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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (14:29): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about recent funding for regional development.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: One of the most difficult areas for government is deciding who or which programs should receive grant moneys. It is a truism that all causes are, in the eyes of the proponents at least, eminently worthy and deserving of funding, often above and beyond what is available. On the counter side, those who have not received support may be naturally disappointed and sometimes critical. I understand the minister has spoken previously about the support for regions offered by the commonwealth government. Will the minister update the chamber on recent funding developments for South Australian regional projects?

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) (14:30): Members may not in fact recall that the Regional Development Australia Fund is a fund of over $1 billion to support infrastructure needs and economic growth of Australia's regions and is designed to leverage state, commonwealth and local government, and private and not-for-profit investments. The fund is a competitive fund, which is available to local government and non-government organisations or consortia, which include businesses.

The first round of this really important fund has recently been announced by the federal government and South Australia, which often receives funding based on the size of its population compared to the rest of Australia, has done extremely well. The distribution this round was $150 million Australia-wide and a total of $15.89 million has been committed to six projects in regional South Australia. They involve a diverse range of initiatives, with investment ranging from nearly $13 million, which the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula will devote to upgrading Port Lincoln Airport, to a $2.84 million upgrading of the art centres in the APY lands.

As South Australia's busiest regional airport, Port Lincoln is, as I have previously discussed in this place, a very important gateway and infrastructure supporting economic development and business in the Eyre Peninsula. It obviously has an important role there. The state government has recognised this and committed over $1 million from our Regional Development Infrastructure Fund for transport and electricity infrastructure to support this major upgrade. Now the federal government has come to the party and committed $4.5 million to this facility. The economic impetus for Aboriginal communities created by art centres has been recognised in the commonwealth's commitment of $2.84 million to upgrade and build a new art centre infrastructure in a number of APY communities.

In the Barossa, $4.81 million will go to the Barossa Council to help construct a new shared bicycle and walking path from Tanunda to Gawler and will bolster the region's reputation as a cycle-friendly tourist area. In the Flinders Ranges area just under $1 million has been committed to the Flinders Ranges Council for Energizing the Flinders, which is a green energy infrastructure project to install solar power systems at 10 locations across the Flinders region and 84 solar lights at local community places. That is the RDA involved in the Far North.

Sporting facilities will benefit to the tune of $1.72 million, which will go to the District Council of Streaky Bay to support development of the Streaky Bay Oval precinct. This will include the construction of a new community complex, gymnasium and activities room, and provide synthetic bowling greens. Last but not least, $1.1 million has been committed to a $1.38 million project to be undertaken by Uniting Care Wesley Port Pirie Inc. for the Port Pirie Men's Shed and Community Centre complex and rebuild project. This project is designed to support current and expanded training and employment activities for disadvantaged people and families in the region.

The RDA funds are not just about economic development. Projects are expected to enhance the liveability of the community and the fund's guidelines state that projects must contribute to the development of infrastructure and to economic and community growth. The guidelines provide grants of between $500,000 and $25 million and indicate the projects can be staged to occur over a period of time.

Members may be aware that the second round of this program, in which another $150 million will be made available, has been announced and applications will open in November this year. I would like to take this opportunity to urge communities and businesses to look very carefully through the guidelines so that they can maximise their opportunity for funding—and, of course, all that information is provided online. I congratulate the successful applicants and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.

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