South Australian Research and Development Institute

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding SARDI.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Department for Environment and Water is currently conducting a sand dredging trial, moving an estimated 90,000 cubic metres of sand to West Beach for coastal erosion prevention efforts. Earlier this month, it was reported that a plan to dredge a sandbar just off West Beach to replenish the beach itself was shelved due to community pushback. Sand is currently being moved to West Beach from North Haven marina, as well as approved imported sand from inland quarries.

It is the opposition's understanding that, concurrently, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and neighbouring private enterprise Robarra have been impacted by large-scale stock losses due to irregular inflows through their seawater intake affecting the oyster breeding program of snapper fingerlings and Robarra's barramundi hatchery. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister been made aware of the catastrophic event that has occurred at the SARDI and Robarra sites at West Beach? If so, when was the minister made aware of these events?

2. What action is the minister taking to protect this multimillion dollar industry?

3. Could the dredging and depositing of potential toxins in the vicinity of the seawater intake be responsible for this issue?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. My understanding is that there have been a number of mortalities in several programs in SARDI. The cause of those is being investigated and, until that cause has been established, it would be inappropriate, as the member opposite has done, to be saying that these were due to a particular matter.