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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-11-18 Daily Xml
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Henley Square Groundwater Works

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:46): I would like to today draw the house's attention to a longstanding issue my local community at Henley Beach, this being the groundwater issue at the retail and residential complex at Henley Square. I am pleased to stand here today and report that after near 10 long years the fix is underway on Seaview Road.

By way of background, this solution will rectify the alleged illegal take of underground water that came as a result of the building's basement intruding into the underground aquifer. Contractors on behalf of the Department for Environment and Water will install the groundwater reinjection system under the road verge along the front of the apartment complex. The work is expected to take approximately three weeks—although I note that this is already underway—and will be undertaken at night from Sunday through Thursday to minimise disruption to traffic and the community.

Given the environmental risks, this government has decided to intervene and install the groundwater reinjection system, which will continually return water back to the aquifer in order to mitigate the risk of seawater intrusion. The basement of the apartment and the retail complex sits within the shallow freshwater aquifer. Intercepted groundwater has, since the building's construction, been directed to holding tanks in the basement car park and is periodically pumped onto the beach in front of Henley Square.

For years, this issue has been the subject of ongoing discussions between the state government, the developer and the City of Charles Sturt after the government became aware that underground water was struck during construction of the complex. It is evident and incredibly clear that not enough was done under the previous government to rectify this issue. No steps were taken beyond discussions. Having provided procedural fairness on coming to government, further discussions were had. This government took action starting in 2020.

DEW formally issued the developer with a notice on 13 October 2020 pursuant to section 107 of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. The developer has appealed the notice and the matter is currently before the Environment, Resources and Development Court. The notice required the developer to commence works on the approved reinjection solution by 1 June 2021 and be completed by 31 August 2021 to avoid the long-term risks.

The state government intends to pursue all costs associated with the planning and installation of the groundwater reinjection system. I know that my local community will well and truly welcome this outcome, and I am proud to have worked to deliver it. It provides certainty finally to the retail leaseholders and property owners within the complex and, most importantly, after 10 years, it delivers closure for those parties and brings to an end this sorry saga that went on for far too long.

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