Heritage Matters

I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, representing the Minister for Environment and Conservation, a question about his funding announcement of 21 May 2004.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Avid readers of Hansard would know that I have raised several questions in relation to the lack of state funding for heritage through the state heritage fund, worth some $250 000 per annum. Funds approved by the previous Liberal government for South Australian built heritage sites have also been cut, and I detail these as follows: cut in funding for Fort Glanville from $75 000 to $25 000; $30 000 from Marble Hill; and a reduction in funding for the Adelaide Gaol at Thebarton.

The response from the department to The Advertiser article was that there were more demands for funding than the department’s $100 million budget could satisfy and ‘we get criticised for wasting government money and we make careful choices of what we renovate’. In his media release dated 21 May, the minister announced that funding of some $2.9 million over four years will be provided for heritage, including an additional $450 000 in the year 2004-05.

The Hon. T.G. Roberts: Which minister was that?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The Minister for Environment and Conservation. The media release states:

The most significant areas of expenditure in the package will be support for local heritage (including expansion of current heritage advisers), strengthening legislation (some $.6 million), improved management of state owned heritage assets and expansion of heritage information, education and interpretation.

In relation to this media release and the call on funds for the heritage program, my questions are:

1. How much of this new funding (that is, the $2.9 million and the $450 000 to be provided in the next budget) will be spent on heritage advisers, public servants and the like?

2. How much of this new funding will be spent on heritage restoration and maintenance—tins of paints and those sorts of items?

The Hon. T.G. ROBERTS (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): I thank the honourable member for her questions, which I will refer to the Minister for Environment and Conservation in another place and bring back a reply.

Thursday 22 July 2004

In reply to Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (24 May).

The Hon. T.G. ROBERTS: The Minister for Environment and Conservation has been advised:

1. For 2004-005, the funding of $450,000 allows for allocations of $130,000 to the National Trust of SA, $100,000 towards expansion of the local government Heritage Advisory Service and $220,000 in additional resourcing for the Department for Environment and Heritage to implement the first year's programs.

The National Trust component will assist in the management of the 42 State heritage listed properties in their care, and in undertaking a review of long-term options for property management and ownership.

The expansion of the Heritage Advisory Service will entail the training and engagement of additional heritage consultancy services for local government, to supplement the highly successful system operating currently in 25 local government areas across the State.

These expenditures will contribute significantly to the maintenance of the heritage fabric of South Australia.

2. In terms of heritage restoration and maintenance, financial assistance to owners of State heritage places is made available from the State Heritage Fund through the annual grants program, which operates independently of the Heritage Directions funding allocated in this year's State Budget. The State Heritage Fund grants program will continue to operate on current funding.

3. Applications to the State Heritage Fund grants program for 2004-05 closed on 30 June 2004. These applications are now being considered.