Health Infrastructure

In reply to the Hon. E.S. BOURKE (26 October 2021).

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): The then Minister for Planning and Local Government has advised:

The Chief Executive of the Attorney-General's Department is the designated entity responsible for the Riverbank Precinct Planning and Design Code Amendment (the code amendment).

It is acknowledged the area subject to policy change through the code amendment—Karrawirra Parri, meaning 'river of the red gum forests', and official Kaurna name for the River Torrens—was the heartland of the Kaurna people, who lived along its length and tributaries.

It is in this context that the code amendment has been prepared by the chief executive, taking into account the areas of cultural significance to the local Kaurna people.

The engagement plan for the code amendment identified the traditional owners as stakeholders of high interest.

The following engagement was undertaken by the Attorney-General's Department on behalf of the Chief Executive:

A letter to the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation (KYAC) board, sent five days before the commencement of consultation, informing the board of the code amendment and offering a meeting to discuss the changes proposed to policy in the Riverbank Precinct.

A briefing provided to the reconciliation committee of the City of Adelaide, which includes traditional owner representatives, during the consultation period.

A meeting with staff from Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet during the consultation period.

A meeting with Kaurna community members, facilitated by an Aboriginal business enterprise, to discuss the Code Amendment and further opportunities to provide meaningful engagement with traditional owners.

Face-to-face engagement with the KYAC board to assist in informing its submission on the code amendment and discuss further opportunities to provide meaningful engagement into planning matters.

Minister Chapman also met with Mr Jeffery Newchurch, chair of the KYAC board, to hear directly from him about the views of the Kaurna community.

The KYAC board has been given an extension of time to prepare its submission on the proposed code amendment.

The engagement process on the code amendment is genuine. Now that all submissions have been received, I am advised that the Chief Executive of the Attorney-General's Department is considering changes to the code amendment in response to the issues raised, including Pinky Flat, Kate Cocks Park and a range of other matters. These considerations will be summarised in an engagement report, to be provided to the minister in determining the code amendment.