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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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Hope Valley Reservoir

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the opening of the Hope Valley Reservoir?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:49): I thank the member for Newland for this question. He has long been an advocate for his electorate and in particular the opening of the Hope Valley Reservoir because he knows that bringing this part of his community to life, giving people access to this publicly owned space that has not before been publicly accessible, is going to really provide his community with something very special.

It has been great to work with the member for Newland, the member for Morialta and the member for Hartley—the members of parliament for that part of Adelaide—as we have gone through the planning process for the opening of this reservoir. The reservoir is one of the oldest in South Australia and in fact hasn't been opened for 150 years. That will all change on Sunday 13 December, when the gates will open and people will have access to the reserve lands around that reservoir for a whole range of recreational activities.

They will be able to get in there, walk along the dam wall and have picnics. There are going to be lookouts on the dam wall. There is going to be a walking trail, I think about 5½ kilometres of walking trail, winding around that reservoir, giving people access to look over the water, look onto the Hills in the distance and have picnics. In time, there will be a nature play area and there will be fitness equipment as we bring that area to life, which was for far too long behind a fence.

I know from speaking to the member for Newland and many other people in that community—I have attended the community reference group a couple of times, which was involved in helping shape that with the reservoirs task force and SA Water—how enthusiastic people are about getting into that site. The Marshall Liberal government's commitment to opening up reservoirs has gone exceptionally well since we commenced it in 2019.

We have had 106,000 people visit our reservoir precincts, whether it's Warren, Barossa or South Para, the northern cluster of reservoirs out behind Golden Grove—I know the member for King and the member for Schubert have been particularly interested in those ones—or whether it's Myponga Reservoir down in the western Fleurieu Peninsula, which alone has almost had 60,000 people. The town of Myponga is now a destination for people to go and enjoy the great outdoors, undertake walking activities and in time access the water for kayaking, fishing and a range of other activities.

These projects are invigorating communities. They are seeing businesses jump on board and start up their own enterprises associated with the reservoirs. I went up to Williamstown a couple of weeks ago and saw a new business that had been started by the local police officer, Matt Hale, 'kayak the Barossa'. That is just an example of a small business seeing this opportunity, jumping on board and getting involved. I fully expect other local businesses to get involved, whether it be Myponga, those northern precinct reservoirs, Hope Valley or Happy Valley down in the southern suburbs as well towards the end of 2021.

There is going to be a great open day at Hope Valley Reservoir. We are expecting hundreds and hundreds of people to attend on 13 December. There will be activities for children, conservation activities as we let people understand the wildlife and nature in that place, guided walking tours and the opportunity to have coffee and refreshments as well. We are opening these reservoirs. They are a very direct economic stimulus in the communities they are occurring in, and we just can't wait to share more of the great outdoors with these communities.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Florey, I warn for a second time the member for Cheltenham, and I warn for a second time the member for Wright. Member for Florey with a supplementary question.

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