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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-09-13 Daily Xml
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Regional Tourism

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (12:06): By leave, I move my motion in an amended form:

That this house—

(a) recognises the importance of South Australia’s regional areas to the state’s visitor economy;

(b) recognises the potential of Mount Gambier and the wider Limestone Coast region’s unique natural assets in the nature-based and adventure tourism sectors; and

(c) calls on the state government through SATC to prioritise product development and tourism experiences in future funding opportunities.

It is an exciting time for tourism in South Australia. The last few months have seen record-breaking highs, as the latest National Visitor Survey data showed that April was the best month ever for visitor spend—a huge $984 million. This was strongly driven by two major event triumphs for Adelaide, the AFL Gather Round and LIV Golf.

While these high-profile events achieved huge success for Adelaide, we must not forget what our regional areas have recently contributed to the state's visitor economy. In March this year, total expenditure for SA regions hit $4.46 billion. Not only was this a 25 per cent increase since 2019, it also increased the region's market share of visitor spend to 48¢ of every dollar. What we now need to ensure is that the regions see investment and support that is equivalent to that of our metropolitan counterparts.

The opportunities are immense for regional tourism, and this can be illustrated by a key tourism trend that has continued to emerge post pandemic, that is, nature-based and adventure tourism. There has been a significant increase in demand for experiences in outdoor spaces as travellers look to escape crowds, rejuvenate and reconnect with themselves, family, friends and the environment around them. This is a critical area that I believe Mount Gambier and the wider Limestone Coast are in a prime position to capitalise on.

Our region's unique natural assets are perfectly aligned for nature-based and adventure activities. There are not many places in Australia where you can walk along the crater rim of a dormant volcano or swim in a sinkhole, but the vast majority of our natural attractions are free. You can walk around the Blue Lake, climb Mount Schank, visit the Umpherston Sinkhole, swim in the Little Blue and then finish with a barbecue at the Valley Lake—and, other than your sausages and bread, none of it will cost you a thing. I want to be clear, I think that is extremely important.

However, we must also develop our tourism offerings for those people who want to pay for experiences and adventure because that is where the jobs are. That is where people who are operating the lifts or taking the tours are employed through tourism. We will never reach our full potential without a focus on product development, creating new and innovative experiences, products and services for tourists to purchase, giving them a reason to stay another day. In turn, this means more dollars into our local economy, boosting businesses, creating jobs and enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Imagine flying into the Valley Lake from the heights of the Centenary Tower on a zip-line, completing a tree climb adventure course in one of our local forests before retreating to your luxury off-grid cabin, visiting our pumping station to learn about the region's Indigenous and European history, before finishing with a gourmet lunch or dinner overlooking the Blue Lake. The possibilities are endless.

I understand the commercial development of natural assets must be done in an environmentally sustainable and culturally sensitive way, but the point is it can be done. We are not forging new ground. There are plenty of examples of what can follow and has been developed around the world. In 2005, the Australian government invested $3 million towards the Tasmanian Forest Tourism Initiative to assist the development of environmentally sensitive tourism infrastructure in Tasmania. Eight projects were completed as part of this initiative, providing new infrastructure and visitor interpretation facilities, walking tracks and mountain bike paths.

To further showcase their forests and surrounding areas and to enhance the visitor experience, Forestry Tasmania has developed four adventure tourism sites. The Tahune Airwalk gives you a chance to walk amongst the forest while taking in the amazing view and, while you are there, you can hire a segway or a mountain bike, or sign up for a cabled hang-glide—all paid activities for the visiting traveller. Add to that the Maydena Adventure Hub with its pedal-powered railway track rider, Tarkine Forest Adventures with a 110-metre slide and forest floor guided tours, and the treetop canopy tour at Hollybank. I can guarantee you will be coming home with a much lighter pocket, as well as a greater understanding of the history and environment around you.

Currently, the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) is offering grants for nature-based tourism via its $2 million Experience Nature Tourism Fund. Whilst I applaud this initiative, I would argue it is not broad enough. Applicants are limited to projects that occur within or near a national park, reserve, wilderness protection area or marine park. The majority of Mount Gambier and the surrounding area's iconic natural assets do not fall into this category.

Another significant funding opportunity through SATC is the Major Events Fund, with over $20 million being allocated over the next four years. This is the key funding behind the fantastic Adelaide-based events I mentioned earlier, that is, Gather Round, LIV Golf and, of course, the Adelaide 500. However, the funding criteria mean it is out of reach for most regional areas.

We may not be able to host a match for Gather Round, but what about making Mount Gambier a Gather Round hub? Create a regional destination for those who cannot make it to Adelaide, entice Adelaide residents who want to escape the city for the weekend, subsidise public transport, provide accommodation and dining vouchers, or transform Wulanda Recreation Centre into a footy mecca with all the games televised on the big screen.

Tasting Australia is another fantastic event that we could extend to the Limestone Coast, with a satellite event over three or four days showcasing the best chefs and premium produce and wine from our area. We need to give people a reason to come through Mount Gambier on their way to Adelaide. Tasting Australia is just one idea that would encourage Victorians to come through Mount Gambier instead of going direct from Melbourne to Adelaide.

I am calling on the state government to ensure that future SATC funding really does consider the nuances of regional areas and provides opportunities to prioritise product development and tourism experiences to enable our regions to shine to the best of their abilities while building their local economies at the same time. I would like to finish by acknowledging a few of the local businesses that have created innovative tourism experiences in our region.

Kilsby Sinkhole lies in the middle of a sheep farm, amid rolling countryside 14 kilometres south of Mount Gambier. The farm has been transformed over the last few decades to now encompass sinkhole tours, snorkelling tours, scuba diving and free diving. Five years ago, they also launched their own Sinkhole Gin. They are currently building accommodation units on site and have plans to extend an onsite distillery, tasting room and cafe, all major drawcards for divers, snorkellers and those who want to swim in the sinkhole.

Bush Repair is a small, family-run business by Uncle Ken Jones and is based in Port MacDonnell. Uncle Ken runs tailored sessions to develop participants' cultural knowledge and education through learning and understanding. Through on-ground field visits, inland or coastal, the sessions provide knowledge of bush tucker, traditional artefacts, ceremonies, and arts and crafts. Uncle Ken has also authorised a series of authentic First Nations' stories teaching Indigenous perspectives through literacy and other learning areas.

Finally, a more recent addition to the Limestone Coast is Mountain Path Meadows. They offer unique, off-grid private glamping domes for short-term accommodation and also specialise as a sustainable wedding venue. Dan and Rachel purchased the property that would become Mountain Path Meadows in 2020 after seeking a post-pandemic tree change and sea change. It is situated within the Mount Schank State Heritage Area, at the base of the dormant volcano. I am told it provides travellers with their perfect Instagram backdrop.

These are the types of businesses that are bringing people to our region, who are spending their dollars and then telling their friends. We must continue to support them and provide future funding opportunities to create more businesses like them.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:17): I am very pleased to support the motion. I do so as the Liberal Party's lower house spokesperson on tourism issues and as the representative of the Hon. Jing Lee in this chamber. It is a pleasure to support this motion that recognises the particular importance of South Australia's extraordinary regions to our visitor economy, tourism and, indeed, our broader wellbeing in this state.

The electorate of Morialta has shrunk in size as a result of the last redistribution. Prior to that redistribution, I would have been proudly celebrating Morialta as including the most beautiful regions in South Australia—areas like the Adelaide Hills and the Onkaparinga Valley and towns like Lobethal, Gumeracha, Birdwood and Lenswood with their extraordinary tourism offerings. There are others as well that were in Morialta, and Cudlee Creek comes to mind—destinations that help bring people to South Australia and help South Australians make the most of our state. Those areas are no longer in Morialta but they remain beautiful and important.

If I were going to go beyond the historical Morialta area, I would be very hard-pressed, I will acknowledge, to find a more beautifully diverse region than Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast, so I am pleased to support paragraphs (a) and (b) of this motion and amended paragraph (c) as well. From its stunning, rugged coastlines to caves, volcanoes and world-renowned wine regions, Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast include a critical mass of tourism experiences and products that must be developed from those world-class natural assets.

The City of Mount Gambier has a strong focus on developing the Crater Lakes area for eco and adventure tourism. The Crater Lakes Master Plan, which the member for Mount Gambier referenced, is in the consultation stage, and it will outline the vision for the area. I note that the Hon. Ben Hood MLC, a former deputy mayor and current Legislative Council member, has been a strong advocate for the master plan for an extended period of time—indeed, for years.

He regularly promotes the opportunities in the region, including kayaking on the Blue Lake, world-class trail running in mountain bike precincts, zip-lines and celebrating the region's ancient Indigenous history. I recognise the important work done by Uncle Ken that the member for Mount Gambier spoke about.

I also note that a fresh fish stocking project is being considered by council and RecFish SA, which aims to introduce Murray cod and trout into the Valley Lake. Of course any discussion about Mount Gambier and its attractions should reference also the new Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, which received $25 million from the state and federal Liberal governments—the Marshall and Morrison governments.

This state-of-the-art facility offers locals and visitors topnotch aquatic, sporting and event amenities, and it is starting to encourage families looking for a tree change to call Mount Gambier home. Recently, when the Liberal team visited Mount Gambier the Hon. Ben Hood organised an extraordinary public forum at Wulanda. Its facilities for conventions and for sport are tremendous. Matt Cowdrey OAM—Australia's greatest ever Paralympian and the shadow treasurer—looked at that pool and commented on what an exceptional facility it is anywhere in Australia and especially important for regional areas.

Those investments are important. I know that many members wish to contribute to this important motion. I thank the member for Mount Gambier for bringing it and I indicate my support.

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (12:20): I, too, rise in support of the motion introduced by the member for Mount Gambier, and I would like to commend him for his strong support for regional tourism overall and his advocacy for the Limestone Coast region.

South Australia has 12 regional tourism regions, including the Limestone Coast, and prior to the pandemic these regions were responsible for about 40 per cent of the visitor economy across our state. Post the pandemic, however, they are responsible for closer to 50 per cent of the visitor economy. I know that, as an avid overseas traveller, since the pandemic I have spent a lot more time travelling through South Australia and exploring our great state.

This year alone, I returned to Kangaroo Island for the first time since I was five, I stayed in the Barossa for the first time in my life and in the last few years I have spent a lot of time in the Clare Valley as well. I know very much that our state's strength is in its regional offering, and the Limestone Coast is very much a jewel in the crown, I think, of regional South Australia. The Limestone Coast had a 2025 visitor economy target of $479 million, and the most recent data has the region sitting at $441 million, well on track to not just meet but exceed the target.

I have many fond memories of visiting the Limestone Coast as a child. My aunty lived in Mount Gambier and we used to go there every year for Easter. I remember particularly well my first time visiting what was then and still is my favourite tourist destination in South Australia—the Umpherston Sinkhole. I remember all too well visiting it for the first time. We had a night-time picnic, as is quite common, and lay down in the sinkhole watching the bats fly overhead.

What a wonderful experience that was, so much so that the next year we brought friends and did exactly the same thing the next year. We brought younger cousins as they were born and grew up and it became a real tradition for my family when we would visit my aunty in the South-East.

I have not actually had the chance to visit the Kilsby Sinkhole, but I did hear some very positive things about the gin from the member for Elder, and of course we heard it mentioned as well by the member for Mount Gambier. I very much look forward to perhaps trying that and visiting the Kilsby Sinkhole in the future.

Of course, there is much that is being offered for regional South Australia and for tourism in our state on the Limestone Coast. We have the beautiful Blue Lake and the caves, and again I remember going through the caves multiple times in the little boat that you can get into. The Limestone Coast is very much home to many of South Australia's most spectacular natural wonders. It is also the start of the Southern Ocean Drive, which connects the region via the coast all the way to the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Mount Gambier is also home to one of our state's and Australia's premier music events, that being the Generations in Jazz festival, which brings together thousands of participants and internationally acclaimed musicians every May. I also remember being in Mount Gambier at the time of the festival, not to attend but to visit family, and just watching particularly the city area and how bustling and how exciting it was to see all the students from different schools travelling to Mount Gambier to be part of the competition.

I know that the Minister for Tourism works very closely with the member for Mount Gambier to explore the best ways to strengthen the Limestone Coast tourist region, and I know that on our side we also have other strong advocates for the region. The member for Adelaide spends a lot of time in the region with family all throughout the South-East, but I would also like to make a special mention of our Minister for Primary Industries in the other place, who has her family home in Port MacDonnell.

I went with the minister (she was not a minister at the time) to Port MacDonnell some years ago for about a week and we travelled all through the region. We went to Millicent, we went to Penola, we went to Keith and we went all around the place visiting the small towns, visiting people who were working in industry and people who owned small businesses, really getting an understanding of what was going on for people in the South-East. I know that Minister Scriven particularly remains a very strong advocate for the South-East, having her children and her family home there, and I would like to acknowledge her role in being an advocate for that region as well.

I very much commend the member for Mount Gambier for being such a strong advocate for the region, and I very much support the motion today.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:26): I rise to support this motion by the member for Mount Gambier in promoting regional tourism. Certainly regional tourism during the depths of COVID really had a boost, as people found bits of South Australia that, potentially, they barely knew existed. As one who loves travelling around in the bush in South Australia and further afield, I was intrigued to see the number of people who were travelling up north through Hawker, through Leigh Creek where they were going further on and going to Maree or up the Strzelecki Track to Innamincka, William Creek, Oodnadatta and all around the great reaches of the outback.

As people found at the time they could not go overseas, there was a boom in caravan sales and offroad vehicles, and it was great to see people taking those opportunities to visit the outer reaches of this great state because there is so much to see and so much to do. I hope that means that, now they have had their eyes opened, more people will take that opportunity to visit all those places and others into the future.

Areas to visit on the Limestone Coast include places like the Naracoorte Caves, which is a great place I have visited several times over the years. Apart from being able to visit the caves, they have events there like weddings and so on, which is a great boost for the local economy as well. Closer to home, in the seat of Hammond things have really moved along for the regional offerings over time.

The Langhorne Creek wine district is a magnificent winegrowing area in this state, noting that the wine industry is suffering a bit of a downturn. It has had quite a large reliance on the China market, and that has had a real effect, especially with this last vintage, right across the state, not just Langhorne Creek but the Clare Valley, the Barossa, the South-East, Coonawarra, and the Riverland.

Right across the state has taken a bit of a belting, to be frank, but they will need to be resilient, and hopefully we get some good outcomes into the future, as we have with the barley market reopening into China. It just goes to show that not only do you have to be resilient but you have to be broad ranging with your marketing and targeting of markets to make sure that you can not just survive but grow into the future.

There are some magnificent wineries through Langhorne Creek, such as Lake Breeze, Bleasdale and Bremerton to name just a few. Woodburn Homestead is a magnificent venue for weddings and other events, and a friend of mine got married there during COVID. It was an interesting time, and I was actively involved in talking to the authorities on what could and could not happen. We managed to make it work, but they were difficult times.

Certainly, Strathalbyn is a very beautiful part of my electorate, just up from Langhorne Creek heading into the Hills, with the Angas River running through and the Hills right next door. There is also Goolwa, which I have had the pleasure of looking after for two terms but which is now in the member for Finniss's electorate. There is Milang as well, down by the lake. These are beautiful parts of the state.

There are the Milang shacks. Thankfully, we managed to pursue legislation to get them freeholded, alongside Alexandrina Council, so that owners can take ownership of those shacks. Previously, when the lifetime lease ran out, those shacks would be essentially bulldozed and could not stay there.

They are quite a novelty down at Milang, and they have been part of the culture of there since the 1950s, although there might have been a couple built earlier than that. They really make up part of that great area around there. There is also obviously Goolwa, down near the Murray Mouth and the end of the River Murray system in the country, and home of the Oscar W. It is a beautiful part of the world.

Getting back closer to the Mallee regions, we have Murray Bridge and Monarto. It was great to see the former Liberal federal and state governments invest money into the new Safari Park Visitor Centre. It is a magnificent centre, and I was very proud and privileged to open it last year with Tony Pasin, the federal member. I note that the former Premier and others were there. It is a magnificent centre with those free-roaming animals.

You could not have met anyone more excited than I was when Elaine Bensted made a personal phone call to me the day she made the announcement about the elephants coming to Monarto. We have not had elephants in this state since 1994, and I have been campaigning to Elaine for many years to get elephants in this state. She kept telling me the reasons why we could not have elephants: 'Because they kill more keepers than any other animal in the world,' she told me. I take that as fact.

They are very hard to contain. You obviously need to have the right fencing and other handling techniques, but they have become used to some of that heavy containment with the rhinos at Monarto. No-one was more excited than I was to hear that we are going to have three Asian elephants at Monarto. That will really set off the Safari Park, alongside the co-investment with Gerry Ryan, the boss of Jayco.

The beautiful thing about that is that Victorian money is coming into Monarto to build, I think, a 78-room hotel that cannot be far off completion, alongside about 22 glamping sites so that you can go glamping out there and look over at the lions. I think there is at least one fence between you and the lions, so do not fear. I can just see that really adding to the visitor economy as we move forward.

We also have other things we have invested in, such as the Bridges Event Centre, which is the Murray Bridge Racing Club and a fantastic venue. The Gold Cup is coming up this year on 7 October, a Saturday. It is essentially a metropolitan meeting and will be a great event happening on a Saturday and not on a Friday, so if you are keen to get up there and have a look, get up there.

The new Bridgeport Hotel has been built in the last few years, and I take my hat off to Ian Tregoning and Graham Hobbs from that group. I have been talking to their group for about nine years, and I said, 'Look, let's get this thing built so that we can enhance the visitor economy.' It has been a great build. We had to get through some heritage issues with the old pub, and that sort of thing, but we got there. It is a 100-room hotel and a magnificent centre for Murray Bridge.

Notwithstanding that, we have The Bend Motorsport Park and, in the little bit of time I have left, I want to say it was great to work with Sam Shahin and the Shahin family and others to make sure that we had the opportunity to have racing and now drags come to The Bend, and I think the first meet is on 21 October. I will certainly be there, just like I was back in 1979 when the drags were at The Bend, with Blue Thunder, the jet truck. The bend, too, has 100 rooms, plus a caravan park with cabins.

There is so much going on. I have only really touched the sides, but they are some of the major places that encourage people—many, many tens of thousands—to come into the region, and other people are learning the joys of regional tourism right across this state.

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (12:36): I rise today to speak to the motion moved by the member for Mount Gambier in support of the importance of recognising the regions of Mount Gambier and the wider Limestone Coast and the Coorong, and the huge potential that exists for enhancing tourism experiences from our unique natural assets that exist in these areas.

In his motion, the member for Mount Gambier has identified the need for the state government, through the South Australian Tourism Commission, to prioritise product development and tourism experiences in future funding opportunities. I am excited to talk to this motion, based on the number of ideas that come from the electorate as to how we can best utilise, and protect, our natural assets while increasing regional revenue and job opportunities.

The opportunity for tourism is well established by the work previously and currently being undertaken by federal, state and local governments. The federal government's THRIVE 2030, a national strategy for Australia's visitor economy, aligns well with South Australia's desire to enhance its own regional visitor strategies. This started with the development by the previous government's 2020 and 2025 regional visitor strategies, and the South Australian Visitor Economy Sector Plan 2030 that was released back in 2019.

The Hon. Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism, has also committed to delivering world-class experiences and memories for visitors to enjoy within our state. All these reports acknowledge the potential for growing visitor expenditure in our regions.

Talking to this motion, I will use one of our greatest natural assets and opportunities we have in my region, and that is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves. Unique cultural experiences, wellness, tourism, soaking up nature, and wining and dining are the themes we should be highlighting. We can also add the opportunity for embracing education, an integral part of any major investment for the Naracoorte Caves. So what are some of the facts we know?

The Limestone Coast has 67 parks over more than 117,000 hectares that generate $35 million to regional economies and support over 100 jobs in the private sector. The largest contributor in the region is the Naracoorte Caves National Park, which contributes $17.7 million (47 per cent) of the region's total. A total of 90,812 people visited the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves from 1 January to 31 December 2022. This is a 35 per cent increase in visitors in the past 12 months.

I thought this was an amazing statistic, acknowledging there have been some welcome additions over recent years with upgrades to site amenities, including the installation of the new Fossil Hunters Playground. However, the feedback locally is that, despite these additions, not a lot has changed over the last 20 to 30 years, and opportunities exist to develop this site further whilst being mindful of the environmental impacts.

There is an opportunity to develop accommodation at the caves, from high end to more budget-friendly ecotourism options. There is an opportunity for a restaurant or food precinct that showcases our first-class local produce: everything from seafood to the amazing lamb and wagyu beef from Mayura Station. There is an opportunity for an enhanced visitor information centre, which incorporates a local providore. This could showcase our amazing wines from the Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, Padthaway, Cape Jaffa and Mount Benson, all in the one spot.

There is an opportunity to host events, big and small, and capitalise on funding such as the Regional Event Fund for events including opera, musicals in a natural amphitheatre, art installations and dining experiences, to name a few. Further linkages could be created through the development of nature walks and mountain bike trails. These could be short to multiday offerings that cover the whole Limestone Coast, Mount Gambier and Coorong regions.

There are already some local operators, including Walk the Limestone Coast, which offer walks that cover part of the Aussie Camino (from Port MacDonnell to Penola) and Naracoorte to Piccaninnie Ponds. With more resources, all these offerings could be expanded. These are just some of the multitude of ideas that I believe should be investigated.

I have not even touched on some of our other amazing natural assets, including the Ramsar-listed Bool Lagoon, Lake George, Coorong National Park and Tantanoola Caves, which is one of Australia's few wheelchair-accessible caves where visitor numbers have also risen 25 per cent to 34,158 over the last 12 months.

I highlight further the opportunity that exists for education in the natural environment. We could use the natural assets that exist in our region for education experiences for primary, secondary and tertiary students. A good example of this can be found in Queensland's Eromanga National History Museum, which unites education and tourism under the one facility. We could bring students to Naracoorte and capitalise on existing research that is happening at the caves. We could replicate the Flinders Maths and Science School, which is based in Adelaide, and bring elements of the space sector to the region. Imagine having the Naracoorte Caves as a backdrop. Again, ideas and opportunities abound.

I think it is fair to say that Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast have not had their fair share of tourism infrastructure project funding over the last decade compared with other regions within South Australia. Our proximity to Victoria, our World Heritage listed natural assets and our produce put us well placed for future funding.

I share the member for Mount Gambier's desire to see the profile of Mount Gambier and the wider Limestone Coast recognised as a major area of importance to the state's visitor economy. We need to continue to advocate and capitalise on the incentives, grants and support on offer through the state and federal governments. We want to ensure Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast visitor numbers return to the pre-pandemic levels and be part of the national plan to grow to $230 billion by 2030.

I do hope that this parliament and the state embrace regional tourism investment in the Limestone Coast. It is well deserved and long overdue. I thank the member for Mount Gambier for bringing this to the parliament's attention. I commend the member for Mount Gambier's motion.

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (12:42): I, too, rise in support of this motion and thank the member for Mount Gambier for bringing it to the house. My childhood was spent in the Limestone Coast and I want to say a few words about the wonderful experiences I had growing up in the beautiful region of Bool Lagoon and Naracoorte.

For me, the Naracoorte Caves are the absolute pinnacle of that area. My mum worked under Professor Rod Wells at the Naracoorte Caves after she left school and it is one of her fondest experiences in her late teens and early 20s, helping find fossils within the caves. I was there last school holidays with my two children, as I am most school holidays, heading home to Naracoorte. A visit to the caves is always top of the list. They are absolutely beautiful. I give a shout-out to my little boy, Ned. The Stick-Tomato Cave is his absolute favourite and we never miss it whenever we visit home.

I want to mention as well, as the member for MacKillop did, the Fossil Hunters Playground. This playground was developed thanks to the former Weatherill Labor government's Fund My Neighbourhood program, and I was proud to be a part of its development as an adviser under that government. What three local mums were able to achieve there is a really beautiful nature playground that I know my kids absolutely love and so many other local children love as well.

One thing that I think sometimes does get missed in Naracoorte is our amazing Naracoorte Swimming Lake. I spent many summers there as a child. It is where I learnt to swim, it is where I became a lifeguard—I always joke that I was the palest lifeguard probably in South Australia—and it is where I also taught VACSWIM.

It is an absolutely beautiful asset, and just a couple of months ago I was there at the Naracoorte Swimming Lake volunteering for the local Naracoorte parkrun, which is based at the lake. We have gorgeous trails around the lake and through our beautiful gum trees, and it was really lovely to spend some time with locals I grew up with, volunteering on that particular parkrun. It is absolutely glorious in the summer, so I encourage anyone visiting the South-East to make sure you include the Naracoorte Swimming Lake on your list.

Another shout-out is to beautiful Mount Gambier. I often visit there as well, having family there—a particular member from the other place who lives in Mount Gambier. We especially love visiting the Valley Lake playground. In autumn it is absolutely stunning. The kids love visiting there. There is so much natural beauty down there. Also, of course, what is a visit down to Mount Gambier without a walk around the beautiful Blue Lake?

Summers were always spent in Robe, growing up in the South-East. Again, a trip to Robe is never complete without visiting the absolutely stunning Robe Obelisk and experiencing the beautiful seafood, the beautiful produce and the wineries there. We really are so spoiled for choice in the South-East.

I commend the motion and congratulate the member for Mount Gambier on raising this and also the member for MacKillop on his comments about my beautiful home town. We look forward to many people across our state visiting this absolutely spectacular part of the world.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:46): I, too, rise to support this motion. The reason I rise to support the motion is that I think not only is the Limestone Coast a great attraction in regional South Australia but the regions of South Australia are complemented by the Limestone Coast. Starting my life on the Limestone Coast, or very close to it, I quickly learnt that every part of the regions in South Australia in particular has assets, and those assets are the destinations we all long to visit and all long to be a part of, none more so than the assets in the electorate of Chaffey—in the Riverland and the Mallee.

Some of the coastlines South Australia has are second to none. Every part of regional South Australia has its strengths, whether it is a coastline; whether it is visiting the beautiful Barossa, looking at some of the wineries, vineyards and historic assets they have; or whether it is travelling to Clare, which is very similar. If we look to other regions that have great assets, Eyre Peninsula has some of the most picturesque coastline in the world, and it also has some of the best fishing that I know. I must say that it is an absolute joy to get out into the regions and to visit probably some of my favourite playgrounds.

Tourism in the regions is a major South Australian contributor to its economy. For every tourism dollar spent in South Australia, 48¢ is spent in the regions. The regional visitor expenditure is up 25 per cent from pre-COVID levels. What it is showing is that not only this government but the former Liberal government have always prioritised regional tourism.

In the Riverland, tourism is a key economic driver—about $254 million into the Riverland's economy, with 300 tourism businesses in the Riverland, 1,400 people employed directly and another 500 indirectly. The 412 overnight visits is the important stat: that is when people spend money on accommodation, on meals, on food, and you get the value add.

Whether they are out driving around some of the beautiful horticulture settings, whether they are out enjoying the River Murray—some call it the Murray River—I must say that some of the year-round events up there are quite unique. The Dinghy Derby is unique to the Riverland and is also unique anywhere in the world, with the creek network up there.

Everywhere we go in regional South Australia we have food and wine festivals, live music and history events. The Riverland Rose and Garden Festival has been ongoing for many years now and brings in a lot of people. Murray River water sports and houseboat holidays are unique experiences like no other. Some other famed events are the sheepdog trials and the Running of the Sheep in Barmera and the True Grit festival in Cadell.

Some of those businesses that have reaped the rewards of government funding streams have gone on to bigger and better things. I know that Riverland Classic Limousines, Murray River Trails, Bellbird Tours, Orlando houseboats, just to name a few, have been recipients of taxpayer funding and have gone on to bigger and better things.

To grow South Australia's regional visitor expenditure by $4 billion to 2025 will take a commitment from the government. It will take a commitment from the tourism operators that are prepared to put their money where their mouth is. They take the leap of faith to build a business and to showcase the region they call home. Again, I call on the government to continue that legacy. Support to TiCSA for future funding opportunities is also important, just as it is for the South Australian Tourism Commission.

I must say that the South Australian Visitor Information Centre network in the Riverland is a great conduit. They are great institutions that give direction for people who come up to the Riverland, just as they do for any of the regional settings.

Everyone in this place at some point in time will visit a region. You will go up, you will take your family and you will have a great time. Whether you are visiting a coastal setting, a beautiful vineyard, historical sites or a waterway, do it. It is just a great experience, it is a great holiday and it is a great living, lasting memory for your children. To every visitor coming to South Australia, put the Riverland first on your list. Once you have visited the Riverland, you can go and visit some of the other offerings in regional Australia.

It is a good motion, well worth supporting. It is a motion that I think every member in this place should be a part of because tourism is such an important part of our economy. It is about supporting not only inbound but outbound tourism as well. Thank you to the member for Mount Gambier.

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (12:52): I rise to speak in support of this bill that the member for Mount Gambier has brought forward. I especially want to highlight paragraph (a) about the importance of South Australia's regional areas to the state's visitor economy. Eyre Peninsula, as has been briefly mentioned, is one of the most active tourism hotspots in South Australia. It is one that is obviously a bit further away from Adelaide, so it does not always get the same attention. It is one that has not had the same marketing budget spent on it that our friends across the water on Kangaroo Island have, but nevertheless it is one that is exceeding expectations and exceeding targets.

Eyre Peninsula enjoyed an overall tourism spend of $503 million to year end last year (December 2022). Its target to reach in 2025 was $397 million—it has exceeded that already. The target for 2030 was $500 million—already it has exceeded that target. This is where Eyre Peninsula is really highlighting the offering that they have at the moment.

I especially want to highlight some of the nature-based and adventure tourism businesses within the sector because, although we talk in this place about making laws which reflect the needs of our communities, they are businesses for which I worry we are putting in place extra impediments and extra red tape. I want to highlight nature-based and adventure tourism sectors in particular on Eyre Peninsula and go through a few very briefly.

EP Cruises are based out of Fowlers Bay at this time of year, and during the summer months they provide an island experience—a unique, amazing and incredible insight into West Coast nature. I would recommend everyone in this place getting up to Fowlers Bay and experiencing the whale tours. I also want to highlight the bureaucratic red tape that is actually holding this industry back.

We are getting extra opportunities for nature-based tourism, but departments are putting extra hurdles in place for those businesses. I want to highlight EP Cruises, who want to put together this island experience, but the burden that is being put on them is actually going to create that much of an impediment it is probably not going to be worth them developing that product. This is from a Department for Environment that is a long way away in Adelaide.

Decisions are made in a department building, decisions that affect businesses, especially those such as Rod from EP Cruises, who know the environment in that area better than anyone else. They know their local environment. They are being told, 'No, we're going to restrict your movements, restrict what you can do.' If we are going to have decision-makers supporting nature-based tourism and adventure tourism, we need to make sure we are not putting extra impediments in place.

That bureaucratic red tape and green tape is holding back the opportunities in our regions. I am hearing the same from the Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience, an incredibly unique sea lion experience where you can be up close and personal with nature of the most unique, untouched aspect. With our shark cage diving, which is world renowned, Calypso Star Charters and Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions are having layers and layers of bureaucratic red tape added. These businesses should be activated, promoted and enabled, not held back by government.

I also want to give a shout-out to a couple of hardworking characters within our regional tourism offering on Eyre Peninsula: Craig 'Hassie' Haslam from Untamed Escapes and David 'Lunch' Doudle from Australian Coastal Safaris, two businesses which are highlighting the unique nature of Eyre Peninsula. We are now putting forward our slogan on Eyre Peninsula as The Wild Side. We are the wild side of South Australia. We have a unique environment. We have unique nature-based experiences. Government and decision-makers should be making sure they are not holding back those opportunities.

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