RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:42): My questions are directed to the Minister for Urban Development and Planning on the subject of the EPA report on Dock 1. What are the criteria under which reports revealing significant risks to public health are to be released or not released? Given that the minister has referred to a 12-week time frame for publication, has it been breached on this occasion, and does he believe that existing residents and the general public have a right to know?

The PRESIDENT: You are lucky to get away with that.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:42): There are no residents in Dock 1, because the matter before the Development Assessment Commission is an application for subdivision and building in that particular area. In relation to people who are living much closer to the Adelaide Brighton Cement area, they have been living there for years.

My understanding is that the EPA has an environmental forum. It has community groups and they are regularly briefed on the situation in relation to the air at Port Adelaide, and they have been for years. If the deputy leader believes that issues in relation to air at Adelaide Brighton have only just suddenly come to light, that no-one knew about them until this EPA report on a subdivision some kilometre away, then I do not know where she has been.

I am sure that, if she talks to the people on Lefevre Peninsula, she will know that they have been well aware of this matter for years and that forums have been dealing with it. Indeed, if one looks at some of the comments that have been made by locals, one will know that they are very well aware that there are issues.

The EPA report to which the honourable member refers is simply their submission to DAC in relation to a subdivision on that area, and a number of issues are raised, of which the air quality is just one. I think that, for anyone to suggest that somehow or other this EPA report is the first time that people have known there have been issues with Adelaide Brighton, they obviously have not spoken to anyone who has been living in that area for many decades.

In fact, I should say in fairness—although it is not my portfolio—that I am aware there have been some environmental improvement programs over the years to improve that. They are matters concerning which my colleague the Minister for Environment would be better placed to give details. My role as planning minister is simply to ensure that the planning process takes into consideration the relevant factors, and that is what is being done on this occasion.