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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-05 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about her recent endeavours to develop relationships between government and regional South Australia.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Clearly, those opposite don't believe that regional South Australia is terribly important. The Minister for Regional Development is strongly committed to encouraging economic growth and future development throughout regional South Australia. Minister Gago has been a great supporter of the regions and the commonwealth Labor government initiative, the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund, which aims to assist regional areas financially. Each region has its strengths and weaknesses, which must be taken into account when seeking funding. My question is: will the minister discuss recent opportunities she has had to explore potential applications for this fund?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:36): It is with great pleasure that I respond to this most important question, for which I thank the honourable member. I am very pleased to inform the house that on 19 and 20 April I visited a number of businesses and organisations across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula to engage with the local community, hearing first-hand about regional projects and community priorities for the future.

I am particularly aware of how much of this state's economy, now and in the future, relies upon industries as diverse as mining and agriculture that are based outside of Adelaide. That is why this government significantly invests each year in regional education, health, roads and, of course, other infrastructure. This government also continues to support vital programs and projects through initiatives such as the $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund and Regional Development Infrastructure Fund.

This regional visit also provided me with the opportunity to see some of the benefits to those communities which have received funding assistance previously, through programs such as the RDIF. The grant program provides up to 50 per cent funding towards the cost of infrastructure which enables economic activity and delivers economic outcomes; for example, jobs, gross state product, exports or import replacement. Since its inception in 1999, approximately $30.6 million in RDIF assistance has supported projects that have generated an estimated 5,543 new jobs and over $1.4 billion in total project investment.

For example, in the 2007-08 financial year $500,000 was allocated from the RDIF towards pipe, pump and storage infrastructure to enable commercial wastewater reuse from the Mount Barker treatment plant. I inspected the new pipeline during my visit, to see how the local community gained through the provision of recycled water to the Kanmantoo mine site as well as to the Callington township for the upkeep of local parks and the oval. The project saw a resources company, the local council and state government all working together to develop improved economic and environmental outcomes.

Members would also be aware that the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island region is home to some of the state's premier food and wine industries, so I also took the opportunity to visit and learn about some of these businesses and the economic opportunities in the area. I met with the manager and head cheesemaker of the award-winning Woodside Cheese Wrights, Ms Kris Lloyd. Members may not be aware that the Woodside Cheese Wrights is a specialist cheesemaker of goat and cow cheeses and produces fresh white mould and mature cheeses. I discussed her vision for expanding and promoting regional produce.

I also met with members of the Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine group and heard about their ideas for establishing a business and community hub for growing and supporting the tourism industry. In addition, I met with members of the Victor Harbor Business Association, which supports local businesses, to gain their perspective on opportunities in the area. The trip was very valuable in gaining insights into the potential growth and development of opportunities in the region and also for visiting with representatives of the RDA committee. There was an opportunity to look at their Roadmap, which was very interesting and valuable, as well.

It was great to have the experience of exploring opportunities and projects with them. I was able to look firsthand at how communities can benefit from funding and the importance of sustainable growth in regional areas for South Australia's continued economic development. Obviously, I am committed to being a very strong advocate for those projects, particularly those that complement both state and commonwealth government priorities. I have a program to visit all the RDAs throughout the next number of months. I commenced that tour in the Riverland some time ago and will progress to visit all the regions over the coming months, and I look forward to it.

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