Eyre Peninsula Desalination Project

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question regarding the EP desalination project.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula, the City of Port Lincoln council and the Lower Eyre council have all written letters stating their support for the recommendations of the site selection committee and their preference for the Sleaford West site as the location for the EP desalination plant. In particular, the RDA EP board believes that the Billy Lights Point location, referred to as the base case during this process, unnecessarily puts the fishing and aquaculture industries—which the Port Lincoln economy is so heavily reliant upon—at risk. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has she received these letters?

2. If so, as Minister for Regional Development, what formal representation has she made on behalf of councils and RDA Eyre Peninsula to the Minister for Environment and Water, or to SA Water, to advocate for the recommendations of the site selection committee?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:37): I thank the honourable member for her further question. I am advised that the SA Water board and the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water will consider the available information, which includes that from the site selection committee and also from the Marine Science Review Panel, to make a final decision regarding a proposed plant location. I am aware that my office has received correspondence on this matter, and I will be in the process of responding to them once I have seen that correspondence.