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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-04 Daily Xml
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Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Minister, will you inform the chamber about the progress to date of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and, Andrew Fischer, this one is for you. On Friday 8 May, I had the pleasure of taking part in a flyover of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Thank you. That was half-hearted—you might want to try again, there are plenty more to come! This was a wonderful opportunity to gain an aerial perspective of the land that has been purchased to become the sanctuary. The sanctuary is located along the Gulf St Vincent coastline, from Barker Inlet in the south to Port Parham in the north—although there is some contention about whether there actually is a Port Parham; I understand on the maps it is mostly just signed as Parham.

By way of background, members will recall that in mid 2014 the South Australian government spent $2 million to purchase 2,300 hectares of land north of the Light River. By 2018, we will have invested a further $1.7 million into the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. We believe that it will draw bird watchers from around Australia and the rest of the world.

The sanctuary, once proclaimed, will be one of the longest continuous coastal reserves in the state and will include beautiful and largely untouched coastline. On average, I am told, about 25,000 shorebirds visit the sanctuary area every year. Some come from as far away as Siberia and Alaska, passing through 22 countries as they travel here. More than 50 species are represented in that number, 29 of which are protected, including 17 that are listed as rare and two that are listed as vulnerable.

The sanctuary is a critical feeding ground for the thousands of migratory shorebirds that fly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. It also provides a vital habitat for birds that have resided there for their entire life cycle. In addition to these important environmental and ecological benefits, the bird sanctuary will also create significant economic opportunities for Adelaide and, in particular, the northern suburbs.

The sanctuary can offer nature-based tourism opportunities such as birdwatching, bushwalking, kayaking, fishing, camping and bike riding. In addition, discussions are underway with the local Kaurna community to hold cultural camps within the sanctuary, including bush tucker and storytelling, with educational stories about culture.

The location of the bird sanctuary close to Adelaide's food bowl offers significant opportunities. We can link local produce through things such as annual food festival events, farmers' markets and guest chef or bush tucker food demonstrations. We are also working very closely with the different local communities and stakeholder groups about these great opportunities, and the enthusiasm was evident when I met with community members at Thompson Beach in April.

The Thompson Beach township in the northern section of the sanctuary has been identified as an ideal location for a northern gateway to the sanctuary. It offers walking trails and birdwatching opportunities, and is a hot spot to view the migratory shorebirds when they arrive every spring. It was evident that ecologists, the local Kaurna community, the local council and community groups saw great potential in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary.

This is an exciting time for the north of Adelaide and their communities. They want to engage with us on how we design and construct an international bird sanctuary, and my instruction to my department is that I want them to go out and work with the community to make sure we get a bird sanctuary that works for the local community; that they have partnership in designing and feel that sense of ownership and protection. That has certainly been indicated in the enthusiasm that has been in evidence when I have met with community members. So, I look forward to working with them as we develop the very best wild bird sanctuary in the world while showcasing the best of the northern suburbs.

I would like to take a second of the chamber's time to thank my adviser, Mr Andrew Fischer, who has been working very closely with me and the communities on this international bird sanctuary and various other portfolio areas. If I can borrow from that great author, Douglas Adams, a little quote that the dolphins gave when they left the planet: 'So long, and thanks for all the fish'—and fun.

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