Kangaroo Island Wharf Facility

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome) (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Can the minister update the house on the application for a wharf facility on Kangaroo Island, which would allow for the transportation of various commodities, including timber, from Kangaroo Island and to Kangaroo Island? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain further.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: On Tuesday, I asked a question regarding unavailability of timber at Morgan Sawmill at Jamestown through ForestrySA not getting the tender. The Minister for Regional Development advised that there were suggestions that Morgan's were going to look at getting timber from Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers and barging it from Kangaroo Island. I understand there is an application before the minister for approval for the development of a wharf facility, which would assist in getting products to and from Kangaroo Island.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:19): I thank the member for the question. There are actually two issues there; if I can just address the second one first. The member, in response to a question received yesterday, I think it was, from the minister indicated that, in respect of an outlet, I think in Jamestown, if I recall correctly, there's an issue as to production and the opportunity to source timber. In response to that, there was reference to a program of barging.

I am aware that there is a barging facility that's been in operation at the Kingscote wharf on Kangaroo Island—in fact, I have seen photographs of its operation—where logs are delivered to the main wharf. There is a barge facility, which then has these logs loaded onto it and presumably moves on. I think the minister indicated at that stage that under that process there's some consideration of taking that timber up through to Port Pirie to facilitate the enterprise that the member mentioned yesterday.

I understand that some of that timber, only from information I have received from people on Kangaroo Island, is also being taken to the South-East. So the detail of that I can't help with any further. That's access via the Kingscote wharf. There is also, via the Penneshaw wharf, via the SeaLink ferry, trucking of that timber, some of which was salvageable after the major bushfire over there in 2019-20, which is going off via the trucks. I am not exactly sure where the destination of that is. It may be to Jamestown, it may be to the South-East, it may be elsewhere in this state. Perhaps the minister can assist further on that.

In relation to the second matter, there is an application that was made to the previous government for the development of a wharf at Smith Bay on the north coast of Kangaroo Island. That's by KI Plantation Timbers. The previous minister had declared it a major project. That application was significantly modified since the new government came into place and went through an EIS process of some length under my predecessor, the member for Schubert.

I understand, only because I saw some material just before Christmas, that there was further modification to the application. It went out for public consultation; I know because it was set to occur before during January, early February. I understand some of that material is now back with the department. It's not yet on my desk, but as the Minister for Planning I am ultimately responsible for the determination of these matters. At this stage, it hasn't reached me.