House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-16 Daily Xml

Contents

Adelaide Central Market Redevelopment

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Is the minister able to provide an update to the house about the Adelaide Central Market redevelopment?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:34): I presume that that question is particularly in relation to the asbestos question that was raised the other day. My information is that indeed, as one would expect in a building that was built in the era that it was, there was asbestos found. In September the EPA was contacted. The EPA is not required to be contacted by demolition companies in the ordinary course of events if they are operating under an agreed process, but they were required to be contacted in order to facilitate the removal of asbestos over a weekend. That occurred in September.

While it is clear that there are tents present on the site, neither the EPA nor SafeWork—when the EPA checked the other day when this question was raised—have been informed by the demolition company that they have found asbestos or that they are dealing with asbestos, but nor is that necessarily required if they are operating under the existing agreement.