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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-17 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Electorate

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (15:15): I rise to provide an update regarding actions being taken to improve safety, security and amenity at Housing Trust sites Bentzen Court on Walkerville Terrace and Elliot Lodge on Park Terrace. The Housing Trust has introduced some immediate steps to significantly increase the amount of security and clean-up services at both sites.

A dedicated housing officer has been appointed to Elliot Lodge, and the trust has implemented an immediate increase in cleaning, rubbish removal and graffiti removal. It has also begun the process of installing CCTV, demolishing and refurbishing the laundries and undertaking painting, flooring and lighting upgrades. Works to upgrade common areas, to landscape outdoor areas and to remediate a fire-damaged unit will also begin this month. The state government has also recently instigated an onsite meeting between the Housing Trust and SAPOL to inspect the complex and remove any unwanted visitors.

Works underway at Elliot Lodge follow safety upgrades recently announced for Bentzen Court, including the installation of CCTV, fencing upgrades, increased cleaning, more frequent security patrols and stricter tenancy management. I have also established a local resident working group with nearby residents, the Town of Walkerville and the trust, which is meeting monthly to receive regular progress updates, provide feedback and advocate for long-term improvements at these sites. I want to thank these local residents for their time and valuable contribution.

As a community, we know that most Housing Trust tenants are good neighbours who deserve to feel safe and secure in their homes and in their neighbourhoods. We also understand this is a complex issue not confined to one suburb. Many walk-up flats were built in the 1950s and 1960s and are now outdated by modern building and living standards. That is why work is progressing on the upgrade of several Housing Trust walk-up sites across metropolitan Adelaide, including at Glengowrie, which I toured recently, and at Oaklands Park and Findon.

I have also worked with local residents to secure a recent refurbishment of a trust complex in the CBD. These upgrades are occurring alongside changes to tenant selection processes for walk-up flat sites, with greater emphasis on considering the neighbourhood as much as the needs of the prospective tenants. I really want to thank my local community for their support as I continue to advocate for our local area, working closely with local residents, listening, developing solutions and delivering positive outcomes.

We also have quite a number of local sporting groups in our community who will be going to the grand finals this weekend. First, to the Walkerville Football Club I want to say, 'All the best to the As and Bs' who will both play Plympton this weekend. I also have a shout-out for the Cs: unfortunately they missed out, by just one point, on making the grand final. I really do wish all those teams the best of luck for the footy grand finals, and I have a big shout-out for president Ryan Curry and all those who contribute to it being such a great footy club. I was there just a couple of weeks ago, doing both a canteen shift and also working behind the bar. It was great to support this; it really feels much like a country club in the city. I really wish all the footy players all the best.

To the Walkerville Netball Club, I am always blown away by how they keep going from strength to strength. These are the teams that will be competing in the grand finals this weekend: the Junior 8s, the Primary 6s, the B5s, the Junior 4Bs, the C2s, the B2s, the sub-Junior 4s and the A grade. The A-grade team have been minor premiers for three years running, and if they do win this grand final it will be back-to-back premierships.

It is no surprise then why this club has actually been accepted into the Premier League. It will be their inaugural season next year. They had a very exciting announcement recently that former Thunderbirds coach, Jane Woodlands-Thompson, will form part of their coaching team for their inaugural Premier League season in 2026. So I want to wish that wonderful club—all the netball players, all the volunteers—all the very best. Congratulations on an absolutely amazing season and, as I like to say, #BigBigMeow.

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