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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-04-08 Daily Xml
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ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: ADELAIDE DESALINATION PLANT

Ms BREUER (Giles) (11:57): I move:

That the 63rd report of the committee, entitled Interim Report: Desalination (Port Stanvac), be noted.

It is with great pleasure that after three months of waiting in anticipation I move this motion. I am pleased we are able to present this report today. The Environment, Resources and Development Committee commenced its inquiry into the environmental impacts of the proposed desalination plants at Port Stanvac and Port Bonython in August 2008.

It is interesting to follow on from the Public Works Committee's report this morning. As part of our inquiry, 37 submissions were received and 11 witnesses were heard. Submissions and witnesses included key players from state and local government, industry, academics, non-government organisations and community groups, who provided a cross-section of views, ideas and information on environmental issues arising from the proposed development of the desalination plants at Port Stanvac and Port Bonython.

Due to the release of the environmental impact statement by SA Water for the proposed plant at Port Stanvac, this report is just an interim report, focussing on the impacts in Gulf St Vincent. Further comment on Gulf St Vincent may be included in the final report, also. Our knowledge of environmental impacts from desalination is largely based on limited research from relatively small plants operating in relative isolation from each other across the globe. Cumulative impacts, both over time and including other inputs in a particular region, are only now beginning to be investigated. Complicating our lack of knowledge here in South Australia are site-specific conditions of building a large scale desalination plant in an inverse estuary where a lack of adequate circulation could amplify impacts on marine eco systems. It is this factor—that the desalination plants are being built in inverse estuaries—that caused most concern to members of the committee.

None of the submissions received or any of the witnesses who appeared were totally opposed to desalination per se, but they were concerned about the issue of adequate dispersal conditions in Gulf St Vincent; and many suggested alternative sitings.

The release of the EIS by SA Water addressed a number of design questions raised during the inquiry. The construction design of the full tunnel option appears to provide the method of least environmental damage and intrusion into the marine environment. Strategies have been designed to prevent impingement of marine organisms. The only strategy to entrainment of larvae, eggs and plankton is the use of a low speed intake. Backwash sludge will be dewatered and disposed of on land, and modelling has been used to design a diffuser system to ensure that dispersion of brine will occur efficiently.

Debate adjourned.

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