Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-27 Daily Xml

Contents

PARKS COMMUNITY CENTRE

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Disability a question relating to the Parks Community Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 7 November 2012, the Weekly Times Messenger published an article headed 'Parks Community "like family" for Diana Spencer'. Ms Spencer says her 'woodwork group at the Parks Community Centre provides more than just rehabilitation—it is like family'. However, Disability SA's Acquired Brain Injury Group which meets in the Parks woodwork centre is being forced to move. The Parks Community Centre will be razed in April to make way for a smaller Parks Community Centre and almost half the site will be sold for housing and shops. The government has repeatedly stated that it is committed to providing services to support people living with a disability in the community. However, as Ms Spencer highlighted, all these good places that rehabilitate are closing down. Where do all these people with head injuries go now? My questions are:

1. Where will the services provided at the Parks, including the 33 community groups, go after the closure?

2. What steps will the minister take to at least maintain the current level of services operating at the Parks?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and will direct it to the minister responsible, who is the Minister for Planning in the other place, and seek a response on his behalf.