey kangaroos, echidnas, skinks, bearded dragons and sleepy lizards—the ubiquitous sleepy lizard, I am sure.

Special mention must go to the Friends of Para Wirra. They were out in numbers yesterday in the other place for the debate there, and they have put in a lot of work over a very long time. My understanding is that they are particularly pleased to see this progress being made in this much-loved part of South Australia. They have worked tirelessly, amongst other things, attempting to eradicate many of the pest plants and animal species that, of course, have been introduced since European settlement. We do support the motion and look forward to its progress through the house.

Mr GEE (Napier) (15:54): I rise to indicate my support for this motion and, given the high level of multipartisan support for the making of this proclamation, I will be very brief. South Australia's parks and reserves are, for all South Australians, a fantastic opportunity to engage with the environment. For my constituency, residents of South Australia and visitors to the state, Para Wirra is characteristically a wonder in nature. Para Wirra lies on the north-eastern boundary of the electorate of Napier and can be accessed via Humbug Scrub Road at One Tree Hill.

This motion proposes that the proclamation of the Para Wirra Recreation Park be revoked as a first step in having it classified as a conservation park. This change will better reflect its conservation significance and the sustainable manner in which recreation opportunities are provided. It is important that protected areas are about the balance between conservation and public use and enjoyment, and this balance is best achieved when we engage meaningfully with the local community and park users. This is something that the Friends of Para Wirra have long understood.

This group has a strong and longstanding affiliation with the park that covers over 1,500 hectares and is located around 40 kilometres northeast of Adelaide. They have long spoken in favour of conservation status for Para Wirra at the instigation of founding president, the late Ted Hughes OAM. The Friends of Para Wirra have repeatedly expressed a desire that any redevelopment in the park must promote sustainable use and not impact native vegetation or disturb wildlife in the park.

Decisions about recreational use are assessed against conservation and other park values, irrespective of park categories. These decisions are made in accordance with the park management plan. Its success, however, hinges on community involvement, and this is why the state government has recently undertaken one of the most extensive public engagement processes to upgrade metropolitan parks.

When the state government committed $10.4 million to upgrading metropolitan parks and reserves at the last election, it was decided that the local communities and the people who use the parks should decide what facilities were needed. This resulted in a strong co-design process to ensure the whole community, not just our historic stakeholders, are consulted and involved in the project. Over 11,000 people participated in the project and were involved in southern and northern co-design teams, ministerial roundtables, free park open days, submissions to the YourSAy website and a Minecraft design-a-park competition with nearly 40 entries from primary schools.

This motion will help ensure that the natural beauty and significance of Para Wirra Recreation Park is protected so that many generations of South Australians can enjoy it in the future. I congratulate the Friends of Para Wirra for their advocacy as well as the numerous volunteers across the state who give time and resources to our many parks and reserves. I strongly commend this motion to members.

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:57): I rise to indicate my support for this motion, too. I live, as most people know, in Elizabeth. I grew up in Elizabeth Downs, just down the hill from Para Wirra Recreation Park, and spent many childhood weekends there, as I am sure the member for Napier has. Para Wirra Recreation Park covers over 1,500 hectares of bushland at One Tree Hill, making it one of the largest blocks of remnant native vegetation in the Mount Lofty Ranges. First protected in 1962 as a national park, when the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 was introduced, the park was reconstituted as a recreation park.

This was done to reflect its intended role as a natural area catering for a wide range of recreational activities for the growing population in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. However, the conservation value of the park has never been underestimated. We know that, when managed well, and with the cooperation of the local community and park users, conservation and recreation need not be mutually exclusive. The state government wants the community to continue to care about our parks and reserves and encourage people to get out and enjoy them.

The proposed reclassification of Para Wirra Recreation Park to a conservation park will allow the park to receive better recognition for the significant natural and historical values it protects. Para Wirra, as the member for Flinders has indicated, holds important native vegetation such as the pink gum and the river red gum woodland. It is home to a wealth of wildlife, including western grey kangaroos, echidnas, bearded dragons and, if we are to believe the member for Flinders, more than 100 species of birds.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Name them.

Mr ODENWALDER: Name them?

Mr Treloar: Just half of them.

Mr ODENWALDER: Just most of them.

Ms Cook: One's fine.

Mr ODENWALDER: I couldn't name one, but they are all lovely. The park also protects species of conservation significance, including the yellow-footed antechinus, which is a tiny mammal listed as vulnerable in South Australia.

Prior to its dedication as a park, the land comprising Para Wirra Recreation Park was subject to varying land uses. Most notably, during the 1860s, the 1890s and during the Depression-era years, the land was mined for gold. Historically significant remnants of the area's gold mining history are scattered throughout the park, including mine shafts, tunnels and stone ruins that date back as far as the 1860s.

Para Wirra Recreation Park offers a range of sustainable recreation activities within the conservation framework of the park. For example, bushwalking along one of the many walking trails in the park, cycling on sealed roads, horseriding and dog walking on leads. The park offers picnic facilities with gas barbecues and toilets, a sports oval, lookouts and a picturesque lake. For so many reasons, Para Wirra Recreation Park is an important asset for the northern suburbs specifically, but also for our state as a whole, and it deserves our recognition. For this reason, I strongly commend this motion to members.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills) (16:00): I would briefly like to speak to this motion in commending it to the house although I gather it has the support of both sides. The Para Wirra Recreation Park covers 1,500 hectares and is located, as members have mentioned, approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Adelaide. The proposed reclassification will allow the park to receive better recognition for the significant natural and historic values it protects, and will be consistent with the government's intention to reflect how sustainable recreation opportunities are provided within the conservation framework.

The government is committed to the ongoing provision and development of recreational opportunities in parks. This is clearly demonstrated by the release for consultation of South Australia's nature-based tourism plan. To allow for the change in category, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 requires that a recreation park be abolished and that the subject land be then proclaimed as a conservation park. The abolition of the recreation park must only occur in pursuance of a resolution passed by both houses of parliament. Notice of motion for this resolution must be given at least 14 sitting days before the motion is passed.

The Para Wirra Conservation Park will not be used for mining purposes. The government will proclaim the park under section 30(1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, and not with a section 43 proclamation permitting mining access. I thank members who have spoken in favour of this motion and commend the motion to the house.

Motion carried.

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