Legislative Council: Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Contents

STANSBURY MARINA

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:36): Will the Minister for Urban Development and Planning provide the council with an update on the planning assessment process for the proposed marina development at Stansbury on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:36): Of course, the honourable member is quite right: Yorke Peninsula is a particularly attractive part of our coastline, and boating activities play a significant part in the lives of those who not only live there but who also recreate there. The Stansbury Marina Development Company is proposing to construct a marina basin and moorings for some 100 recreational boats and a residential subdivision of 113 waterfront allotments and waterways on southern Yorke Peninsula. This development is being promoted by Dr Satish Gupta of Gupta Environmental and Planning Consultants and Rob Gabb and David Lucas of Lucas Earthmovers, a firm that is also involved in the marina project proposed by the Cape Jaffa Development Company on the Limestone Coast in the South-East of the state. The proposed location of the Stansbury marina complex is immediately north of the existing jetty at Stansbury on land located to the north of the township.

This proposed marina and waterfront development was declared in March this year under the state government's major development assessment process, and an amended development application was received in September based on the developer's original concept lodged in June. The proponents of this marina development have been asked by the Development Assessment Commission to produce an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will examine in detail the likely effects of the construction on the coastline and surrounding areas; and, just as importantly, ways that these issues will be managed if the project is approved.

The Development Assessment Commission (the independent agency that oversees this consultation process) has provided the proponents with formal guidelines that outline exactly what issues the studies should address. These guidelines cover more than 100 separate environmental, social and economic issues arising from the marina and associated developments at Stansbury, and include:

the potential impact of climate change, including sea level rise and water availability;

the visual and environmental impacts of the construction of breakwaters and other elements of the marina development;

the effects of any increased boating and other transport movements associated with the development;

potential impacts on the coast and coastal waters and the plants, life and industry supported there;

infrastructure issues, such as water, sewerage, gas, electricity, stormwater and transport; and

water issues, such as supply, water reuse and harvesting, as well as grey water disposal.

The proponents must also explain the likely economic and social impacts on Stansbury.

The requirement for an EIS for the marina project is part of a rigorous assessment process imposed in this state—a process set out under the major development provisions of the Development Act. Consideration of the development application by the independent Development Assessment Commission is just the first stage of a detailed major development assessment process carried out at arm's length from the government. Once the group proposing this marina produces an EIS, the study will be made available for at least six weeks of public and agency consultation, including a public meeting. At the end of that minimum six-week period of consultation the Stansbury Marina Development Company must then respond to all issues raised in submissions. These issues and the company's responses are then published in a comprehensive formal response document. The state government will then assess the entire proposal and the final decision will be made by the Governor on whether the project can proceed and on what conditions.