Eyre Peninsula Desalination Project

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the planned desalination plant in Boston Bay.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I have received communications from local aquaculture stakeholders and businesses concerned that they have not heard directly from the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to discuss the planned Eyre Peninsula desalination plant and the impact on their operations. My question to the minister is: can the minister inform the chamber how many, if any, local aquaculture stakeholders or businesses she has engaged with or consulted with as Minister for Primary Industries regarding the government's plan to ignore community consultation and place the Eyre Peninsula desalination plant in Boston Bay?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am happy to take on notice and bring back to the chamber details of how many aquaculture stakeholders have contacted my office in regard to this. Certainly, a number of pieces of communication that I have had have been copied to me because they have been addressed to the Minister for Environment and Water, as obviously this falls within her portfolio area.

Secondly, it is something that, as has been mentioned on multiple occasions in this place, is being worked through. I understand and appreciate, of course, the concerns of stakeholders, but research conducted by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has found that the desalination plant can be built at Billy Lights Point without negatively impacting the local marine environment. Oceanographic modelling by SARDI shows that when the plant is operational long-term salinity levels will remain within natural background levels.

I appreciate the advocacy that has come through. SA Water committed to working with the aquaculture industry to ensure the design of Billy Lights Point does not affect their industry. In fact, three public marine science forums were held in Port Lincoln throughout the day on Tuesday 2 May this year. They were held at different times of the day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, to allow for a range of people to attend. SA Water led those forums, or fora, while SARDI's lead oceanographer and executive director were also present, as well as members of the Marine Science Review Panel.

I think it is worth noting that SARDI and SA Water are being very transparent around the science. They have held, as I have just outlined, a combined six hours' worth of forums so that any member of the public could have attended, and of course the engagement will continue.