MINING SECTOR

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about oversight and assessment of mining projects in conservation areas.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: With the huge increase in mining exploration in South Australia, inevitably, more interest is being shown in our so-called protected areas under the National Parks and Wildlife Act and other public land. I understand that, despite this increased activity, the Department for Environment and Heritage has only one permanent employee, three contractors and one temporary position overseeing, reviewing and assessing all mining-related activities in the state over our important conservation areas (which, from memory, amount to some 21 per cent, or it might even be up to 22 per cent of the state).

For example, in November last year, Iluka Resources Limited lodged a detailed 800-page mining lease proposal for its Jacinth-Ambrosia Heavy Mineral Sands Project, which is in the Yellabinna and Nullarbor regional reserves, which are both managed by the Department for Environment and Heritage under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. We know that just this one project has enormous complex challenges, including vegetation clearance, water management and the rehabilitation of the site after mining, and that projects such as this single-handedly could take all the resources available in the department. My questions are:

1. Will the minister confirm that there is only one permanent staff member employed by DEH overseeing, reviewing and assessing all mining-related activities in the state over our important conservation areas?

2. How many mining exploration licences exist in our National Parks and Wildlife reserves and sanctuaries?

3. Given the increase in exploration activity in our parks and reserves, will the minister now allocate more DEH staff to monitor this activity?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. Most of the details requested by the honourable member relate to operational matters, and I will need to seek those details and bring back a response. In terms of the exact number of staff involved in various responsibilities, I do not have that level of detail with me. However, I do know that DEH staff play a wide range of significant roles, and many are trained and able to participate in a wide range of different tasks, functions and roles; indeed, many of them are multiskilled.

I also bring to the attention of the chamber that, in 2006, the South Australian government committed to creating 20 full-time ranger positions over four years. Additional staff are being put into the system, and these rangers play an important role. So, we have committed to extra staffing resources.

In terms of the number of exploration licences, again, these are operational matters, and I do not carry those details with me; however, I am more than happy to take those questions on notice and bring back a response.