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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-10-18 Daily Xml
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COMPONENT UNLOADING FACILITY

The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development a question about a proposed component unloading facility south of Port Augusta.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: I understand that BHP Billiton is close to finalising the location of a large component unloading facility and purpose-built haul corridor to service the expanded Olympic Dam mine. I understand that the company intends to ship in large pre-assembled modules (PAMs) into a specially constructed port facility and then transport these PAMs along a purpose-built road that is 55 metres wide. Pictures of these PAMs are quite extraordinary. They tower 60 metres high, are tens of metres wide and can weigh up to 2,000 tonnes each. Basically, it appears that the processing facilities for the Olympic Dam expansion will be designed in sections, assembled off site (presumably, in Asia, where the labour costs are cheaper, and perhaps giving lie to some of the job creation spin around this project), and then reassembled on site in Roxby Downs.

The Greens have been contacted by some of the 284 shack owners on the western side of Spencer Gulf south of Port Augusta who are concerned that their properties will be compulsorily acquired to build this large industrial port. Naturally enough, they are concerned about the impact on their lifestyles, but they are also concerned about the impact on the fragile marine environment of the Upper Spencer Gulf, an area that has been flagged as a possible marine park. These coastal home owners want to have a say, and they are concerned about the lack of information provided to them so far about this development. Members should also note that a company cannot compulsorily acquire land, only a government can do so. My questions to the minister are:

1. What sort of local approval processes are in place for this facility, or will this be wrapped up in the broader environmental impact statement for the Olympic Dam mine?

2. Will any information about this facility be made publicly available before the release of the EIS?

3. What contribution, financial or otherwise, will the government make to build this component unloading facility (or the haul road)?

4. Does the government intend to compulsorily acquire any land from shack owners on the company's behalf?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:07): The honourable member is jumping the gun. At present, a pre-feasibility study and an environmental impact statement are being undertaken by BHP. It is still drilling out, trying to find the extent of the resource. There are a number of unknowns. Parts of its proposed expansion are being looked at as we speak. There is a trial desal plant providing information to inform those studies. However, how BHP transports its equipment to the mine at Roxby Downs is an issue. It has obviously been looking at a number of alternatives. It has been in discussions with government agencies, and we have a special task force that is looking at that issue. At this stage, all that is still in the melting pot, as far as I am concerned. We do not expect the environmental impact statement to be completed until some time next year.

Obviously, if there are any alterations or changes (such as what is being suggested by the honourable member), obviously, that would be part of any study. However, at this stage, I think it would be premature to suggest that any particular option has been selected by BHP. I think it is premature to expect that a determination will be made or that some studies will be undertaken until BHP has completed all that pre-feasibility work.

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