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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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Chaffey Electorate

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:47): I rise to talk about how the great electorate of Chaffey has benefited from the latest budget announcement. It has been quite fruitful. In great news for theatregoers and country arts enthusiasts, the Chaffey Theatre will see a $1.5 million investment for not only external pumps and tanks to complete the fire safety work that was undertaken but also a passenger lift. Those who have visited the Chaffey Theatre over many years will know it has two large staircases. This has always made it tough for those with some form of disability or elderly people who find it very hard to traverse the stairs.

The Berri Magistrates Court will receive $1 million to improve security. That is a great initiative for regional courts around South Australia, and the security improvements are very much welcomed in Berri. This upgrade will reduce the risk of harm to court staff and to the public. It will also provide a boost to those regional businesses providing the upgrade; it is about using local workforce and local tradies coming in to undertake that work.

In another great announcement, $40 million is being invested to further bolster biosecurity. The Riverland is fruit fly free but very reliant on the toughest biosecurity measures anywhere. This gives us our market advantage when we go into those export markets. Yamba will continue to have upgrades and it is great to see that Ceduna will finally get an upgrade. This facility will almost mirror what we see at Yamba, particularly with the Mediterranean fruit fly pressure that has been put on our border, particularly in metropolitan Adelaide.

The Riverland is also a great recipient of the Regional Growth Fund. We have seen Yalumba receive some of that funding. Torrens Valley Orchards has seen some irrigation upgrades so they can battle some of the climate challenges, particularly the hot weather that really does decimate some of those precious fruits. Of course, the Berri Hotel has seen a significant investment into their upgrade. They purchased quite a number of blocks along the riverfront, which will enhance accommodation opportunities at the Berri Hotel, so that is really good news.

There is also $37 million provided towards sustaining the Riverland environment. It is a great initiative. That program will include the native fish fund or native fish habitats, but it is also about restoring natural river flows and natural river patterns at Lock 3. We know that there have been some issues down that way, but this is further enhancing some of the natural flows into the River Murray and giving a great opportunity to again see this government supporting our environment. The minister is doing exceptional work in continuing to forge ahead with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and I commend him for that.

In health, we are seeing a $10 million investment into the Cancer Council to construct purpose-built 120-room accommodation. That is great news for regional families, particularly in the Riverland. If they have to travel to Adelaide for treatment, there will be a purpose-built facility on Greenhill Road, as I understand, to upgrade the accommodation for those people who are doing it tough. There is also $15 million being committed to address a backlog of work and upgrades for regional hospitals. I know that the Riverland hospitals are seeing the benefits of that. Between the Riverland and the Mallee, I think I have five hospitals and they will all receive some maintenance and upgrades.

In education, 12 preschools and 22 government schools will receive grants of anywhere between $20,000 and $100,000. That is about engaging local businesses and tradies to come in and do maintenance through a maintenance program to tidy things up. If it is a lick of paint or if it is just to fix up minor maintenance works, it is very much appreciated. Of course, there is $37 million to provide school and preschool stimulus grants to support those maintenance projects. That is a great opportunity for Riverland education.

In sport, the budget has also delivered a $25 million investment into the grassroots program—that is a great outcome—and $10 million into regional facilities. Obviously, there is much more investing into and marketing our state: the visitor economy, the tourism industry, the development fund and of course accelerated grant payments to our local government institutions. The CFS are getting money. The Riverland really is a great recipient of this budget that has just been handed down.

Time expired.

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