Electricity Generation

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:52): Supplementary: what noise control conditions will be imposed, given the generators will be installed near residential areas and there were complaints by residents in Tasmania about noise?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:52): The EPA will obviously monitor all those things. They are in industrial zones, not in residential zones. The General Motors Holden site has had a long period of heavy operations, as has the desal plant. I understand that the noise emissions will be almost indistinguishable from background noise. The hope is that (1) these generators will never operate and that (2) ultimately they are there temporarily. They are not there permanently.

There will be a permanent location found near a gas pipeline for a permanent solution. The attempts by the opposition to frighten people, saying that there will be generators permanently based here operating 24/7, is not true. The aim of the generators is to operate rarely. If they do operate, it will generally be at times of extreme heat when people will be inside their homes with their own air conditioners going and won't be bothered by these generators. I tell you what will bother people: if their power is not on and things are hot and they can't get air conditioning on because the opposition does not want us to intervene in the market. That would be worse.

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is warned.