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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-11-17 Daily Xml
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Seafood Industry

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister please update the house on how the state government is investing in the future of seafood in South Australia?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:43): I thank the member for Narungga for his important question, and I know he has been a strong advocate for fishers in his electorate. The Marshall Liberal government values the seafood sector and is building what matters to the sector.

Earlier this month, I was pleased to announce that the Marshall Liberal government is building what matters by investing in a $16 million upgrade to the SARDI Aquatic Sciences Centre at West Beach. We are committed to growing our seafood industries, and this project will help us achieve that. It is vital we have the best science when it comes to our fish stocks. We have some of the best seafood scientists in the world and these upgrades are necessary for our facility to remain world leading and to support our scientists and all the sectors that rely on that science.

We are lucky in South Australia to have a thriving recreational fishing sector, premium seafood available for consumers and some of the most sustainable commercial seafood sectors in the world. South Australia is a premium seafood state. I am proud this upgrade has been funded by the state budget. That work includes infrastructure upgrades to the seawater intake pipes, building a new facade to replace the highly damaged glass brick wall and restoring the facility's roof.

The intake pipes needed upgrading as they are currently damaged, which compromises the facility's current and future intake capacity. There is no alternative seawater supply to the site, meaning the pipe is essential to supporting the government's research projects in breeding snapper fingerlings for release into the gulfs, as well as the longstanding oyster breeding program. This pipeline also provides seawater to the Adelaide Zoo's seal enclosures, the Robarra barramundi fingerling facility, live lobster processes and the University of Adelaide.

The new facade will also be welcomed by SARDI staff. It was so run-down that a bandaid of Perspex was required to be placed over the shattering glass bricks to minimise the safety hazard for people working in the facility. I visited the facility a few weeks ago for a Minister's Recreational Fishing Advisory Council meeting. I inspected the glass brick facade and it was extraordinary to see the neglect of this important asset that had been occurring.

We are fixing the facade and investing in the seafood sector. The building works will involve up to a hundred contractors during the planning, construction and delivery of the project. This new investment will complement a 450 square metre vessel and equipment storage shed that PIRSA has already begun constructing on the site, funded by its annual capital program budget.

The Marshall Liberal government is building what matters. This upgrade is a much-needed confidence boost for our seafood sector. We are investing in the scientific facilities which help drive sustainable seafood industries into the future while still protecting the environment. The Marshall Liberal government is building what matters to keep South Australia safe and strong, back in business and creating jobs. Planning for the upgrade works is underway, with construction expected to begin in early 2021.

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