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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-23 Daily Xml
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Tumby Bay Jetty

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:13): Today in parliament I tabled an additional 1,459 signatures from the petition calling on the state government to invest significant funding to ensure the long-term future of the Tumby Bay jetty. The thousands of South Australians who have now put their names to paper in support of the Tumby Bay community highlights just how important jetties are to our coastal communities, but especially in Tumby Bay.

The jetty at Tumby Bay is unfortunately closed at the moment due to the degradation of the over century-old structure, leading to what has been assessed by the council as being unsafe for the community. This is a terrible outcome for both locals and visitors alike. This is why the community are coming together to ask for action. The Tumby Bay jetty is owned by the state government and leased to the District Council of Tumby Bay for maintenance, but this lease is soon expiring, and major works are needed on the structure.

I have been encouraged that the department has undertaken a body of work looking at five jetties in particular around the state, including Tumby Bay, to put together a business model which can be considered for funding from the state government.

Appropriate funding for the future of the jetty at Tumby Bay is important as it is a key component of a vibrant community that is used by locals and visitors to experience a unique marine environment—to go fishing, to go swimming, to go diving or to simply walk along—that is important for our community wellbeing. The council and community at Tumby Bay are willing to partner with the state government on this project and it is time for the state government to commit to helping provide a solution. We cannot afford to lose such iconic pieces of our coastal communities.

Last Thursday, my community at Port Lincoln found themselves once again under the threat of an imposing bushfire on the outskirts of the town. The weather conditions on that day were confronting. It was hot, it was windy. It was the sort of day that we as regional people dread; the worry about bushfire is always front of mind. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that we have had to deal with imminent danger in this area and my heart goes out to those people who have lost their homes and valuables, who have had property destroyed or damaged, or who have had their land impacted.

The clean-up for those impacted is going to be long and difficult, but I know that my community will rally around those who are struggling with this situation to support them as much as possible. I would like to offer my thanks and the thanks of my community to those volunteers and staff from the CFS, MFS, DEW, and the many community members and farm fire units which sprang into action to fight this fire and defend our community.

I also want to especially note the efforts of those involved with the aerial firefighting force, the multiple fixed-wing planes, and the helicopter firefighter and observation crafts, which make an incredible difference in getting a fire front under control, aiding the ground force who are directly in the line of the fire. It is all hands on deck in such emergency situations, and I know the efforts to protect our community are very much appreciated.

The emergency services minister was able to come over on the following day, and I thank him for his visit, along with the head of the CFS, Brett Loughlin, and the head of the MFS, Michael Morgan, to see the impact on the ground.

We work together on Eyre Peninsula, and it is great to see the region 6 CFS team in action, working hand-in-hand with the MFS, DEW, and the City of Port Lincoln council in the emergency management centre. I believe the agencies that all work together on Eyre Peninsula are an example to our counterparts around the whole state. The list of individuals who were involved in the event is too long to mention, but you know who you are and I say a heartfelt thankyou.

There have been many stories of loss and destruction, and I give my heartfelt sympathy genuinely to those who have been impacted. I have spoken to a number of them on the ground who have lost property, their home and have been severely impacted. There were also a number of stories of close calls, of property saved, of lives protected, and it is good to dwell on them as well. The way my community comes together to support one another always impresses me.

There will be investigations and there is sure to be more information that will become available. The community have been told the cause was due to electrical infrastructure, so I hope lessons will be learned from that and responsibilities recognised. Also, in time, I am sure there will be a bigger discussion on vegetation and fire management in such at-risk areas. But until then, my community says thank you to all those who acted to keep us safe.

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