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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-10-16 Daily Xml
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Goolwa Surf Lifesaving Club

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. Will the minister update the house on the status of the government's funding for the Goolwa Surf Lifesaving Club development?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:17): I thank the member for his question. I might add that it was great to be with him in his electorate on Saturday for the opening of the redeveloped Chiton Rocks surf club. It is a great community down there, and he has done an amazing job in advocating for that community in his time in this place as well as prior to that time.

The Premier did mention the emergency services levy and the money we have put back in the pockets of South Australians. Again, for a person with a median house price of $470,000, they get $145 back in their pocket each year. That is outstanding but, as the Premier also pointed out, it is not to the detriment of the emergency services delivered by the state, and of course surf lifesaving is one such service.

Down at Chiton Rocks, the new facility has a purpose-built patrol room, a first-aid room, a gymnasium, a training room, a meeting room, a kitchen, separate female and male toilets, showers and changing facilities. What is really unique about this is that they kept the old facility as well—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and have turned it into a bunk facility. The member for Colton, in conjunction with the member for Finniss, will be keen to know that the Henley surf club has a very strong affinity with the Chiton Rocks surf club. When they first founded the Chiton Rocks surf club back in 1957, members from Henley would go down there and practise in the surf, because on the national stage they wouldn't be accredited at Henley as the beach was deemed to not have enough surf, so they had to go down and practice in the surf at Chiton Rocks. Still to this day people from Henley have a great association with that surf club.

They have also done an amazing job recently in growing their nippers as well, and that is something that has happened over the past few years. I commend the president, Aaron Lewis; his treasurer and wife, Lindy Lewis, who does an outstanding job; and the club captain, Aaron Lindsay as well. I got a tour from Lindy Lewis, the treasurer, who I am told did a fair chunk of the work in making this happen. Aaron was so proud of his wife, and together this family has done a great job in helping to secure this for their community.

I am pleased to update the house on the plans for the Goolwa Surf Lifesaving Club, which are well and truly underway. In August this year, I approved the allocation of $2.615 million for the surf lifesaving club redevelopment fund for the Goolwa Surf Lifesaving Club development. South Australia-based company Mossop Constructions has been the successful tenderer. The construction of the clubrooms has commenced and it is expected to be operational in late 2019, which puts a smile on the face of the member for Finniss.

In addition, the member for Finniss will be pleased to know that the clubrooms at the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club are scheduled to commence construction in the financial year 2019-20 as well. I very much look forward to getting along to the club once completed and know that the improved facilities will make a huge difference to the local community and volunteers. Members in this place may not be aware that there were six coastal and ocean drowning deaths in South Australia during last year's surf lifesaving season. During the same period, 37 per cent of fatalities in SA happened while swimming and 31 per cent happened while boating.

I am pleased to inform the house that South Australian surf lifesavers performed 73,592 patrol hours, 250 rescues, 1,391 first-aid treatments and 11,355 preventative actions. South Australian surf lifesavers responded to 53 lost children, 56 missing persons searches and 98 shark sightings. Even more surprising to members would be that 64 per cent of Australians can't swim more than 50 metres in the ocean without stopping, so it is why our surf lifesaving clubs are incredibly important. I know the member for Finniss is very passionate about the surf lifesaving clubs in his area.

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