WALLAROO DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (16:18): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about the proposed Wallaroo town centre development.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Constituents have contacted me with concerns about a $30 million redevelopment of the Wallaroo town centre, which includes the purchase of council land by the developer, the relocation of a bowling and croquet club, and the building of a supermarket and mini mall. The council has awarded the tender to Leasecorp, which was one of five tenderers but the only proponent given the opportunity to increase its bid. As the minister would be aware, the council can approve the tender, but development approval must be obtained.

Constituents are alarmed by what they see as consistent failures of process by the Copper Coast council. The integrity of decision-making by that council has been the subject of public observation and debate for some time. Leasecorp will now bring a development application to the council's development assessment panel, but there is a perception of conflict of interest, given that some of the project will be on council-owned land, with council already having made decisions about the successful tenderer. My questions are:

1. Is the minister aware of concerns about the Wallaroo town centre development?

2. Does the minister believe that the perception of conflict of interest compromises the ability of the development assessment panel of the Copper Coast council to assess applications for the development of the Wallaroo town centre?

3. Will the minister undertake to investigate whether he should exercise his powers under section 46 of the Development Act to refer the Wallaroo town centre development to the Development Assessment Commission to minimise concerns of a conflict of interest?

4. If not, how does the minister propose to deal with ongoing concerns about the integrity of development assessment processes on the Copper Coast?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (16:20): First, the Hon. Sandra Kanck has raised issues in relation to the Copper Coast council and I was going to make a ministerial statement at the end of question time today in relation to other matters which she has raised. Essentially I will sum it up. Those matters have been the subject of investigation through the Office for State/Local Government Relations and I am satisfied that no further investigative action is necessary regarding those particular matters, but I will make that statement at the end of question time.

Regarding this particular proposal about the town centre, I receive an enormous amount of correspondence in relation to council decisions and council decision making. I do not recall seeing any specifically in relation to this matter, but it would not be surprising if some has been received by my office. What I do know is that Wallaroo is currently in the process of undertaking a general development plan amendment. If, as I think the honourable member was alleging, there was a conflict of interest with the council, the council should refer that on to the Development Assessment Commission for assessment. I will look at the matters that have been raised by the honourable member regarding that particular development, and I will seek leave to make a statement after question time in relation to the matters that were raised by the honourable member a month or so ago in relation to the Copper Coast council.