Ministerial Statement

Protecting the Bird in Hand Gold Deposit

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:04): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: On 9 February 2023, I made a ministerial statement informing the house that I had refused Terramin Australia's application for a mining lease and miscellaneous purposes licence for its proposed Bird in Hand gold project in Woodside. The proposed mine was located adjacent to the Petaluma, ArtWine and Bird in Hand wineries, as well as other agricultural enterprises and businesses key to tourism in the Adelaide Hills region.

Mr Speaker, you would recall that it was, and remains, my view that while the proposed mine may have had a short-term value, the potential impact on surrounding businesses and associated regional tourism could have longer term implications and that on balance it was not in the state's best interests to risk—

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It was not in the state's best interests to risk established adjacent local industries for the opportunity a short-term mine may have provided. My decision to decline these applications has sparked a political debate about this proposed mine in Woodside and its impact on the Adelaide Hills and South Australia's mining industry.

I should inform the house that this decision was not welcomed universally by this parliament, and I note the remarks of the opposition:

This is a disgraceful decision by a Minister.

What Tom Koutsantonis has done today is a huge slap in the face for investment in South Australia.

However, in circumstances—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hammond is called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: However, in circumstances—

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas: They elect us for a reason, Peds. They elect us for a reason.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is called to order.

The Hon. P.B. Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call. This statement is of great interest to me and members of my community, and it will be heard.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: And the member for Heysen, I would have thought, sir.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am sure it is.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: However, in circumstances where it is determined mining operations are not compatible with an area, this government will act. Therefore, I am pleased to inform the house that the Governor proclaimed the Bird in Hand gold deposit area to protect it from future mining applications indefinitely.

The area identified subject to the proclamation mirrors the previous mineral claim and effectively controls any future applications over the known Bird in Hand gold deposit. This mechanism has been successfully used before for the Mintabie town lease area and the Burra Monster Mine historic area and continues to preserve those areas' unique environmental and heritage qualities. The new proclaimed area is specifically targeted at the Bird in Hand mineral deposit and no broader.

This was an important and necessary step to prevent repeated attempts to exploit the deposit and to ensure local businesses, tourism and the local amenity of the area are preserved. This mechanism ensures full control by government over the ability for anyone to make future applications for mineral tenements over this area. The only scenario where this decision could be reversed is if there is a change of government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Chaffey!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! A very significant decision for my community, I observe.