Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With the redistribution of the South Australian federal electorates in 2019, Mayo has the great pleasure of welcoming a number of new areas into our community. A couple of those areas which are adjacent to Blackwood are the communities of Hawthorndene and Craigburn Farm, both in the Mitcham local council area. Through my local community surveys and forums, Hawthorndene and Craigburn Farm have raised issues and concerns that are common across many communities in Mayo, as well as raising issues that are unique to their own areas.

Like the rest of Mayo, residents of Hawthorndene and Craigburn Farm are concerned about access to affordable health care and the state of our environment, especially the management and retention of big, beautiful trees in our area; about lagging infrastructure; and about pressure on the cost of living. From Craigburn Farm there are particular concerns about traffic congestion and the lack of road infrastructure to meet the needs of increased population pressures. Improvements to railway crossings are also being sought. The Blackwood roundabout is just outside of Mayo but it is an infamous area of local concern. It's pleasing to know that the state government is undertaking an upgrade, which should go some way to addressing this notorious traffic choke point. A related issue is the design of the Blackwood shopping centre. I've met with the Mitcham council, and they have this issue on their radar. I'm looking to support them and looking forward to working with them on this local issue.

Being in the transition zone between Adelaide and the bushfire-prone Adelaide Hills, residents of both Craigburn Farm and Hawthorndene are increasingly concerned about the lack of multiple escape routes should there be an unexpected bushfire emergency. I'll be raising these safety issues and infrastructure issues with the state government. We need to ensure there is adequate bushfire planning, emergency planning, in our region, because we need to make sure, with a growing population, that we have the safety of our residents first in mind.

One last issue that has featured very strongly from residents of Craigburn Farm is the lack of facilities to complement the highly popular tree park playground at Blackwood Park. There is a compelling need for barbecues, shelter facilities, upgrading public toilets, and water fountains. It is about creating the right amenity and the right living space for our young families and communities. I look forward to working with governments of all levels on behalf of the Hawthorndene and Craigburn Farm area to make sure that we can make this the best it can possibly be.