JOHN KNOX SCHOOL PRECINCT

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about the state heritage listed John Knox School precinct at Morphett Vale.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: I ask today about a historical school and church building situated on William Street, Morphett Vale, which is parallel to Main South Road within the main shopping district at Morphett Vale. The precinct gives the name Knox to the ward of the Onkaparinga council that surrounds it. This is the same state heritage precinct about which this council received at least 1,069 signatures calling for the acquisition of the precinct and a partnership with Onkaparinga council to determine the use of the precinct as a public asset.

These petitions arose after community concern at the deterioration of the precinct under private ownership, particularly graffiti vandalism that saw council for a time monitoring the site on a weekly basis even though it was a state heritage responsibility. At that time, council was seeking clarification on the division of responsibilities between itself and the state government regarding heritage matters such as this. No state or local government agency acquired the precinct as the petitioners requested, but it was reportedly approved for development as a childcare centre, and allegedly the title has now been subdivided. DENR agreed to the development and said in writing, and I quote:

The current owner has agreed by means of a Heritage Agreement to undertake basic stabilisation and protection works to the two listed buildings, subject to full development approval for adaptive re-use as a child care centre being granted. These works would not leave the buildings in the restored and usable condition proposed under the child care development, but would ensure an adequate level of protection in the medium term.

I now understand that the development application lapsed last April and did not proceed. I have received allegations that the previous heritage agreement required those works to be performed whether or not a childcare centre was built on the site. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will the minister obtain a briefing, consult with the relevant stakeholders and bring back a response by way of a ministerial statement to this house as soon as possible, ideally within the next 30 days, on this matter?

2. Will the minister intervene if he believes the principles of heritage protection and proper relations between state and local government agencies are not being properly adhered to in this case?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:16): I would like to thank the honourable member for his question. His question is quite specific and does cut across a number of portfolios, so what I will give an undertaking to do is take it on notice and get back to you as soon as possible.