Northern Water Project

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. What is the government's preferred location for the Northern Water project?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:16): That is the role of the prefeasibility study into either Cape Hardy or Mullaquana, which is near Whyalla. The study is now investigating the environmental impacts on both sites and the traditional owner and native title arrangements at both sites. Obviously, one site is a lot closer to Roxby Downs than another. One site has no infrastructure; another site is very close to an existing industrial town. One site has no power or any other infrastructure in place; the other has lots of power, lots of infrastructure and a ready workforce nearby. We will let the work be done on the two sites and come back with the most cost-effective and best site chosen to build the Northern Water project.