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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-17 Daily Xml
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World Parks Day

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:35): I move:

That this house—

(a) acknowledges that 17 September is World Parks Day, a day to celebrate and recognise the importance of these green spaces for their environmental, cultural, and social values;

(b) recognises the important work that volunteers play in conserving and protecting South Australia's parks, in particular members of the Friends of Parks and Nature; and

(c) recognises the work of the Malinauskas Labor government in preserving and expanding South Australia's parks, including through the addition of land and the proclamation of new parks.

I am very lucky to live in a part of the world that is very green and spacious. I live in the south, in the electorate of Davenport, where we are lucky enough to have Glenthorne National Park, a beautiful space that our community has really embraced and started to enjoy. We have over 350 parks in South Australia. It is certainly something that our state should celebrate, and it is fantastic to see so many families getting out to really enjoy these activated spaces.

I have just been told by my colleague the member for Waite that she is actually the member for parks, when I thought that I was. It turns out that she is, having Belair National Park in her electorate of Waite, Belair being the oldest national park in the state. I will not take her glory and give you all of the other fantastic facts about Belair National Park. I think she and I will just have to agree to disagree on which of the national parks is the greatest.

Of course, it is Glenthorne National Park, so I would like to take this opportunity to provide a shout-out to the Friends of Glenthorne, who do a fantastic job of protecting that new national park space. They have planted thousands and thousands of new seedlings and saplings over the last few years, and they often host local community groups and local primary schools at Glenthorne for a day out for them to learn all about our nature and the beautiful wildlife that we have in the south.

I am excited to be able to share that very soon we will be making it even easier for kids to access Glenthorne National Park. Right across the road is IQRA College, and they have been lobbying me for some time now to get safer access across Majors Road so that they can visit daily and check in on the saplings that they have planted over the years. I am very proud that we are going to be able to deliver that safe crossing for them very soon, which I know will also benefit the children at the O'Halloran Hill childcare centre, who often pop on those cute little high-vis vests and potter over the road to learn a little bit more about nature.

We are so lucky to have a government that is committed to only expanding our national parks as well here in South Australia. Almost 725 hectares, the equivalent of 450 Adelaide Ovals, are being added to three popular South Australian parks, providing more access and better protection to our state's natural attractions for local, interstate and international visitors. They are the Murray River National Park, Maize Island Lagoon Conservation Park in the Riverland and the Sceale Bay Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula.

It is very exciting to see that we are investing more in this space and protecting those beautiful spaces here in South Australia. I am conscious of the fact that I do not have a huge amount of time left to speak on this, and I know that the member for parks is very keen to contribute, so I might hand over to our next speakers.

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (12:38): I would like to make a minor amendment to the motion that is proposed. The amendment would delete paragraph (c) and replace it with:

(c) recognises the significant work of former and current governments in preserving and expanding South Australia's parks, including through the addition of land and the proclamation of new parks.

I think it is important that we understand how important parks are to our psyche in Australia and South Australia in particular. It is wonderful that we have such a large expanse of parks across our state. The history of the parks goes a long way back to 1891, with Belair National Park being the second park declared in Australia after the Royal National Park in New South Wales, which was proclaimed in 1879.

We have other parks as well, going back to Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, established in 1919. Coorong, just prior to my lifetime, was proclaimed a national park in 1966. There are many parks out there, such as Mount Remarkable, which was proclaimed a national park in 1972, and Coffin Bay National Park also in 1972.

There are many others as well. Glenthorne National Park was a very recent addition under the previous government, turning what used to be a research centre into a national park. Likewise, in my own electorate, there was another national park declared, the Hindmarsh Valley National Park, which is an exciting piece of terrain, a very interesting piece of land in my electorate. It has significantly steep sections to it, which makes it a really challenging piece of terrain on which to have ever done anything agriculturally. That means this land has some very good remnant vegetation, which is really important to some of the species that are there.

We need to understand how important these parks are to our environment and what they mean for the people of South Australia. It is certainly important that we protect these pieces of land to protect the fauna that live in these areas. Endangered species such as the yellow-footed rock wallaby, the glossy black cockatoo and the Australian sea lion are all important fauna that we need to help preserve. It is important that we manage the parks so that we are able to make sure that we maintain and protect these environments.

Community health and wellbeing benefits of parks and green spaces encompass accessibility to these green spaces around Adelaide's Parklands, coastal reserves, and regional hubs. It makes people really enjoy the outdoors, giving people the opportunity to enjoy these spaces. As much as I think about preserving these areas to make sure we maintain our historic vegetation and what was there previously, it is also about allowing people to enjoy those spaces and actually experience the beauty this country has, which is one of the most important things.

As I said, governments going back to the 1890s have been protecting this land by declaring national parks. It must be recognised that all members of this place, no matter which party they are from, have done their bit over time to make sure that these places are protected and looked after. Once we declare them national parks, we also need to make sure that we continue to look after those spaces.

I think it has been something that this chamber has been very supportive of on both sides, including the crossbench, making sure that we continue in this space. It is important to recognise that both the current government and former governments of both sides have made the effort to improve the national park network, hence the amendment to the motion. With that, I conclude my remarks.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (12:44): I rise today in support of the original motion and I welcome the opportunity to reflect on World Parks Day, and the extraordinary value of open green spaces in South Australia and, importantly, in my community.

As the member for Waite, and as someone who grew up across the road from the very best park, Belair National Park—and I still live across the road from it today—I know firsthand just how lucky we are to be surrounded by extraordinary parks and reserves. I have spent countless hours walking, riding, volunteering, and simply soaking up the peace in our parks, and I know many in our community feel the same connection to the places we are fortunate to have on our doorstep.

In the Mitcham Hills, we are blessed with an incredible diversity of parks: Belair National Park, Brownhill Creek, Shepherds Hill Recreation Park, Blackwood Forest, Watiparinga and Sturt Gorge. These places not only offer beauty and biodiversity but also provide a place of refuge and connection with nature, with history and with one another.

Recently, I had the joy of attending the 40th anniversary of the celebration of the Friends of Belair National Park and it reminded me just how special these places are and how deeply they are cared for. Belair has always been a place of firsts. Established in 1891, it was South Australia's very first national park, only the second in the entire nation and the eighth in the world.

For the past 40 years, the Friends of Belair National Park have been at its very heart. Since 1985, they have planted trees, pulled weeds, restored creeks, monitored the wildlife, and recorded history and the shared story of the place within our community. Tens of thousands of hours of volunteer work are visible in every corner of the park. This dedication is mirrored in our other parks through other friends groups as well.

On Saturday 20 July this year, over 175 volunteers came together with the Friends of Blackwood Forest for a massive community planting day. In just one morning, over 1,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses were planted, mulched and watered, marking stage 2 of a $15,000 revegetation project focused on restoring the East-West and Minno Creek lines. I was glad to join them and to see the pride on people's faces as they worked side by side to restore the much-loved and hard fought for local forest. Equally, the Brownhill Creek Association continues to do outstanding work regenerating native vegetation, restoring the creek and celebrating Kaurna heritage along this important waterway.

Of course, none of this happens in isolation. Across Waite, we have Friends of Sturt Gorge, Friends of Shepherds Hill Recreation Park, Friends of Waite Conservation Reserve, Friends of Waite Arboretum, and smaller but equally dedicated groups like Blackwood Action Group, Woodlake Reserve Action Group, Hurds Hill Reserve Regeneration Group, landcare groups and the Red Gum Gully Bushcare Group. They remind us that conservation does not just happen in big parks; it is happening in the small reserves and bush pockets right across our suburbs.

Importantly, these groups work in partnership with our rangers, whose work is as diverse as it is vital, from biodiversity conservation to cultural heritage protection, from fire management and compliance to education, emergency response and volunteer support. On 31 July, we marked World Ranger Day and we lit Parliament House green to thank our rangers for their extraordinary contribution and to honour those whose lives have sadly been lost in the line of duty.

On 28 August, I had the absolute honour of attending the SARA screening of Guardians of Hope. It was a documentary created by former South Australian ranger Amanda Dudgeon. Amanda, whose vision was an inspiration for all in attendance to follow our dreams and be brave, showcased just how vital the work of rangers and conservation protectors is and how they are giving us hope for the future.

There were so many rangers in the room it felt so special and they were from different work contexts: traditional owners, National Parks and Wildlife Service, ForestrySA, SA Water and non-government organisations. Rangers are who we look to for hope and guidance when it comes to the natural world and wilderness. Rangers are resilient and reliable, often knowing what to do and how to help. With climate change effects being seen in changing weather patterns, algal blooms and droughts, our rangers are at the forefront in reducing threats, protecting wildlife and reassuring the community.

To acknowledge the work that our rangers do, as well as celebrate how lucky we are to live in our community, I am hosting a Living Around Parks Expo in October in Waite. It will be a chance for our community to learn more about our parks and hear directly from the rangers and the friends groups and be inspired by their work. There will be sessions on bushfire management, advice on planting gardens to support biodiversity and wildlife, and stories from volunteers who dedicate their time to caring for these spaces. I am very pleased to be able to organise this opportunity to bring our community together, and I am hopeful that it will inspire them to not only care more for their own green spaces but also consider what they can do to help support our parks more broadly.

Of course, our parks are not just places of conservation; they are also places of community and recreation. In Waite, our parks are alive with activity, whether it is parkrun on Saturday mornings at Belair, disc golf within the Belair National Park as well in the old golf course, the Marion Riding Club, the walking and trail running groups (TRSA), and our mountain bike riders who trail through quite a number of our parks on weekends, public holidays, school holidays, and at any time really. They are playgrounds for all ages where families gather, friendships form, and health and wellbeing are nurtured.

Playgrounds and recreation spaces help families and children connect with nature from a young age. Belair National Park is home to the much-loved Adventure Playground, which will soon undergo significant upgrades starting just after the school holidays, ensuring it remains a magical place for children for generations to come. Personally, I have my own special connection of going to the Adventure Playground all the time as a child. I remember quite vividly coming down the massive slippery dip that used to come down the side and, of course, it was made out of metal and was usually quite hot. There are some good memories and sometimes not so good memories.

Mr Pederick: I bet they have got rid of it now.

Ms HUTCHESSON: It is not there anymore, sadly. I continue to advocate to try to get it back, but I am not sure I am going to get anywhere with that. The improvements to Playford Lake that are coming as well will improve the accessibility and enjoyment for families. Closer to our neighbourhoods, we have just completed our community consultation on the Waite Street Reserve upgrade. I am really pleased that, thanks to strong community support, feedback and also by my own feedback, the new design will include a basketball hoop, a small but important win that will give young people in our area more opportunities to be active in recreation.

These spaces, from our national parks to our local reserves, from bush tracks to playgrounds, are all vital parts of our community. They give us opportunities to connect with nature, with each other and with our own wellbeing. This year, we will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wittunga Botanic Garden, another jewel in our community, cared for by the wonderful rangers from the Botanic Gardens and the friends group that is supported by the passionate volunteer guides as well from the Botanic Gardens.

Today, on World Parks Day, we celebrate all of these places and the people who care for them. We thank the volunteers, the rangers and, indeed, the community groups who give so much of their time. Every weekend they are out there, and they are working hard. It is really lovely to see that not only do they understand the importance of protecting biodiversity and protecting the spaces, but that they also get such joy from being with each other and learning from each other. I love that the most about our Friends of Parks groups. When I visit them and go and help them sometimes, they are so friendly and they really welcome you. They want to teach you and encourage you to learn as well. I am really fortunate that we have so many within my community.

I would also like to recognise the important work of our government in preserving and expanding South Australia's parks through new proclamations, the addition of land, and by strengthening the resources that support these special places. Whilst Waite is full of parks, I will accept that there are other parks in other areas and that they, too, are important. They actually are looked after by incredible Friends of Parks groups and rangers across the state. We would be nowhere without those groups because it is such a huge amount of work that they manage to get done.

A really good example of that is in Belair. There is a family who took over a patch to look after and have been doing it since their kids were really young. Every year for Father's Day, Craig Baulderstone, who was made life member at the Friends of Belair, as his gift has his whole family in his patch, weeding and conserving in that area. When you walk past that patch, which I do often—it is near my house—you completely notice the difference between how it has been so well cared for. There are so many weeds that they need to look for, whether they are broom, blackberries or a whole lot of others that they continue to pull out, so that it provides such beautiful biodiversity and a great place for nature.

I was walking through there the other day and not really looking and then looking, and there was a family of little owls just sitting on a log, which is really unusual for them to be down so low, but they were sitting there pretending not to be seen, and it was very cute. I am very fortunate to live in an area that is surrounded by parks, as is our community, that really shapes our identity and gives us hope. Let us continue to celebrate them, to protect them and to ensure they remain places of beauty, biodiversity, play and belonging for the generations to come. I support the motion.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:54): I rise to support the amended motion in regard to today, which is World Parks Day. I notice all the benefits that national parks bring for the health and wellbeing of our society and people who access them. I am going to take a slightly different approach and reflect on the Coorong National Park and the Billiatt and Ngarkat parks. They are all pretty broad parks that have either been in my electorate or are adjacent to my electorate in my time as a member of parliament. I have certainly visited all those parks throughout my life.

In the Coorong, over time there have been many rudimentary shacks that have been put in place. I know people who have some of these shacks. Thankfully, when we were in government, we have gone through a level of freeholding, which is ongoing, hooking up proper wastewater systems and that kind of thing so that people can have tenure. These are real shacks. People get down there in these shack communities. There are not many of them, but it needs to be recognised that these shacks provide a lot of community fun and get together, as well as a lot of relaxation time for people in the community.

Billiatt and Ngarkat are both very big parks with many tens of thousands of hectares. I share farmed a property next to Ngarkat Conservation Park, which can have its challenges with the amount of wildlife that comes over a normal-height fence. Plenty of emus and kangaroos decide that they do not necessarily need to live just on the park, which is a bit of a confronting issue to deal with when you are trying to grow wheat crops on the other side of the fence. It is an issue.

I know it says in the legislation, because I have looked it up, that governments of either colour never pay for fencing next to a national park from freehold land. I find that quite interesting because, if you are a farmer and you neighbour land, you are responsible for paying for 50 per cent of that fence. However, to my knowledge, I have never seen the government put in the appropriate money because it would need a significant fence, probably two metres high, to make the wildlife stay in the park.

I had some very enjoyable weekends out in that fantastic park at Ngarkat. It sometimes had some severe burn scars, because it is like a magnet for lightning strikes. I remember one fantastic trip driving up from the property at Emu Springs out the back of Tintinara and heading up towards the Mallee end or the Lameroo end of the park in an old three-speed Toyota we had. It was pretty reliable, considering what it was. We lost one axle on the way in. I cannot remember now whether it was the front or back, but we kept going on whatever axle I had.

I had instructed my friends, who were coming in from the other end, that if I was not there getting towards dusk they should come and look for me. I got a flat tyre and I did not realise how close I happened to be to Box Flat where we were camping. When I got a flat tyre I thought, 'Well, that just takes the cake.' It was just another challenge for driving through the park. I had plenty of supplies with me if we had to set up for the night and sleep in the swag, which we were going to do anyway. It was so funny because the next thing I heard a crash and bang as a Toyota came down the track to assist us with fixing the tyre.

A park like that is fantastic. You can do the border track with four-wheel drives, going more from the Mallee end up towards Lameroo and Parrakie heading south. You can certainly commute there and have a very peaceful time out in that Mallee scrub well away from traffic and the hindrance of city life, if you are a city dweller. It is a great place to have out there. There are great tracts of land that are preserved like that, and many people have enjoyed their time traversing these parks. As I said, it can be four-wheel drive tours, motorbike tours and the like.

I really enjoyed my time in these parks. They do cause a problem sometimes with fire management, and I have talked about that here in the past, but we do have to be realistic in that management.

Debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.

The SPEAKER: I am not sure who is trying to do the bribing here, but there is a donut here—maybe from the police minister, is it? Have you an explanation for where this donut came from?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: My apologies, Mr Speaker. It is Blue Donut Day, in recognition of Police Legacy and the work they do to support police officers and the families of police officers.

The SPEAKER: What a great cause. Thank you very much for the bribe; I will put it on my register of interests—full disclosure to the deputy leader.

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