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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-06-05 Daily Xml
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National Parks

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:09): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is increasing investment in our parks system to create opportunities for both enhanced visitor expectations and conservation?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:09): I thank the member for Finniss for his question, and happy World Environment Day to all members of this house. What a great day to spend some time reflecting on the incredible environment we have in South Australia, but also the huge responsibility we have as members on both sides of this parliament and across political parties and individuals to care for our natural environment, to invest in it and to nurture it so that it is here to enjoy today and also for future generations.

It is good from time to time to reflect that, while these days might be a bit contrived, I think it is important to actually take a moment to think about what having a healthy, thriving, natural environment means, and why there is so much responsibility for governments and elected representatives to look after our natural environment.

It was fantastic this morning to be with the Premier down at Glenthorne Farm, at the centre of the future Glenthorne National Park, to plant some trees with local primary school students and the Friends of Glenthorne, the group that, like so many friends groups across the state, puts so much of their time and their volunteer hours into caring for the natural environment, and that's a really great thing.

The investment that was announced this morning really is a turning point for national parks and wildlife in this state. After a downward trend and the investment that our national parks have enjoyed in recent years, we have been able to come up with a substantial package of investment that will value these environments and invest in them, no more so than the $6 million that was pledged this morning as part of the 2019-20 state budget towards the creation of the Great Southern Ocean Walk, which will activate and bring to life the stretch of the Heysen Trail that lies between Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, and Victor Harbor, in the electorate of the member for Finniss.

We see an incredible opportunity to replicate what has been a huge success experienced with respect to other walking trails across our nation and in our state. Walking tourism is an important part of our visitor economy, and we know that by attracting walking tourists to South Australia they will be able to enjoy our natural environment, fall in love with it and tell their friends, and experience it at a very intimate level. So the activation of the Heysen Trail between Cape Jervis and Victor Harbor, the creation of this multiday walk, is great for our environment and great for the local Fleurieu economy as well.

As well as that announcement, our package of funding includes $3.3 million for our Parks Restoration Fund—investing in our national parks and trying to clear some of the asset maintenance backlog which has befallen our national parks in the last decade or so. Looking across the state at those great assets, some 21 per cent of our state is preserved in our reserve system, and we want to make sure that their assets are up to date, that their toilets, their signage, their walking trails and other amenities are at a standard where people will be able to visit them safely, enjoy them and, again, share that experience with their friends and their families, not just in South Australia but across the world.

We also announced a further $2.5 million towards investment in Glenthorne National Park, that great project in our southern suburbs. Today is about recognising the value of South Australia's environment and saying that it means a huge amount to South Australians. We recognise that, and this government is investing in the value that is our great natural environment.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens.

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