Site Contamination, Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): Supplementary: given the government has known about the contamination in this area for about six years, why is it now only appointing a contamination consultant to undertake further investigation in Clovelly Park and Mitchell Park?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:39): It is quite correct to say that we have been working on this issue since about 2008, and it is only in recent times that we have information that has come to hand to tell us that the air infiltration of vapour has just ticked over the two micrograms level in these houses in Clovelly Park. In any case, it is normal practice for the EPA, once it is advised of these infiltrations of vapour, to extend its search to try and define the boundaries. That is just normal practice. That is what they will do.