Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:21): I rise today to give a bit of an update as to some recent events that I have supported in and around my electorate. Firstly, I would like to commend the Hindu Council of Australia for the wonderful display that they put on for Deepavali (or Diwali) 2017, which is of course the Festival of Lights. It was a great day at the Wayville Showgrounds, and I sincerely congratulate the Hindu Council of Australia on what they did.
I was fortunate enough also to support McHappy Day at Felixstow McDonald's. As you would appreciate, Deputy Speaker, a lot of fundraising goes into this very worthy and noble cause. I understand that McHappy Day and the Ronald McDonald House Charities have been preparing for the biggest fundraising event on their calendar, and they were aiming to raise more than $4.1 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities, to help put a smile on the faces of seriously ill children and their families across Australia.
To put that fundraising target into perspective, it equates to more than 31,000 nights of accommodation in a Ronald McDonald House for families in need. I would like to especially thank Aseem Lubana, Felixstow McHappy Day event manager, and all the team at Felixstow McDonald's for making us feel welcome, and for participating in a very worthwhile fundraising event for a great cause.
I would like to congratulate the Hectorville Hurricanes, the local netball club. They had a successful fundraising night over the weekend. They were all very well behaved, and it was great to acknowledge their wonderful achievements this past year. I would especially like to thank Mick Seager, president and treasurer of the Hectorville Netball Club, as well as the various sponsors, volunteers and the players — the member for Fisher used to play for the Hectorville Hurricanes. You never know where you will end up if you play for the Hectorville Hurricanes, Deputy Speaker. I also rise today to speak about a recent traffic issue in my electorate. When I look at page 8 of today's Advertiser, I see an article entitled 'Traffic fear over AIdi'. We know that Aldi recently applied to build a supermarket, a bulky goods outlet and a warehouse development at 176-180 Gorge Road, Newton. A number of residents in my electorate have raised this particular issue.
Whilst you may be amenable to an Aldi, as I am sure many residents are, what we have near this proposed development is an intersection that has been one of the most troublesome intersections in the area for too long. With the help of the community, we have been lobbying the state government for some time for a solution to the intersection that has been named in the RAA's top 10 risky road intersections in South Australia. To date, the state government has yet to act on that intersection. Therefore, I have been petitioning the area in a concerted effort to lobby the state government for a solution to this intersection.
With the help of local residents, I am increasing the pressure on this state Labor government for safer roads and for a much-needed solution to this intersection. Recently, we have seen that a development application has been made for an Aldi store near that troublesome intersection. As I said, while residents may be open to an Aldi store in the area, it will of course bring more traffic to that Silkes-Gorge Road intersection. I will continue to lobby the government not only for safer roads but also for a much-needed solution to that intersection. Any interested resident can contact me or my office on this issue and we will circulate a petition to them.
I would also like to thank the Campbelltown Meals on Wheels for all they do in our local community. On the weekend, my second function for the evening was to attend a Campbelltown Meals on Wheels fundraiser. This is a great organisation and we thank them for all they do. I am hoping that their fundraiser raised some much-needed funds for an excellent local cause.
Thanks also go to the committee of the Madonna delle Grazie di Panduri, which recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. It was a pleasure to attend their celebrations, along with the member for Dunstan. We attended the procession and the mass in Payneham. Congratulations go to Connie Zito, the Zito family and all of the Madonna delle Grazie di Panduri committee on a fantastic job. I also had the pleasure of attending the local CIC La Nostra Festa function. I would like to thank CIC for all the wonderful work they do in supporting especially our elderly Italian constituents.
