Question Time

Adelaide Beach Management Review

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My questions are to the Attorney-General on the topic of the Adelaide Beach Management Review. Will the Adelaide Beach Management Review be released publicly and in full and, if so, when? How much has been spent on the review to date? Will the Attorney-General participate in the public announcements going forward?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:19): I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest in this area. The Adelaide Beach Management Review continues. It is hoped that it will be finished towards the end of this year, or very early next year. It was an election commitment to do a proper and thorough review based on the science, and that was announced as an approximately 12-month review.

The government has established an Australian beach management review independent advisory panel to oversee the review and provide advice. The first stage of the community engagement during the review commenced on Friday 28 April, and concluded after six weeks on 9 June. Community engagements were promoted through direct mailouts to some 13,000 residents and businesses. That stage of the community engagement provided an opportunity for community members and stakeholders to provide feedback on the review and what is important to them in the management of Adelaide's beaches in that area.

Community members were invited to complete a survey or make submissions. I am informed that, at the conclusion of that engagement period, 602 people had completed the survey and 120 people had made written submissions. The survey outcomes and written submissions have been collated and reported through an independent advisory panel during the course of this month.

This information will assist the scientific analysis being undertaken on a range of potential sand management approaches, which will be shortlisted ahead of a second stage of community consultation scheduled to commence sometime next month. At the end of that process, there will be further decision points about which ones of the shortlisted options will be considered and taken forward and, at that time, more information will be provided.