Regional Mining and Infrastructure Plan

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house on the recent release of the state government's Regional Mining and Infrastructure Plan?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:30): I thank the member for Newland for his question. I know he retains an ongoing interest in this area. Last Thursday I was very pleased to release the Regional Mining and Infrastructure Plan. The plan was funded by the state and commonwealth governments and work on it commenced in 2012. The plan identifies the current and prospective minerals and energy opportunities in South Australia and also sets out the infrastructure requirements necessary to bring these developments to fruition.

In particular, the plan outlines infrastructure that could service multiple mining developments in three defined regions. These regions are the Far North region, the Eyre and Western region and the Yorke, Mid North and Braemar region. The plan also uses economic and scenario modelling to determine likely production outputs across these three regions. The plan outlines growth projections for production rising from 15 million tonnes per year average over the period 2013-17 to an average of 95 million tonnes for the period 2023-32. It also suggests that mining sector development could add $22.5 billion in gross state product and generate 5,750 full-time equivalent jobs between 2013 and 2032.

These figures are extraordinary numbers indeed. A six-fold increase in mining production in under 20 years demonstrates both the potential and also the absolute importance of the minerals and energy sectors to the future of this state. This government recognises that the right infrastructure must be in place to facilitate this growth, and now through the plan we have a better understanding of those future infrastructure needs. These include ports, freight links, power, water and road infrastructure requirements.

This government also recognises that to maximise our state's true potential in the minerals and energy sector we need to focus our efforts to meet these infrastructure needs. To do this, the government is establishing the Resources Infrastructure Taskforce. The task force will be jointly chaired by Paul Heithersay, Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Manufacturing, Innovation Trade, Resources and Energy, and Mark Elford, Executive Director of Infrastructure in the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

The task force will effectively be version two of the highly regarded Olympic Dam Expansion Taskforce. It will have all the horsepower of government invested in it with senior executives from all relevant agencies to cut through bureaucratic processes and red tape and ensure we move as quickly as possible to facilitate these infrastructure needs.

To assist the task force and also to advise cabinet, the government is also establishing an advisory committee to be chaired by Bruce Carter. The advisory committee will be available to assist in identifying and testing the commercial validity of projects put to the task force and government by proponents of mining infrastructure and will include representatives from the Economic Development Board and the Resources and Energy Sector Infrastructure Council.

With the leadership of Paul Heithersay, Mark Elford and Bruce Carter I am confident that the government is providing the best framework to facilitate the necessary infrastructure. This government will work to grow the minerals and energy sectors in South Australia and deliver on the significant potential identified in the Regional Mining and Infrastructure Plan.

Ms Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Heysen is warned for the second and final time. The member for Little Para.