Ceduna Waters

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions about the Ceduna Waters development.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The minister was asked a question raised by the excellent, hard-working member for Flinders during the noting of the report of the Auditor-General about the cost of the ongoing legal proceedings in regard to the Ceduna Waters project. The minister took the question on notice, but is yet to return an answer. This was in addition to the original question asked in another place on 3 June regarding a resolution of the dispute. My questions to the minister are:

1. When is this dispute likely to be resolved, if it has not already been resolved?

2. What is the cost to the taxpayer of these protracted proceedings?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I apologise if I go over previous ground, but it is important to put the background on the record. I am advised that criminal proceedings for breach of section 26 of the Native Vegetation Act 1991 have commenced, and hearings were held in July, with further hearings scheduled for February 2016. Given the court proceedings, I will not provide commentary on this matter, except to say that the government remains committed to seeking the best possible outcome for the local residents, the environment and the wider community.