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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-22 Daily Xml
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MARINE PARKS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:21): Regrettably for the Hon. Rob Lucas I do not have a question about animals, as he is a regular Dr Doolittle this week. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about marine parks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: The planned marine parks this government has committed to create need to strike a balance in respect of acceptable use, including commercial and recreational fishing and conservation. Most importantly, any decisions must be based on the very best available information.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Well, take a point of order.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On a point of order, sir, Mr Finnigan is engaging in comment.

The PRESIDENT: Under what standing order?

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Mr President, you have so ruled countless times.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Will the minister inform the council of moves to provide better scientific information on the creation of these parks?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:22): It is a good time to be asking about this, on the day—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I cannot hear myself think, Mr President. Thank you for your protection. It is a good time to ask about this, given that it is the day after the Legislative Council passed the Marine Parks Bill. Yesterday I announced the launch of a new 7.5 metre research vessel that will not only be a huge asset in the determination of our planned marine parks but one that will have a long-term role to play in the preservation of our marine environments. It is a former charter vessel that has been purchased and modified to enable DEH scientists to undertake scientific field assessments in the state's waters, including sonar mapping of the seafloor (the bouncing of sound waves off the seafloor).

Carrying teams of up to six people, the boat is fitted with instruments that use sonar waves to scan the seafloor, providing the crew on board with an extremely detailed map and outline of the terrain below. This will allow scientists to undertake surveying and mapping expeditions. There is also the capacity to use remote video cameras to record footage of the ocean floor as a means of validating the satellite and—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Now that the Hon. Mr Dawkins has finished interjecting, the minister can continue.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —aerial imagery and acoustic information. Further, the boat is also a launch for divers to undertake detailed close up and personal inspections of the seafloor. As I said earlier, this boat is also a means of recognising one of the state's most passionate maritime environmentalists. I am pleased to announce that the boat will be named the TK Arnott after a former DEH senior maritime archaeologist, Terry Arnott, who died unexpectedly this year. He was a very—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am glad they think it is amusing that we are naming this vessel in honour of this incredibly valued member of our DEH team, who died tragically early in the year. He made an incredible contribution to maritime work, particularly to maritime heritage, and I find it fascinating that opposition members find it so amusing that, as a legacy to him, his family and his work—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Having benefited so much from the legacy of his work, we have named this scientific maritime research vessel after him. I have no doubt that today is an extremely important day in South Australia's history. We are seeing the tools delivered that will open our eyes to wonders that for so long have been hidden, or at least much of it has been. This week we have also moved to get on with the job of providing surety to the commercial fishing and aquaculture industries in connection with this matter.

We held the first meeting of the Displaced Effort Working Group on Tuesday. This should ensure that all commercial fishers and aquaculture operators understand the process the government intends to implement to minimise the level of displaced effort and the arrangements that will be made in the event that they are affected. As we have put on record previously, that would obviously be as a last resort. We are clearly looking to accommodate the interests of current users.

The purpose of the legislation is obviously to conserve our precious and important marine environment. However, each of the marine park areas will be zoned so that the range of uses will be accommodated in the best possible way. In particular, our emphasis will be on those uses that occur in a sustainable way. Clearly, we are looking at displaced effort only as a last resort.

The groups represented on the Displaced Effort Working Group include the South Australian Fishing Industry Council; the South Australian Seafood Industry Federation; the Seafood Council of South Australia; the Abalone Industry Association of South Australia; the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association; the South Australian Marine Scale Sardine Industry Association; the South Australian Aquaculture Council; the Department for Environment and Heritage; and the Department for Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia (Fisheries and Aquaculture). Because we are often accused of not consulting thoroughly, I felt it was important to put on the record the level, degree and extent of the consultation that has been undertaken.

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