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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-12-04 Daily Xml
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Reservoirs

Ms LUETHEN (King) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is delivering on its commitment—

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

Ms LUETHEN: —to open up the reservoirs?

The SPEAKER: Member for King, I am going to call the member for Light to order and warn him. I didn't catch that question because of interruptions. Can you please repeat it.

Ms LUETHEN: My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is delivering on its commitment to open up the reservoirs?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:24): I am always very pleased to update the member for King, the member for Newland and the member for Schubert, and a whole range of members on both sides of the house whose electorates will be hugely benefited by the Marshall Liberal government's commitment to open up a range of reservoirs across South Australia. We said that if we formed government we would go through this in a methodical and sensible way, appointing an across-government task force with representatives from the environment department—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —from SA Water, from SA Health and a range of other organisations to help us maximise this opportunity and do so in a sensible and safe way. We are moving forward with it. In April this year, the reserve around the Myponga Reservoir opened for recreation. That has been hugely successful with people going there to enjoy that quite different, quite unique natural environment and that is really stimulating the town of Myponga as well. It couldn't have gone any better.

The people who live in that western Fleurieu district have been asking, 'Can we get more at Myponga?' That is exactly what is happening this weekend, with Myponga opening for shoreline fishing from Saturday morning. That will be exciting for that community. We also have more happening. This weekend is a big weekend in the communities represented by the member for King and the member for Schubert with the opening of South Para Reservoir, a reservoir that sits up in the boundaries of the districts that they represent, out of Williamstown and Kersbrook, represented by the member for Newland.

The opening of this reservoir is an incredible opportunity for walking, for cycling and also for fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing and getting people into the landscape that has been locked away, looking for linkages with Para Wirra Conservation Park, looking for linkages with Mount Crawford Forest and bringing that area to life. We know that towns like Williamstown and Kersbrook will benefit from this, as people flow into that part of the Hills just out of the north-eastern suburbs.

We are getting great feedback about what people are looking forward to, the positive experiences that they have already had at Myponga and how we are going to see this unfold at other reservoirs across the state as well. On Saturday morning, I look forward to joining the Premier, the member for Schubert—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —and the member for Schubert's daughter as we experience this new area. The gates will be open and people will be able to go in. There will be a display from local rangers. Of course, there are more rangers working in that landscape as a consequence of our increase in the ranger workforce—a substantial increase. It was 93 when we came to office and now it is up to a figure much higher than that, heading up towards 130.

It's great news for our ranger workforce. Not only will there be rangers on site but there will be the opportunity for canoe tours, to meet with people from the fishing industry to talk to them about the opportunities, nature walks, cycling and walking. The potential with the opening of our reservoirs is immense. The conservation elements are great. We are looking at friends groups to help revegetate these landscapes. We are working alongside local business organisations and recreation groups to maximise the opportunity from our reservoirs opening.

These are public facilities; they are owned by the public. Yes, they have a role to play in our water security, but there is also plenty of opportunity to get people into the great outdoors in South Australia and enjoy our reservoirs, and that takes another step forward from this Saturday morning.

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