Question Time

MINING, MCLAREN VALE AND BAROSSA VALLEY

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about mining in McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Members would aware that, yesterday, the Minister for Urban Development and Planning tabled in another place a couple of pieces of legislation, being the Character Preservation (McLaren Vale) Bill 2011 and the Character Preservation (Barossa Valley) Bill 2011.

I attended two public consultation meetings in relation to the McLaren Vale bill. It was unusual, but I note that it was the first planning and development-type public meeting I have been to in the 9½ years I have been a member of parliament that Mark Parnell did not turn up to. I was surprised—no Greens at all. It was refreshing that I actually had the group all to myself for the evening.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The Hon. Robert Brokenshire was at the second one, but he was not at the first one. Obviously, he thought it was important to go out only one night that week, not two! The important thing, Mr President—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The important thing is that you get on with your question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I would like to get on with my explanation, if I could. One of the important things that was described at the community consultation was that mining would be prohibited in both the McLaren Vale area and the Barossa Valley. I have noticed, after close examination of the two pieces of legislation, that there is no mention of any prohibition of mining in those particular areas. Could the Minister for Regional Development confirm that this means that mining activities will still be allowed to develop in those two areas?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Indeed, what he does is refer to a very important initiative of the Rann Labor government; that is, for the first time ever, we have put through important legislation to ensure the long-term preservation of the character of two very important regions here in South Australia.

This is obviously legislation that is the responsibility of the minister for planning and development, so he has carriage of this legislation and is aware of all the detail of this. My understanding is that what this bill allows to occur are those activities that are part of the current character of that region, and so it enables those activities to continue, but it does not allow any development of new activities, or changes in activities, that are outside of that fundamental character of the region.

As I have said, I am happy to check the details of this, but my understanding is that if, for instance, mining was a part of the current character of the region—if there was a mining industry or sector there—then that is part of the character of the region, and they would be entitled to continue those activities. While that is my understanding, as I said, I would be pleased to refer those particular questions to the minister for planning and development in another place to clarify those aspects around mining activities and bring back an answer.