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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-08-02 Daily Xml
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Local Government

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:58): I want to speak again today about the important work undertaken by local government in order to provide amenities and services for residents of their cities. It is my consistent experience that the work of local government and its elected members makes a considerable positive contribution to the quality of life of residents within their cities. Often these can be small things that make enormous differences in daily life, but there are considerably larger matters as well. The jurisdiction of local government matters a great deal to residents and their experiences of life in their communities.

The City of Salisbury is one of the 68 councils that operate in South Australia. It is a city in which many residents and businesses face challenges as a result of the changing global economy and the changing South Australian economic landscape. I commend the City of Salisbury in particular for its exceptionally collaborative attitude in working with the state government and with our industry and academic sectors to ensure the best possible outcomes and the best way forward for the city, its people and its economy.

One way in which the Salisbury council contributes positively to the future of its citizens is to ensure that there is a supportive infrastructure in place for business development, for families and children and for overall social wellbeing. Over the coming year, the City of Salisbury will be undertaking several projects that will be of significant benefit to residents. One of these is the Para Hills community hub. Major works are being undertaken alongside the existing Para Hills Library and Positive Ageing Centre to create a new community hub.

The hub is strategically located within walking distance of the Para Hills neighbourhood shopping centre and Para Hills schools. It will offer business, cultural, education and recreational opportunities, and feature well-equipped facilities, including a multifunction space for up to 120 people and spaces for events, exhibitions and workshops. The cost of this, of course, is over $4 million. It will create directly eight jobs and indirectly a further 10. The flow-on effect to the surrounding economy will be over $1 million in indirect flow-on and over $1 million in direct flow-on.

Furthermore, there is the Salisbury City Centre community hub, which has a cost of over $30 million. The proposed Salisbury City Centre community hub brings together a range of community, civic and learning services within one vibrant, adaptable and multifunctional building. The hub will provide modern spaces for community use and have state-of-the-art technology that will improve how we work and how we engage with our community.

Furthermore, there is the upgrading of pedestrian and cycle access in the Mawson Lakes Interchange, a project that is being performed in conjunction with a grant from the state government of just under $1 million, the total cost of the project being $2.4 million. This joint project between the state Department of Transport, Planning and Infrastructure and the council will improve pedestrian and cyclist access to the Elder Smith Road Bridge and Mawson Interchange at Mawson Lakes. Works include the widening of the shared path on Elder Smith Road Bridge, installation of a shared path ramp and stairs on the north-western side of the bridge and installation of a shared path on the south-eastern side of that bridge.

Also at the cost of just under half a million dollars is the autism-friendly play space. The council is looking to establish the first ever dedicated autism play space within the City of Salisbury, located adjacent to the upcoming Para Hills community hub development, which I previously mentioned. Concept design has been completed, with the following features, including a picnic shelter, a drinking fountain and a kick-about space, with the whole area, of course, being fully fenced. The proposed play space equipment includes a sandy play area, swings and rocking and spinning equipment, with the larger pieces being a themed play structure and climbable elements.

It is clear, when considering these projects, that the City of Salisbury will be undertaking over the following financial year a very strong commitment to promoting wellbeing, safety and a high quality of life for all residents across its city. The City of Salisbury deserves to be commended for maintaining this commitment and for doing the utmost to realise good value for ratepayers in regard to the money spent.

Salisbury council does not deserve to be penalised for its conscientious fiscal management and for voluntarily keeping its costs and its service delivery in line with community expectations. This is the kind of penalty we have seen imposed upon New South Wales councils with rate capping. This is the kind of penalty that has seen higher fees and charges for services, decaying infrastructure and cost shifting between the various levels of government in New South Wales as future generations suffer the increased costs that rate capping has created there. I am glad this government continues to stand against such an ill thought out and detrimental policy.

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