GLENSIDE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:27): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier assure the house that no trees will be removed from the Glenside Hospital grounds until he has provided the report on the proposed regulated and significant trees and the full community consultation on the government's concept plan for redevelopment has been completed? On 27 September, in response to a question as to how many trees would be removed, the Premier informed the house:

So trees are dear to my heart. Therefore, I will get you a report on this matter sine die.

On 16 October, yesterday, a regulated tree was removed and fully chipped on site—it is a pile of chips already. The Burnside council has confirmed that this tree had not received approval for removal. A public meeting was held last week on the proposed redevelopment. A further meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday 23 October. Local residents have been assured that they will be fully consulted and their questions answered and that the process has only just begun.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:29): I am very proud of the fact that the greatest tree planting campaign in the history of this city was begun by this government—three million trees, in a series of interlinked urban forests. Currently, I think, we are getting close to the halfway mark. We are also now extending that to two and a half million trees along the River Murray. So, let me make this pledge today, my friends: we will ensure that there are more trees at Glenside at the end of the development than when we started.