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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-04 Daily Xml
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STRUAN HOUSE

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about Struan House.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: I made inquiries of the former minister, the Hon. Patrick Conlon, in January this year regarding the tenancy of Struan House. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure advised that it currently leased the house to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, which subleases part of this to the local NRM board.

I am advised that in 2008 PIRSA agreed to a five-year-plus-five-year tenancy period commencing 1 March 2008, at a gross rental of $182,619 per annum. DPTI advises that PIRSA paid a reduced rental of $140,000 per annum for approximately three years; the original agreed rental was applied from 1 July 2011 and is current until 1 July 2013. I am further advised that after review of its service plans and operational requirements, PIRSA recently advised DPTI that it intends to relocate to office accommodation in Naracoorte. DPTI will then investigate alternative tenant options and, if a tenant cannot be secured, a disposal strategy will be put in place. My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm, based on local information, that PIRSA has now extended its lease? If that is the case, is the lease being extended at a commercial rate or a reduced rate?

2. If the department is not staying there, to where in the South-East is it relocating?

3. What are the government's plans for that particular historic home, which has had a lot of money spent on it, in the medium and long-term future?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Indeed, PIRSA has extended its lease. I am quickly trying to find out exactly what period it has extended to; however, we have extended it, and it may be three years or it may be five years. I will double-check that and hopefully be able to get an answer before I sit down.

The issue with Struan House—it is a very beautiful building—is that unfortunately the lease arrangements there had been fairly expensive. I understand that a number of tenants have moved out. It is owned by Transport, so it is a matter for them really to set rates and suchlike. We had indicated some concern about the level of rents that we were being charged and negotiated accordingly. Transport came back to us and we have then signed off on an extended lease, which is still not here. In relation to our future—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: Question time is for ministers to answer, not their staff, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: And you not to interject.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: In relation to the future of Struan House—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: We just sit around waiting for her to take a telephone call, do we?

The PRESIDENT: You do.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —as I said, it is a matter for Transport. It is owned by Transport. I know that over the years they have looked at various options. I think they were trying to get a wine industry group in there in terms of testing the waters to see whether there was any interest. I think they have from time to time over the years tried to explore other suitable arrangements for the building.

As I said, it is a truly magnificent building. It would be great to house some sort of tourism activity there; it seems a shame to have it used as offices. Nevertheless, we have extended our lease there and we are happy to do so. As I said, we will continue our services there in Struan House for the duration of that lease.

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