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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-18 Daily Xml
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KANGAROO ISLAND DEVELOPMENT

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (15:42): I rise to raise a serious matter in relation to development on Kangaroo Island and particularly in relation to an appeal that was heard by Commissioner Green of the Environment, Resources and Development Court. Some years ago, the two councils came together and the development plan put together at the time acquiesced the 40 hectare subdivision in Dudley and 100 hectares in the old Kingscote, and brought it together to make 40 hectare subdivisions. The 40 hectare subdivisions in the old Dudley council general farming zone have been most successful and it made sense to translate it to the whole island.

I put on the record that I currently have an application in front of council. However, this is such an important issue to me that I need to speak about it today. I am vitally concerned that bureaucracy has been put before the rights of individuals and that the Trethewey family has been very badly treated by bureaucrats and a poor decision by Commissioner Green. Bureaucrats within state government agencies and poor decisions are absolutely hindering the orderly development of Kangaroo Island. No-one wants to see large scale farms cut up, but what has happened to Mr Trethewey is a nonsense. It is an area where there are many smaller subdivisions which add to the economy, the community and the population of the island.

It is very difficult for me to argue for increased funding for Kangaroo Island when bureaucrats are making decisions and recommendations that stop and inhibit progress. I think Commissioner Green (whoever he is—and I have never met him) has been absolutely conned. He has been conned by shiny backside bureaucrats. They have dealt Mr Trethewey and his family a blow.

I am putting in freedom of information requests on these matters. Since that plan has been put together, there has been a succession of planning officers through the Kangaroo Island council. An earlier planning officer allowed these subdivisions to go through with no problems whatsoever. Then we had another who came and went, and there have been others. The current officer has staff under him. I do not think they know where they are, quite frankly. I think they are all scared for their own security and prospects. They are all getting good salaries, whether they be employed by state or local government, or whatever.

As a consequence of that, the community is suffering and not being allowed to grow. It is not being able to create new titles. It is not allowed to bring in people. It inhibits the economy. When organisations come to me and say that they need more government money, how can I possibly stand here and argue for that when they are getting slaughtered in their own backyard? I think what has happened to the Trethewey family and its case is outrageous. I do not have enough time to go into the detail, as it is far too long; I may have to seek another time to do so.

Commissioner Green made some amazing points in his judgment. I do not know whether the bureaucrats put this up to him, and there is a list of so-called agricultural experts—Mr Brown, Dr Bishop, Ms Dohle and Mr Drew. I do not know whether they have ever run their own farms or whether they have a bent against letting the development of Kangaroo Island go ahead; I suspect they might and that they are living in the past.

I do not know whether Commissioner Green is green by name and green by nature; I would not have a clue. The information I have is that those who work in the ERD Court are not real good performers anyway, so he could well be one of those.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: Oh, excellent! I'll pass that on.

Mr PENGILLY: You can pass it on because I tell you what, Attorney: they are absolutely stuffing up Kangaroo Island. If you put it all together, there is a list here six metres long. The fact of the matter is that 40 hectare subdivisions are probably too large and perhaps should be 20 hectares, but who gives these bureaucrats the right to say what people can and cannot do on their own land? The Trethewey family has been penalised.

As I say, they are putting bureaucracy before the rights of individuals and their property. They are putting their own ethos and philosophy in front of the future development of Kangaroo Island. No-one wants to see farms on the major agricultural part of the island cut up, and that is not going to happen. In the area just across the road from this development, Mr and Mrs Graham Smith have subdivided their property into 40 hectare subdivisions, and it works exceptionally well. We have houses there, more farming taking place and it goes on and on. I am appalled at this result.

Time expired.

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