House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-22 Daily Xml

Contents

EDWARDSTOWN GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:20): My question is to the minister for families, communities and housing. Why is the minister selling four blocks of land owned by Housing SA in the contaminated site at Edwardstown; and will she advise the house if prospective purchasers are receiving any advice as to the details of the contamination in the offer for sale?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:20): We are not selling four blocks of land in the contaminated area. Once we were made aware of the fact that there was an issue in that area, we put a hold on the sale of that land and, in fact—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: If you just—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: If you like, we could get in sync—you know, you just talk and I'll talk, or we could have a screen—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —with a bouncing ball on it for you to follow. That fact is, I understand that there was one contract that had been signed and another potential purchaser who was interested in buying the land. We discussed the situation with the person who had signed the contract, and they were allowed to withdraw from that contract.