BRADKEN FOUNDRY

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about the Bradken Foundry expansion.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: The issue of the Bradken Foundry will not be unfamiliar to members in this place. For years, residents of Kilburn and the Port Adelaide Enfield council have raised concerns about the level of pollution emitted by the foundry and the health consequences. Despite intense lobbying, local residents were devastated last year to learn that the proposed expansion of the foundry had been given approval by the government. However, in an attempt to console residents, they were given a guarantee that the expansion would incorporate new technology that, in effect, would decrease pollution despite the increase in production at the facility. In other words, 'We validate your concerns about pollution, but things will be better following the expansion.' Following the announcement, a local resident, Mr Emmanuel Psaila, when speaking to the Standard Messenger, said:

We have to believe the upgrade will improve the conditions around here. We're dead against the upgrade, but we have to believe. We've been given a guarantee by the government that the emissions from the foundry will be so low we'll be better off. We'll be monitoring and pressuring the government and EPA to know what is going on and to make sure that Bradken is adhering to the guidelines.

While many who were involved in the struggle against the expansion have now moved on, residents of Kilburn continue to cohabit with the foundry, some living literally just metres away and, for them, this issue is far from resolved. Adding to their angst is the rumour that Bradken is now considering no longer proceeding with the expansion or, at the least, extending the original expected completion date by several years. My questions are:

1. To the minister's knowledge, is Bradken planning to continue with the expansion of the Kilburn foundry?

2. What is the time frame that we are looking at?

3. Will the minister require the expansion to be completed by a fixed date and to adhere to certain guidelines to reduce the emissions levels?

4. Given that the government has all but admitted a problem does exist, what will be done to improve the lot of residents if the expansion does not proceed?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for her question. I do not have an update on what is happening at the Bradken Foundry. I am not aware of any rumours, but I will certainly take that part of the question on notice and make some inquiries and bring back a response.

My role in relation to the Bradken Foundry as Minister for Urban Development and Planning was to oversee the consideration of the development approval of this project, because it was a major project under the Development Act. Approval for that project was given some time back and, of course, significant and detailed conditions applied in relation to that approval. Whether the company is proceeding on the timetable is something that I will take on notice.

In relation to what happens under the existing arrangements, should they prevail, that is really a matter for the Environment Protection Authority, and I will refer that to my colleague in another place. Certainly, I am not aware of any recent information relating to this matter but, of course, there could be correspondence in the pipeline. I will check that and bring back a response for the honourable member.