WIND FARMS

In reply to Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (26 June 2008).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business): The Myponga/Sellicks Hill wind farm is the only wind farm to have been assessed and approved as a major development under the Development Act. Initially lodged as a Crown Development, the application was directed to be assessed as a major development in August 2002, prior to the introduction of appropriate policies into development plans to guide the assessment of wind farms in South Australia. In July 2003, the then Minister for Urban Development and Planning, the Hon Jay Weatherill MP, approved the Wind Farms Plan Amendment Report which inserted appropriate wind farm policies into all development plans across the state, which has since provided a suitable policy base for council assessments of wind farms. I believe that the planning processes for wind farms in South Australia has worked very well as South Australia is now the leader in wind farm developments in Australia.